Best Albums

Rolling Stone

www.rollingstone.com

Highest Rated Albums of 1988

Decade

1980s
- All Time
- 2020s
- 2010s
- 2000s
- 1990s
- 1980s
- 1970s
- 1960s

Genre

All
- - All
  - Alt-Country
  - Alternative Metal
  - Alternative Rock
  - Art Pop
  - Dance Pop
  - Folk
  - Folk Rock
  - Funk
  - Hard Rock
  - Heavy Metal
  - Hip Hop
  - Indie Rock
- - Jangle Pop
  - Metal
  - New Age
  - New Wave
  - Pop
  - Pop Rock
  - Post-Punk
  - Rock
  - Singer-Songwriter
  - Sophisti-Pop
  - Sunshine Pop
  - Synthpop
  - Thrash Metal

1988

1. N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton

August 8, 1988

Score

100

2. Johnny Cash - Water from the Wells of Home

Johnny Cash - Water from the Wells of Home

May 1, 1988

Score

100

3. The Church - Starfish

The Church - Starfish

February 16, 1988

Neo-Psychedelia

Score

80

4. Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown

Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown

October 4, 1988

Score

80

5. Enya - Watermark

Enya - Watermark

September 19, 1988

Score

80

6. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

August 23, 1988

Alternative Rock

Score

80

7. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman

April 5, 1988

Singer-Songwriter

Score

80

8. UB40 - UB40

July 11, 1988

Score

80

9. Big Daddy Kane - Long Live the Kane

Big Daddy Kane - Long Live the Kane

June 21, 1988

Score

80

10. The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues

October 1, 1988

Score

80

11. Billy Bragg - Workers Playtime

Billy Bragg - Workers Playtime

September 1, 1988

Score

80

12. Robert Plant - Now and Zen

Robert Plant - Now and Zen

February 29, 1988

Score

80

13. Was (Not Was) - What Up Dog

Was (Not Was) - What Up Dog

January 1, 1988

Score

80

14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Tender Prey

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Tender Prey

September 19, 1988

Score

80

15. Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Globe of Frogs

Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Globe of Frogs

Score

80

16. Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson

July 12, 1988

Score

80

17. Talking Heads - Naked

Talking Heads - Naked

March 15, 1988

Score

80

18. Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Irish Heartbeat

Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Irish Heartbeat

February 1, 1988

Score

80

19. Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

October 18, 1988

Score

80

20. Richard Thompson - Amnesia

Richard Thompson - Amnesia

October 1, 1988

Score

80

21. Patti Smith - Dream of Life

Patti Smith - Dream of Life

June 1, 1988

Score

80

22. Randy Newman - Land of Dreams

Randy Newman - Land of Dreams

September 1, 1988

Score

80

23. Prince - Lovesexy

Prince - Lovesexy

May 10, 1988

Score

80

24. Guy Clark - Old Friends

Guy Clark - Old Friends

Score

80

25. The Robert Cray Band - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

The Robert Cray Band - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

August 8, 1988

Score

80

NOTE: This is not a year end list. This list is ordered by the ratings Rolling Stone awarded albums throughout 1988.

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