Best Albums
Discover
New Releases
Lists
Genres
News
Community
Sign In
Overview
Best Albums
Worst Albums
Reviews
Lists
Perfect Scores
Rolling Stone
Follow
www.rollingstone.com
@
RollingStone
Highest Rated Albums of 1988
Decade
1980s
All Time
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Source
Rolling Stone
All
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly
Pitchfork
Rolling Stone
Sputnikmusic
Genre
All
All
Alt-Country
Alternative Metal
Alternative Rock
AOR
Art Pop
Folk
Folk Rock
Glam Metal
Hard Rock
Hardcore Hip Hop
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Jangle Pop
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Rock
Singer-Songwriter
Sophisti-Pop
Synthpop
Thrash Metal
1980s
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1
.
Johnny Cash - Water from the Wells of Home
May 1, 1988
Score
100
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
2
.
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
August 8, 1988
Hip Hop
Score
100
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
3
.
Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Globe of Frogs
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
4
.
Guy Clark - Old Friends
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
5
.
The Traveling Wilburys - The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
October 18, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
6
.
The Feelies - Only Life
September 13, 1988
Jangle Pop
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
7
.
The Smithereens - Green Thoughts
March 16, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
8
.
UB40 - UB40
July 11, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
9
.
Wire - A Bell Is a Cup Until It Is Struck
May 16, 1988
Post-Punk
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
10
.
The Robert Cray Band - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
August 8, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
11
.
John Hiatt - Slow Turning
August 30, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
12
.
Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room
August 2, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
13
.
Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
October 18, 1988
Pop Rock
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
14
.
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
October 17, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
15
.
Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown
October 4, 1988
Hip Hop
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
16
.
Was (Not Was) - What Up Dog
January 1, 1988
Funk
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
17
.
Big Daddy Kane - Long Live the Kane
June 21, 1988
Hip Hop
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
18
.
Enya - Watermark
September 19, 1988
New Age
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
19
.
Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
November 1, 1988
Hip Hop
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
20
.
Randy Newman - Land of Dreams
September 1, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
21
.
Billy Bragg - Workers Playtime
September 1, 1988
Pop Rock
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
22
.
Richard Thompson - Amnesia
October 1, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
23
.
Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson
July 12, 1988
Pop Rock
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
24
.
Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Irish Heartbeat
February 1, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
25
.
Graham Parker - The Mona Lisa's Sister
April 1, 1988
Score
80
Source →
Amazon
1
2
3
4
NOTE:
This is not a year end list. This list is ordered by the ratings Rolling Stone awarded albums throughout 1988.
ROLLING STONE'S HIGHEST RATED ALBUMS OF ...
2021
2020
1989
1987
Connect with AOTY
Like Us
Follow Us
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement
New Album Releases
81
Julien Baker
Little Oblivions
90
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
CARNAGE
80
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
L.W.
80
Architects
For Those That Wish To Exist
70
Madison Beer
Life Support
More Releases
Advertisement