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The Highest Rated Albums of 1988

Decade
Source
Genre
1980s
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

1.

Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
September 16, 1988
Post-Rock
Critic Score
100
4 reviews

2.

EPMD - Strictly Business
August 30, 1988
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews

3.

The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
August 1, 1988
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews

4.

Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
April 14, 1988
Hardcore Hip Hop
Critic Score
96
5 reviews

5.

Jackie McLean Quintet - Dynasty
November 5, 1988
Hard Bop
Critic Score
96
2 reviews

6.

Living Colour - Vivid
May 3, 1988
Hard Rock
Critic Score
95
2 reviews

7.

N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
August 8, 1988
Gangsta Rap
Critic Score
94
4 reviews

8.

808 State - Newbuild
September 0, 1988
Acid House
Critic Score
94
2 reviews

9.

Beat Happening - Jamboree
January 1, 1988
Indie Rock
Critic Score
92
3 reviews

10.

Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
April 5, 1988
Singer-Songwriter
Critic Score
91
3 reviews

11.

Pixies - Surfer Rosa
March 21, 1988
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
91
5 reviews

12.

my bloody valentine - Isn't Anything
November 21, 1988
Shoegaze
Critic Score
91
2 reviews

13.

A.R. Kane - 69
July 1, 1988
Dream Pop
Critic Score
91
2 reviews

14.

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
October 1, 1988
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
90
5 reviews

15.

Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
October 18, 1988
Pop Rock
Critic Score
90
3 reviews

16.

Dead Moon - In the Graveyard
September 1, 1988
Garage Rock
Critic Score
90
3 reviews

17.

Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
June 29, 1988
Progressive Metal
Critic Score
90
3 reviews

18.

Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
November 1, 1988
Hardcore Hip Hop
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

19.

Enya - Watermark
September 19, 1988
New Age
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

20.

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
August 23, 1988
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

21.

Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room
August 2, 1988
Country
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

22.

k.d. lang - Shadowland
April 26, 1988
Country Pop
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

23.

The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good
April 1, 1988
Post-Punk
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

24.

Half Japanese - Charmed Life
January 1, 1988
Indie Rock
Critic Score
90
2 reviews

25.

Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man
February 2, 1988
Singer-Songwriter
Critic Score
89
4 reviews
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