Every album of 1988, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.
Number one of 1988 Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 100 A+9 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side All genres Pop Rock Indie & Alternative
1 100 A+
2 Sonic Youth Daydream Nation October 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous 100 A+
3 Pixies Surfer Rosa March 21, 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous 98 A+
4 Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman April 5, 1988 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 89 B+
5 The Sugarcubes Life’s Too Good April 25, 1988 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 88 B+
6 The Pogues If I Should Fall from Grace with God January 1, 1988 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 88 B+
7 My Bloody Valentine Isn’t Anything November 21, 1988 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate 88 B+
8 Jane's Addiction Nothing’s Shocking August 23, 1988 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate 87 B+
9 Leonard Cohen I’m Your Man February 21, 1988 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 87 B+
10 Traveling Wilburys Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 October 18, 1988 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 85 B
How 1988 grades Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.
11 Eric B. & Rakim Follow the Leader July 26, 1988 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate 85 B
12 Ministry The Land of Rape and Honey October 11, 1988 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate 84 B
13 Talk Talk Spirit of Eden September 16, 1988 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Contentious 84 B
14 The Waterboys Fisherman’s Blues October 17, 1988 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate 82 B-
15 Prince Lovesexy May 6, 1988 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate 81 B-
16 Dinosaur Jr. Bug October 31, 1988 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Divided 80 B-
17 Morrissey Viva Hate March 14, 1988 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Broad agreement 79 C+
18 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Tender Prey September 19, 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 79 C+
19 They Might Be Giants Lincoln September 25, 1988 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate 78 C+
20 Cocteau Twins Blue Bell Knoll September 19, 1988 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided 78 C+
21 Roy Orbison Mystery Girl 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 78 C+
22 Talking Heads Naked March 15, 1988 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided 78 C+
23 Pet Shop Boys Introspective April 1988 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided 78 C+
24 Patti Smith Dream of Life June 1988 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate 75 C
25 Erasure The Innocents April 18, 1988 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate 74 C
Where 1988 sits Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.
Next to the years around it 1987 80
1988 (this year) 79
1989 77
1990 75
1991 77
70 75 80 85
By genre Indie & Alternative 86
Rock 75
Pop 73
70 75 80 85 90
26 Living Colour Vivid May 2, 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided 74 C
27 Keith Richards Talk Is Cheap 1988 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided 74 C
28 Sonic Youth The Whitey Album March 1, 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 73 C
29 Slayer South of Heaven July 5, 1988 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Contentious 72 C-
30 Enya Watermark September 19, 1988 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Contentious 72 C-
31 Sade Stronger Than Pride April 29, 1988 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate 68 D+
32 Danzig Danzig August 30, 1988 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate 67 D+
33 Guns N' Roses G N’ R Lies November 30, 1988 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Divided 66 D
34 The Bangles Everything October 18, 1988 · 6 reviews · 17% approval · Some debate 58 F
35 Duran Duran Big Thing October 16, 1988 · 7 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate 47 F
1 Leonard Cohen I’m Your Man February 21, 1988 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 87 B+
2 Cocteau Twins Blue Bell Knoll September 19, 1988 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided 78 C+
3 Talking Heads Naked March 15, 1988 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided 78 C+
4 Pet Shop Boys Introspective April 1988 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided 78 C+
5 Erasure The Innocents April 18, 1988 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate 74 C
6 Enya Watermark September 19, 1988 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Contentious 72 C-
7 Duran Duran Big Thing October 16, 1988 · 7 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate 47 F
1 The Sugarcubes Life’s Too Good April 25, 1988 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 88 B+
2 Traveling Wilburys Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 October 18, 1988 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement 85 B
3 The Waterboys Fisherman’s Blues October 17, 1988 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate 82 B-
4 Roy Orbison Mystery Girl 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 78 C+
5 Patti Smith Dream of Life June 1988 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate 75 C
6 Keith Richards Talk Is Cheap 1988 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided 74 C
7 Sonic Youth The Whitey Album March 1, 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 73 C
8 Guns N' Roses G N’ R Lies November 30, 1988 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Divided 66 D
9 The Bangles Everything October 18, 1988 · 6 reviews · 17% approval · Some debate 58 F
1 Sonic Youth Daydream Nation October 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous 100 A+
2 Pixies Surfer Rosa March 21, 1988 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous 98 A+
3 My Bloody Valentine Isn’t Anything November 21, 1988 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate 88 B+
4 Jane's Addiction Nothing’s Shocking August 23, 1988 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate 87 B+
5 Talk Talk Spirit of Eden September 16, 1988 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Contentious 84 B
6 Dinosaur Jr. Bug October 31, 1988 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Divided 80 B-
7 Morrissey Viva Hate March 14, 1988 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Broad agreement 79 C+
8 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Tender Prey September 19, 1988 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate 79 C+
9 They Might Be Giants Lincoln September 25, 1988 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate 78 C+
← 1987 · Every year, back to the 1950s 1989 →
B-Side Breakdowns home
Number one of 1988Public EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back100 A+9 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
100A+
100A+
98A+
89B+
88B+
88B+
88B+
87B+
87B+
85B
85B
84B
84B
82B-
81B-
80B-
79C+
79C+
78C+
78C+
78C+
78C+
78C+
75C
74C
74C
74C
73C
72C-
72C-
68D+
67D+
66D
58F
47F