Albums of 1988
The records from 1988 that made our lists.
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1Long Live the KaneBig Daddy Kane
Long Live the Kane
A foundational lyrical landmark of smooth, rapid rhyming. Sharp and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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2By All Means NecessaryBoogie Down Productions
By All Means Necessary
A politically sharpened peak of conscious rap. Bold and influential. A high point.
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3LeprosyDeath
Leprosy
A foundational death-metal peak of brutal precision. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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4BugDinosaur Jr.
Bug
A loud, melodic peak of the original line-up. Raw and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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5Strictly BusinessEPMD
Strictly Business
A funky, foundational debut of laid-back boom-bap. Smooth and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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6Follow the LeaderEric B. & Rakim
Follow the Leader
A lyrical, ambitious follow-up of Rakim's intricate flow. Sharp and influential. A high point.
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7Seventh Son of a Seventh SonIron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
A lush, keyboard-tinged concept peak. Ambitious and beloved. A high point of their run.
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8Nothing's ShockingJane's Addiction
Nothing's Shocking
A wild, genre-blurring debut that bridged metal, punk and art-rock. Adventurous and influential. An alt-rock landmark.
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9I'm Your ManLeonard Cohen
I'm Your Man
Cohen reinvents himself with synths and dark wit, from 'Everybody Knows' to 'Tower of Song'. Funny, bleak and brilliant. A late-career high.
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10...And Justice for AllMetallica
...And Justice for All
A dense, complex thrash peak of long, intricate songs. Ambitious and dry-sounding. A divisive favourite.
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11Isn't AnythingMy Bloody Valentine
Isn't Anything
A noisy, woozy debut that laid the shoegaze groundwork. Raw and influential. A genre origin point.
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12Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A
Straight Outta Compton
The explosive birth of gangsta rap, furious and unflinching. Raw and influential. A genre-defining record.
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13Surfer RosaPixies
Surfer Rosa
A raw, Albini-recorded debut album of jagged dynamics and surreal menace that influenced a generation. Visceral and strange. Essential alt-rock.
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14It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPublic Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
A dense, furious wall of sound from the Bomb Squad behind Chuck D's righteous fury and Flavor Flav's chaos. Politically explosive and sonically revolutionary. One of rap's most important records.
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15Stronger Than PrideSade
Stronger Than Pride
A cool, sophisticated soul peak. Smooth and beloved. A high point.
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16South of HeavenSlayer
South of Heaven
A slower, darker follow-up to Reign in Blood. Heavy and acclaimed. A strong peak.
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17The Great Adventures of Slick RickSlick Rick
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
A witty, narrative landmark of effortless storytelling. Charming and influential. A genre classic.
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18Daydream NationSonic Youth
Daydream Nation
A double album of tuned-down guitar epics, balancing noise and melody at the band's peak. Sprawling and influential. An alt-rock cornerstone.
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19Copperhead RoadSteve Earle
Copperhead Road
A rootsy, rock-edged peak, home to its title song. Tough and beloved. A high point.
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20NakedTalking Heads
Naked
A worldly, horn-driven final album. Tuneful and acclaimed. A strong close.
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21Tracy ChapmanTracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
A spare, powerful debut of social conscience, home to 'Fast Car'. Direct and beloved. A landmark.