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Albums Of The Year And
End Of Year Critic Lists

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NME Pop Poll Results 1952 - 1997

Critic And Reader Lists

›› NME Writers Tracks Of The Decade (2000-2009)
›› NME Writers Top 100 Albums Of The Deacde (2000-2009)

›› NME Writers Top 50 albums of 60’s, 70's & 80's.
›› NME Writers All time top 100 - 1974.
›› NME Writers All time top 100 Singles - 1976
›› NME Readers All time top 100 singles - 1976
›› NME Writers All time 100 LP’s - 1985
›› NME Writers All time top 150 singles - 1987
›› NME Readers All time top 100 albums - 1988
›› Debut & Doubles - The best and worst debut (1992) and double albums ever. (1991)
›› 40 Records That Captured the Moment - 40th Anniversary issue 9th May 1992
›› NME 100 Best independent singles ever from 1992.
›› NME Writers all time 100 best albums - 1993
›› NME Best Soundtrack albums of all time - 1995
›› The NME 100: How Rock Shook The World… - 1999 
›› Readers & Writers Choice For The Most Heartbreak Albums Of All Time 2000
›› NME 50 Greatest Artists of all time - 2002 - 50th Anniversary issue
›› NME’s 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time - 2002
›› NME 100 best albums 2003
›› NME 10 Great Live Albums - 2003
›› NME’s 100 Greatest Rock ‘N’ Roll Films - 2003
›› 117 Songs to soundtrack your summer - 2003
›› NME' 50 Greatest Cover Versions Of All  Time - 2005
›› 100 Greatest British Albums Of All Time - 2006
›› Radiohead - The National Anthems 2006
›› The Greatest Tracks Of The Decade (1996 – 2006)
›› NME Classic Albums & Singles - 2006 - 07
›› NME- The Greatest Indie Anthems Ever - 2007
›› NME Hall Of Fame - 2007
›› NME Albums Of The Year...So Far - July 2010
›› NME 50 Greatest Debut Albums - Nov 2010
›› John Lennon - 20 Most Underrated Tracks
›› NME 100 Greatest Albums You've Never Herd
›› NME 50 Darkest Albums Of All Time - 2011
›› NME 50 Greatest Live Albums - 2011
›› NME/Uncut 501 Lost Songs - 2011
›› NME.COM 150 Best Tracks Of Last 15 Years - 2011
›› NME 100 Greatest Albums You've Never herd...Pt 2 - 2012
›› NME - 60 Years Of NME: Best Of The Decades
›› 100 Greatest Songs Of NME's Lifetime - 2012
›› Readers Top Songs Of NME's Lifetime - 2012
›› 60 Most Important Albums Of NME's Lifetime - 2012
›› NME Greatest No 1 Singles In History - 2013
›› NME - 50 Albums That Built Punk - 2013
›› NME - 100 Greatest Britpop Songs - 2013
›› NME The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time - 2013
›› NME 60 Greatest Soundtrack Albums - 2014
›› NME - The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time - 2014
›› NME 101 Albums To Hear Befour You Die - 2014
›› NME 50 Must Have EP's - 2014
›› NME  30 Killer B-Side & Raraties Albums - 2014
›› NME Bowie: His Real Greatest Hits - 2014
›› NME Greatest ALbums Of The Decade So Far.. 2015
›› NME Tracks Of The Decade (2010's) So Far... 2015
›› NME 100 Greatest Beatles Songs - 2015
›› NME Lost Albums - 2015
›› NME 50 Albums To Hear Before You Die - 2016
›› NME Albums Of The Decade (2010's) - 2019
›› NME Songs Of The Decade (2010's) - 2019




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1988 NME Albums

Public Enemy


1. It Takes A Nation Of Millions.. - Public Enemy
2. Irish Heartbeat - Van Morrison & The Chieftains
3. Green – R.E.M.
4. Viva Hate - Morrissey
5. To The Batmobile Let's Go - The Todd Terry Project
6. If I Should Fall From Grace... - The Pogues
7. Lovesexy - Prince
8. Introspective - Pet Shop Boys
9. Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
10. Surfer Rosa - Pixies
11. By All Means Necessary - Krs-1 Boogie Down Productions
12. Bummed - Happy Mondays
13. Life's Been Good - The Sugercubes
14. Bug - Dinosaur Jr.
15. I Am Kurious Oranj - The Fall
16. The House Of Love - The House Of Love
17. Tender Pray - Nick Cave
18. Tender Pervert - Momus
19. The Eight Legged Groove Machine - The Wonder Stuff
20. Isn't Anything - My Bloody Valentine
21. Naked - Talking Heads
22. Rank - The Smiths
23. Rattle And Hum - U2
24. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
25. It Takes Two - Rob Base & Dj Ez Rock
26. Fisherman Blues - The Waterboys
27. Sunshine On Leith - The Proclaimers
28. Hope Against Hope - Band Of Susan's
29. Follow The Leader - Eric B And Rakim
30. Can You Party - Royal House
31. Let It Bee - Voice Of The Beehive
32. Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson
33. Blue Bell Knoll - The Cocteau Twins
34. Workers Playtime - Billy Bragg
35. Straight Out Of The Jungle - The Jungle Brothers
36. The Mona Lisa's Sister - Graham Parker
37. Stay Awake - Various
38. 8 X 10 - Randy Travis
39. Short Sharp Shocked - Michelle Shocked
40. Flag - Yellow
41. The Innocents - The Parachute Men
42. I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen
43. The Beatings - The Beatings
44. Shadowland - Kd Lang
45. Barbed Wire Kisses - The Jesus And Mary Chain
46. Gladsome, Humour And Blue - Martin Stephenson And The Daintees
47. In Gut's House - Ut
48. Instinct - Iggy Pop
49. Drowning By Numbers - Michael Nyman
50. From Enslavement To Obliteration - Napalm Death

NME Singles 1988

1. The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave (Mute)
2. Everyday Ls Like Sunday - Morrissey (Hmv)
3. Alphabet Street - Prince (Paisleypark)
4. Suedehead Morrissey (Hmv)
5. Destroy The Heart - The House Of Love (Creation)
6. Big Fun - Inner City (Lo)
7. Freak Scene - Dinosaurjr(Blastfirst)
8. Crash - Theprimitives'(Lazy)
9. Sidewalkin' - The Jesus & Mary Chain (Blanco Y Negro)
10. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah - The Pogues (Pogue Mahone)
11. Anchorage - Michelle Shocked (Cookingvinyl)
12. Someday - Ce Ce Rodgers (Atlantic)
13. Follow The Leader - Eric B &Rakim (Mca)
14. Left To My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
15. Don't Believe The Hype - Public Enemy (Def Jam-
16. Youparty - Royal House (Champion)
17. Reachin' - Phasell (Republic)
18. Weekend - Todd Terry (Sleepingbag)
19. You're Going To Miss Me - Turntable Orchestra (Republic)
20. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman (Elektra)
21. Teardrops - Womack & Womack (4th & Broadway)
22. People Have The Power - Patti Smith (Arista)
23. What's The Matter Here - 10,000 Maniacs (Elektra)
24. Beat Dis - Bomb The Bass (Rhythm King)
25. Distant Relatives - Megacity4 (Decoy)
26. Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry (Circa)
27. Goon Girl - Roxanne Shante (A&M)
28. Gigantic - Pixies(4ad)
29. Prize - Kitchens Of Distinction (One Little Indian)
30. Cold Metal - Lggy Pop (A&M)
31. Sometimes In Vain - The Parachute Men (Fire)
32. Theme From S' Express S'express (Rhythm King)
33. I'll House You - Jungle Brothers (Gee Street)
34. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers (Chrysalis)
35. Defcon One - Pop Will Eat Ltself (Chapter22)
36. Heart - Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
37. Plane Crash Ep - Lnspiral Carpets (Playtime)
38. Rumours - Gregory Isaacs (Greensleeves)
39. Collision - Loop (Chapter 22)
40. Love And Mercy - Brian Wilson (Warners)
41. Kidney Bingos - Wire (Mute)
42. Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp (Cbs)
43. Perfect - Fairground Attraction (Rca)
44. Nobody's Twisting Your Arm - The Wedding Present (Reception)
45. Christine - The House Of Love (Creation)
46. Voodoo Ray - A Guy Called Gerald (Deconstruction)
47. Map Of The World - Corn Dollies (Medium Cool)
48. What Is Soul - Stereo Mcs (Gee Street)
49. Victoria - The Fall (Beggars Banquet)
50. The Race - Yello (Phonogram)



Readers Poll 1988
(NME 07/01/89)

Many Thanks to Colin Hamilton For Supplying Pop Poll Results.

Best Band

1 Wedding Present
2 REM
3 The Fall
4 U2
5 The Smiths
6 New Order
7 Public Enemy
8 House Of Love
9 The Pogues
10 Sonic Youth

Best Album

1 Green - REM
2 Rattle And Hum - U2
3 The House Of Love - House Of Love
4 Rank - The Smiths
5 Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
6 Life's Too Good - Sugarcubes
7 Viva Hate - Morrissey
8 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
9 Blue Bell Knoll - Cocteau Twins
10 The 8 Legged Groove Machine - Wonder Stuff

Best Single

1 Destroy The Heart - House Of Love
2 Sidewalking - Jesus and Mary Chain
3 Everyday Is Like Sunday - Morrissey
4 Suedehead - Morrissey
5 Crash - Primitives
6 The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
7 Desire - U2
8 Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now? - Wedding Present
9 Christine - House Of Love
10 Fine Time - New Order

Best New Band/Act

1 House Of Love
2 Wonder Stuff
3 Darling Buds
4 Tracy Chapman
5 Inspiral Carpets