Top Songs — 1988
▶ Spotify PlaylistIn 1988, my sister started dating a guy who was obsessed with music. He was in a band, worked at a record store, and was constantly bringing new sounds into our home. I benefited tremendously from the influx. He was always making copies of CDs onto Maxell UR cassettes for her, and I was raiding them from the other side (sadly, the wretched cassette tape was the only form of media we supported in our house at the time).
Among this bounty, eventually came a copy of R.E.M.'s new album, Green — the single most influential album of my life. This was my introduction to alternative music, which would come to redefine my entire relationship with music. It wasn't an overnight transformation, mostly because of lack of access. I discovered MTV's 120 Minutes, but its midnight-to-2 a.m. Sunday night slot (technically early Monday morning) wasn't exactly ideal for a high school freshman. Plus, I was simultaneously engaged in a three-year deep dive into classic rock.
Nonetheless, slowly my tastes began to change. I discovered bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, They Might Be Giants, and The Violent Femmes — and with them, a new, different, more thrilling world of music.
Green might not be the best R.E.M. album ever, but it was the turning point for me. I've never formally made an all-time Top Artists list (yet), but if I did, there's a good chance R.E.M. would land at the top.
1.⭐ The Primitives — Crash
2.⭐ Morrissey — Alsatian Cousin
3.⭐ R.E.M. — You Are The Everything
4.⭐ Q Lazzarus — Goodbye Horses
5.⭐ my bloody valentine — drive it all over me
6.⭐ Galaxie 500 — Tugboat
7.⭐ Jane's Addiction — Mountain Song
8.⭐ When In Rome — The Promise
9.⭐ Morrissey — Suedehead
10.⭐ R.E.M. — Orange Crush
11.⭐ Pixies — Where Is My Mind?
12.⭐ Jane's Addiction — Summertime Rolls
13.⭐ Sonic Youth — Teen Age Riot
14.⭐ Metallica — One
15.⭐ Jane's Addiction — Jane Says
16.⭐ R.E.M. — Untitled
17.⭐ The Vaselines — Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam
18.Pixies — Bone Machine
19.The Stone Roses — Elephant Stone
20.Pixies — Gigantic
21.Mekons — Ghosts of American Astronauts
22.The Bangles,Susanna Hoffs — In Your Room
23.Erasure — A Little Respect
24.Morrissey — Hairdresser on Fire
25.Ultra Vivid Scene — Mercy Seat
26.U2 — All I Want Is You
27.Morrissey — Everyday Is Like Sunday
28.Elton John — I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That
29.my bloody valentine — Feed Me with Your Kiss
30.They Might Be Giants — Ana Ng
31.Tracy Chapman — Fast Car
32.The Bangles,Susanna Hoffs — Eternal Flame
33.Roxette — Dangerous
34.Poison — Fallen Angel
35.Edie Brickell & New Bohemians — What I Am
36.Pet Shop Boys — Always on My Mind
37.The Parachute Men — Sometimes in Vain
38.Jane's Addiction — Ocean Size
39.Eric Carmen — Make Me Lose Control
40.Paula Abdul — Straight Up
41.The Psychedelic Furs — All That Money Wants
42.U2 — Desire
43.The Vaselines — Molly's Lips
44.The Vaselines — Dying For It
45.R.E.M. — Stand
46.U2 — Angel Of Harlem
47.Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark — Dreaming
48.Lita Ford — Kiss Me Deadly
49.The Dead Milkmen — Punk Rock Girl
50.Kate Bush — This Woman's Work
51.my bloody valentine — You Never Should
52.They Might Be Giants — Purple Toupee
53.The Jeff Healey Band — Angel Eyes
54.Poison — Every Rose Has Its Thorn
55.R.E.M. — Get Up
56.Jane's Addiction — Ted, Just Admit It...
57.my bloody valentine — Sueisfine
58.Living Colour — Cult of Personality
59.Pixies — River Euphrates
60.The House of Love — Christine
61.U2 — Heartland
62.The Church — Under the Milky Way
63.Dinosaur Jr. — Freak Scene
64.Paula Abdul — Cold Hearted
65.Traveling Wilburys — End Of The Line
66.Roxette — The Look
67.Pixies — Break My Body
68.R.E.M. — Pop Song 89
69.Siouxsie and the Banshees — The Killing Jar
70.The Wonder Stuff — A Wish Away
71.The Fall — Victoria
72.Beat Happening — Indian Summer
73.R.E.M. — Turn You Inside-Out
74.Bad Religion — What Can You Do?
75.The Go-Betweens — Streets of Your Town
76.For Against — Sabres
77.my bloody valentine — you made me realise
78.Fugazi — Waiting Room
79.The Primitives — Way Behind Me
80.Erasure — Chains of Love
81.Prince — Alphabet St.
82.Poison — Nothin' But A Good Time
83.Information Society — What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)
84.Traveling Wilburys — Handle With Care
85.Naked Raygun — Soldiers Requiem