View Full Version : Best Album Closer
CardiffGiant
05-29-2008, 03:42 PM
so I was listening to King of the World by Steely Dan tonight which is the last song on Countdown to Ecstasy. I've always liked this song and the fact that it closes out the album finishes it on a real high streak that leaves you wanting to come back for more. Sometimes just the opposite works too, a calm slow song.
So what are some of your favorite album enders?
drjoek
05-29-2008, 03:51 PM
http://www.math.kth.se/~tomase/Tomas%20Ekholm_files/Steely%20Dan/Countdown%20to%20ecstasy.jpg
Love this whole album
my roommate in college said that the album cover was suppose to be a bunch of sperm guys waiting for the big moment
Hottub
05-29-2008, 04:01 PM
Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns. - Mother Love Bone.
Gonna Get Ya. - Pete Townshend.
Train In Vain - The Clash.
Eyes Of A Stranger - Queensryche.
Rocket Queen - Guns N Roses.
Love, Reign O'er Me - The Who.
docgoblin
05-29-2008, 04:04 PM
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/docgoblin/WindAndWuthering_.jpg
The second Genesis album without Gabriel was a great one and the closer, 'Afterglow,' was one of the best album-enders I've ever heard. You have to listen to it all the way through. That's the beauty of a great album. There's so little like it today. Everything is so singles oriented.
Excellent topic Cardiff!:clap:
frye hole
05-29-2008, 04:08 PM
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a350/stankfoot/PILMetalBox.jpg
Radio 4 - "a calm slow song"
Tallman388
05-29-2008, 04:17 PM
"How Many More Times" from the first Zeppelin album. Something about it gets me every time.
EliSnow
05-29-2008, 04:22 PM
This probably makes me a tool, but one of my favorite closers is Purple Rain.
docgoblin
05-29-2008, 04:47 PM
This probably makes me a tool, but one of my favorite closers is Purple Rain.
Anyone who has Cybermen in their sig could never be a tool.
The Stones' "Let It Bleed" closes with "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
It also opens with "Gimme Shelter."
Side 2 starts with "Midnight Rambler."
"Monkey Man" and the title track are also sandwiched in there with a few other gems.
If it's not the greatest album of all time I'll take a shit and eat it right here and now.
DarkHippie
05-29-2008, 04:58 PM
The Stones' "Let It Bleed" closes with "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
It also opens with "Gimme Shelter."
Side 2 starts with "Midnight Rambler."
"Monkey Man" and the title track are also sandwiched in there with a few other gems.
If it's not the greatest album of all time I'll take a shit and eat it right here and now.
Led Zep IV
Start shitting
Led Zep IV
Start shitting
Puh-leeze.
Hottub
05-29-2008, 05:04 PM
Led Zep IV
Start shitting
...and when it comes to making out, alway play Zeppelin IV, side 1.
DarkHippie
05-29-2008, 05:04 PM
Puh-leeze.
In order:
Black Dog
Rock and Roll
Battle of Evermore
Stairway to Heaven
Misty Mountain Hop
Going to California
Four Sticks
When the Levee Breaks (my vote for best closer)
Eat it!!
docgoblin
05-29-2008, 05:16 PM
Train In Vain - The Clash.
Very good call...The most interesting thing is that this was never supposed to be on the album. It was originally going to be released as a flexi-disk in The New Musical Express. The deal fell through to issue it that way so they put it on the album as a secret track. The first pressing of the LP that I have doesn't even have it listed on the back cover, and it's on the record as an alternate groove track. The real closer would have been 'Revolution Rock'... Not nearly the strong closer that 'Train in Vain' was.
Hottub
05-29-2008, 05:23 PM
Yeah, I have the vinyl (still in good shape, thank you) in the basement. It's really cool that it's a secret track, not listed, and a top 10 single.
ChrisBrown
05-29-2008, 05:26 PM
Dark Side of the Moon ending with Brain Damage
mildly amusing
05-29-2008, 05:29 PM
Thorn Tree in the Garden - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Hottub
05-29-2008, 05:31 PM
Dark Side of the Moon ending with Brain Damage
"Dirty Boys" by Kix. Blow My Fuse.
Ending with Brian Damage!!:thumbup:
Thomas Merton
05-29-2008, 05:31 PM
Yonder Mountain String Band's Mountain Tracks Vol. 2
A 26 minute jamgrass finish of: No Expectations(from Stones' Beggars Banquet) into Peace of Mind>Snow on the Pines>Peace of Mind
Or "Green Grass and High Tides" from the Outlaws
docgoblin
05-29-2008, 05:33 PM
The real perfect closer would have been 'The End' on Abbey Road but Paul decided to throw that stupid 'Her Majesty' on after that perfect medley. 'The End' would have been so significant since it would have been the end of an era as well as the end of the album. I always think of 'The End' as the final part of the album.
bobsnin
05-29-2008, 05:37 PM
As much as I hate their newer stuff, "Only in Dreams" is a great end to Weezer's Blue Album.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56126935@N00/2534640459/" title="blue by bobsnin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2534640459_7828d63aef_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="blue" /></a>
ChrisBrown
05-29-2008, 05:44 PM
A couple more:
Dylan, Blonde on Blonde ending - Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Meat Puppets II - Aurora Borealis
TeeBone
05-29-2008, 05:51 PM
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:wLJS2owZuIWn9M:http://www.gothamist.com/attachments/arts_jen/2007_02_arts_allmans.jpg
perfect closer
IMSlacker
05-29-2008, 06:41 PM
Old 97's - Too Far To Care - "Four Leaf Clover"
Recyclerz
05-29-2008, 06:42 PM
The best close to any album is the three song run at the end of Tim by the Replacements:
Left of the Dial
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClGt4QKFB6k&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClGt4QKFB6k&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Little Mascara
(How could this video not be on the interwebs?)
Here Comes a Regular
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PW7PS3Lkih0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PW7PS3Lkih0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
midwestjeff
05-29-2008, 07:50 PM
White Stripes -Elephant- It's True That We Love One Another
Raconteurs -Consolers of the Lonely- Carolina Drama
Grateful Dead -Mars Hotel- Ship of Fools
Grateful Dead -Terrapin Station- Terrapin Station
Jane's Addiction -Ritual de lo Habitual- Classic Girl
Alice in Chains -Dirt- Would?
Bob Dylan -Bob Dylan- See That My Grave is Kept Clean
Pink Floyd -Animals- Pigs on the Wing, Pt.2
The Who: "Won't get fooled again" off of Who's Next.
Foo Fighters New Way Home from The Colour and the Shape.
DarkHippie
05-29-2008, 08:13 PM
The Who: "Won't get fooled again" off of Who's Next.
This, When the Levee Breaks, and Brain Damage are the three best I've heard so far. Modern albums don't focus much on song postioning cause they know its all gonna get downloaded anyway
Leticia
05-29-2008, 08:19 PM
Dark Side of the Moon ending with Brain Damage
I completely agree with the dark side of the moon. Except the closer is Eclipse.
drjoek
05-29-2008, 08:23 PM
Fight the Power
Fear of a Black Planet
Public Enemy
Crippler
05-29-2008, 09:39 PM
Green Day - Dookie, (unofficially) "All by Myself"...always gave me a chuckle.
Van Halen - F.U.C.K. "Top of the World"...because I'm a homer.
Great call with "Won't Get Fooled Again" & "Love, Reign O'er Me"
In the 'Should Have Been a Great Closer' category, even though it single-handedly spawned the 80s hair band mandatory love ballad phase, I nominate Theatre of Pain's "Home Sweet Home" which for some inexplicable reason is at the end of side one...back when music had 'sides.' :sad: Same with Metallica's "Fade to Black."
razorboy
05-29-2008, 11:21 PM
"Come on Up to the House" ending Waits' Mule Variations, especially right after "Take It With Me" is strong.
EddieMoscone
05-30-2008, 02:22 AM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/BlackTrash.jpg
Sticky Fingaz - The Autobiography of Kirk Jones
One of the under appreciated rap albums of the last 10 years.
Ends with a cover of Wonderful World.
sailor
05-30-2008, 03:07 AM
two suns in the sunset - the final cut
i wouldn't put it in floyd's top 20 songs even, but it ties up the mood/theme of the album so well.
ChrisBrown
05-30-2008, 03:42 AM
"Come on Up to the House" ending Waits' Mule Variations, especially right after "Take It With Me" is strong.
Absolutely. Perfect song to end this album and one of the best closers mentioned.
mikeyboy
05-30-2008, 04:37 AM
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AZAUM.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Rock & Roll Suicide
http://www2.bitstream.net/~bradyh/mats/images/letitbe2.jpg
Answering Machine
http://www.mnhs.org/collections/mplsmusic/web_assets/fullsize_images/mf008385.jpg
Can't Hardly Wait
bossdjbware
05-30-2008, 05:55 AM
"Come on Up to the House" ending Waits' Mule Variations, especially right after "Take It With Me" is strong.Absolutely. Perfect song to end this album and one of the best closers mentioned.
x2
also "Hotel Chelsea Nights" on Ryan Adams' Love Is Hell and "Eskimo" from Damien Rice's O. If you don't include the hidden track.
KnoxHarrington
05-30-2008, 06:04 AM
"Decades" on Closer by Joy Division. It damn near sounds like a suicide note.
The real perfect closer would have been 'The End' on Abbey Road but Paul decided to throw that stupid 'Her Majesty' on after that perfect medley. 'The End' would have been so significant since it would have been the end of an era as well as the end of the album. I always think of 'The End' as the final part of the album.
QFT.
CardiffGiant
05-30-2008, 01:57 PM
Wow great suggestions guys, lots of songs I'm familiar with thanks to XM but am not really familiar with the full album so I never knew they were the album closers.
I'll mention a few by my favorite band Rush.
Available Light from Presto (really mellow but builds up)
Vital Signs off of Moving Pictures (killer bass line)
Knights of Cydonia by Muse off of Black Holes and Revelations.
paulisded
05-30-2008, 06:22 PM
The best close to any album is the three song run at the end of Tim by the Replacements:
Left of the Dial
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClGt4QKFB6k&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClGt4QKFB6k&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Little Mascara
(How could this video not be on the interwebs?)
Here Comes a Regular
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PW7PS3Lkih0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PW7PS3Lkih0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Definitely :QFT:!
paulisded
05-30-2008, 06:29 PM
http://www2.bitstream.net/~bradyh/mats/images/letitbe2.jpg
Answering Machine
http://www.mnhs.org/collections/mplsmusic/web_assets/fullsize_images/mf008385.jpg
Can't Hardly Wait
Actually, almost all of the 'mats albums had great closers:
Sorry, Ma: Raised In the City
Stink: Go (the only non-hardcore song on the album)
Hootenanny: Treatment Bound
Let It Be: Answering Machine
Tim: Here Comes a Regular
Pleased to Meet Me: Can't Hardly Wait
Don't Tell a Soul: Darlin' One (one of their most underrated tracks)
All Shook Down: The Last
My favorite closer of all-time, though, may be the Stones' "Moonlight Mile" from Sticky Fingers, with "Find the River" from R.E.M.'s Automatic For the People close behind.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AZAUM.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Rock & Roll Suicide
that would have been my choice, it's my perfect rock and roll album
IMSlacker
05-30-2008, 06:32 PM
"Fools Gold" from the Stone Roses first album was pretty good.
peacefrog081
05-30-2008, 06:47 PM
"The End" by THE DOORS
All of the Stone Temple Pilot's and Velvet Revolver albums have awesome closing songs.
Recyclerz
05-30-2008, 06:53 PM
I think Paulisded should get a merit badge for his perspicacity. :wink:
underdog
05-30-2008, 07:07 PM
Knights of Cydonia by Muse off of Black Holes and Revelations.
They close out their shows with that, too. It's fucking amazing.
I would vote for any of Coheed and Cambria's albums. Or Third Eye off of Tool's Aenima. Or just about any NIN album.
paulisded
05-30-2008, 07:10 PM
Another artist with great closers is Elvis Costello.
My Aim Is True: Watching the Detectives
This Year's Model: Radio Radio
Armed Forces: (What's So Funny About) Peace, Love, and Understanding
And how could I forget "Tomorrow Never Knows" from the Beatles' Revolver?
lleeder
05-30-2008, 07:13 PM
The Doors-The End
The Doors- Strange Days- When The Musics Over
NIN-The Downward Spiral-Hurt
SatCam
05-30-2008, 07:42 PM
Pearl Jam Vs. - Indifference
Springsteen The Wild The Innocent & E Street Shuffle - NYC Serenade
paracetamol flanders
05-30-2008, 08:02 PM
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a350/stankfoot/PILMetalBox.jpg
Radio 4 - "a calm slow song"
And a soothing balm after the agrivation of trying to pry all three 12"s out of the snug can.
docgoblin
05-31-2008, 03:52 AM
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/docgoblin/Acinside.jpg
FROM THE INSIDE
As concept albums go I always thought this was one of the best since it was written by a guy who had actually just gotten out of the 'nut hut.' The songs really represent a person with serious issues. The closer "Inmates (We're all crazy)" is perfect to end the album. This was probably the last good album he made. Once he cleaned up he was never the same... But he became a hell of a golfer!
TeeBone
05-31-2008, 03:56 AM
"Fools Gold" from the Stone Roses first album was pretty good.
Good Call.
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k4bHMVAKDao&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k4bHMVAKDao&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
CardiffGiant
05-31-2008, 02:02 PM
very good call on fool's gold that song is amazing.
BoondockSaint
05-31-2008, 02:12 PM
Warren Zevon - The Wind - Keep Me in Your Heart
silks
05-31-2008, 02:32 PM
"Over Now" on Alice In Chains' final album...
Stankfoot
05-31-2008, 04:44 PM
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a350/stankfoot/PILMetalBox.jpg
Radio 4 - "a calm slow song"
And a soothing balm after the agrivation of trying to pry all three 12"s out of the snug can.
I never had a problem getting them out of the can - but it was difficult to figure out which songs were on each record since all the labels just said "PiL".
Good times!
Franklyn
05-31-2008, 07:22 PM
I like the hidden STP track on Purple.
barjockey
05-31-2008, 09:46 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b8/Lamb74.jpg/200px-Lamb74.jpg
"It"
Slumbag
05-31-2008, 09:58 PM
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/michael114339/Hypnotize.jpg
I liked Soldier Side Part II on System of a Downs Hypnotize. It was really cool, because on Mesmerize, the first album of the two album set, the first song is the opening verse to Soldier Side. Then, the second CD has the rest of the song at the end.
Devo37
05-31-2008, 10:56 PM
Depeche Mode But Not Tonight on Black Celebration
PapaBear
05-31-2008, 11:07 PM
Warren Zevon - The Wind - Keep Me in Your Heart
Now, that's just cheating!:glurps:
keithy_19
05-30-2009, 11:53 PM
weezer-only in dreams
alkaline trio-blue in the face
hedges
05-31-2009, 12:32 AM
off the top of my head "Something for Nothing" 2112 Rush
"End on End" Rites of Spring LP
Kublakhan61
05-31-2009, 05:28 AM
Pavement - Fillmore Jive from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
KnoxHarrington
05-31-2009, 07:03 AM
Brian Eno's always done a good job closing out albums, but here's my favorite, the closer of "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)":
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dino_electropolis
05-31-2009, 07:17 AM
This probably makes me a tool, but one of my favorite closers is Purple Rain.
Not at all.... Great album and timeless song.
My quick picks :
The Doors- the End
GnR- Coma. (use you illusions I)
EddieMoscone
05-31-2009, 07:21 AM
How about Dr. Dre - Bitches Ain't Shit off the Chronic?
Kublakhan61
05-31-2009, 07:48 AM
Brian Eno's always done a good job closing out albums, but here's my favorite, the closer of "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)":
Yeah - that is a fucking killer tune. My favorite Eno album.
burrben
05-31-2009, 08:52 AM
midwestjeff mentioned this and i second it
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