This morning on the way in to work (Monday commutes always produce ideas like this) I decided I'd include an abridged list of great album closers in my show. I arbitrarily set the number at 5, and set about trying to narrow down a list.
I decided I'd make it a list of great last songs on great albums, which made it a little easier. So here's what I came up with. Most of it's pretty obvious, and I'm sure everyone who reads this will disagree completely and chew me out. That's fine and that's fun. Go for it.
1. Weezer - Butterfly (from Pinkerton)
Weezer's second release was full of great songs and wacky production choices. It was a major departure from the polished sound of their self-titled debut, and predictably, there was major fallout as a result. By now everyone knows that story though, so I'll drop it. This was my favorite of their production decisions on the whole record. An acoustic song. From Weezer. Who knew? I still get chills.
2. Idlewild - In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction (from The Remote Part)
Roddy Woomble asked famed Scottish poet Edwin Morgan to write a poem for the end of the record, and this is what he got. So he trekked out to Edwin's place with a cheap microphone and a MiniDisc recorder, and got a recording of the old man reading his poem, and the band slapped on top of a repeating, surging riff, right after the prettiest, quietest song on the record. The first time I heard this song I did that thing where you look around your room to see what else could be playing over your music (kinda like when a song has sirens in it and you listen in your car and you think you're being pulled over) before I realized it was part of the song. This is great stuff.
3. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out) (from The Bends)
This choice is so obvious I'm almost embarrased that I chose it. But come on. How do you make a list of great songs at the end of great records and not include this one? You can't. Period.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Al Barger
Let me second you on the Springsteen. "Jungleland" is the ultimate Springsteen song. Good call.
Let us put in a little plug here for "Purple Rain." Now there's a big finish for you.
Less acclaimed, but Sinead O'Connor's trip back through the spiraling DNA of "Just Call Me Joe" most righteously kicks ass as well.
2 - Mark Sahm
I've not heard 4 of these tracks, so I can't comment on good closers or not. But Street Spirit is spot on. Good call.
A couple recent others I'd add:
"Moaner", the closer to Underworld's Beaucoup Fish
"Slow Life", the closer to Super Furry Animals' Phantom Power.
Al, a funny thing about Purple Rain: my first tape was a copy recorded in wrong order, so I always thought "Darling Nikki" was the closer.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Styx - Suite Madam Blue (from Equinox)
4 - [MR]Chip
Gouge Away?
5 - Rodney Welch
One of my favorite closers is "After Hours," from the eponymous third Velvet Underground disc, sung by drummer Maureen Tucker in her unaffected, child-like voice. After nine songs of lost love, spiritual despair, adultery, drugs and death comes this bouncy little two-minute cut that could either be a wistful desire for true love or a sing-along suicide note:
"If you close the door/The night could last forever/Leave the sunshine out/And drink a toast to never/All the people are dancing/And they're having such fun/I wish it could happen to me/But if you close the door/I'll never have to see the day again..."
The perfect album for late-night melancholy, and the last songs ends it perfectly.
6 - Mark Saleski
i like "Ain't It The Fall" at the end of Starland Vocal Band.
ok, mebbe not.
7 - Mikey McClenathan
Yeah, Purple Rain and Gouge Away are great, too.
8 - The Dude
What, no "A Day in the Life" from the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"? For shame.
9 - Baronius
If I agree with you about "Jungleland", can I cheat a little? "Black" is the second last song on Pearl Jam's Live on Two Legs. It's the finale of the concert. Then there's a track that serves as an encore (which is very average). As a closing number, "Black" really tears it apart.
And "Jungleland" had the same effect on me. "Born to Run" is often called Springsteen's best song, but "Jungleland" always works for me.
Who's Next: ends with "Won't Get Fooled Again".
10 - El Bicho
"When the Levee Breaks" Led Zeppelin IV
11 - Vern Halen
The Days of Wine & Roses from the Dream Syndicate album of the same name.
12 - J. P. Spencer
"Get It While You Can" By Janis Joplin off of her last album "Pearl".
I can't think of a better musical epitaph.
13 - Shark
My nominee:
Album: West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Vol. 3 ("A Child's Guide to Good & Evil")
*Song: "Anniversary of World War III
* (it's three minutes of silence)
14 - DJRadiohead
"Out of Nowhere" by Mark Lanegan on "Bubblegum." The first line of the song: "And as it ends/so to it begins." Something cool about ending an album with that. Or maybe it's just me. "Love is Blindness" on "Achtung, Baby" is also really good.
I like the Radiohead and Springsteen choice. And the Weezer, too.
This is a cool question to consider.
15 - DJRadiohead
In fact, if I might... Mark Lanegan has a penchant for album closers. The swirling psychadelics of "Because of This" was an unexpected way to close "Scraps at Midnight." The repetitive, searching blues of "Fix" was a tremendous closer to "Field Songs."
Yes, I am a biased Lanegan fan but he does know how to close an album.
16 - Tiffany Leigh
Cool convo topic. There's too many good albums to pick favorites, and some of my favorite albums don't really have a kick-ass closer, but here are some that I think nail the ethos of the "Best Closer Ever," at least in the context of the albums on which they appear:
"Downtown," B-52's, from their self-titled debut;
"Train In Vain," The Clash, from "London Calling" (and I know they dumped this on last minute, and it's a "bonus" or hidden track, but it's still a hell of a closer);
"Show Me Mary" by Catherine Wheel, from "Chrome" - this fast loud poppy rock-out that sends you home in a perfect place;
"Havalina" by The Pixies from "Bossanova" - a great "chill-out" track that still maintains their eponymous other-worldly outer space tropical vibe;
"Wild Thing" by Sister Carol from the "Something Wild" soundtrack & "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" by the Smiths from the "Pretty In Pink" soundtrack.
-Soundtracks can definitely be considered cheating, BUT on soundtracks the track listing is usually chronological, so in great movies he "end credits" or last song of the movie can be memorable, fitting, and fantastic.
17 - Tiffany Leigh
Re: Weezer
I HATE that Rivers Cuomo slags and disowns Pinkerton because it's such a terrific and perfect album, and with each subsequent release of theirs, it only shines brighter.
18 - Mikey McClenathan
Train in Vain would've been on my list for sure if it was 10 songs long. Good one.
Also, You're absolutely right about Pinkerton. The buzz about their latest record very early on was that it would be a return to Pinkerton-era Weezer. Turned out to be anything but.
19 - [MR]Chip
The new album by Belgian band dEUS ends with 'Nothing Really Ends'. Most of you won't know it but the title alone should tell you it's a good choice to end with :)
20 - Baronius
Train in Vain is a really good song, and it's the last song on the album. But it doesn't really fit on the album, does it? I think of great closers like Won't Get Fooled Again or Jungleland as being like the steeple on a Gothic cathedral, kind of the pinnacle that completes the structure. But hey, maybe I'm just bitter because I bought London Calling at full price and Born to Run for $2.50.
21 - El Bicho
The appropriately titled "When The Music's Over" off The Doors "Strange Days"
22 - godoggo
One For My Baby from Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely. Although maybe a saloon song isn't ideal. After all, coffee is for closers.
Off topic, I sure wish we'd gotten, say, a week's notice before the no personal attacks policy was instituted. I'd been saving up some juicy ones.
23 - Al Barger
Godoggo indeed with that Sinatra pick. Outstanding!
24 - Anjel
The second album of the legendary grunge band Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" ends with a jazzy bonus track "the second album". Twist of music and the lyrics are great. simply outrageous in this category!
25 - Mikey McClenathan
The more people that comment on here, the more I wish I made this a top ten list.
Honorary mentions extended to Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon, which ends with "Soco Amaretto Lime," and REM's Automatic for the People, with the majestic one-two punch of "Nightswimming" and "Find the River." And speaking of great one-two punches, forgive me for adding Third Eye Blind's first record, which ends with "Motorcycle Drive By" and "God of Wine."
Maybe a great one-two punch top 5 is in the works....