Final Album, Closing Track Mix
March 23, 2011
Last year, I made a mix of Debut Album, Opening Tracks, which featured a few of my favorite side one track ones on debut albums. In thinking about some of the bands that are breaking up recently (LCD Soundsystem, The White Stripes), I decided to make a sequel to that mix of the best closing tracks on an artist’s final album. What artists went out with a bang? Who provided the most climactic tracks to end their career? I’ve found it’s actually quite rare for bands to leave on a high note, and in many occassions a great final track is due to death more then a concious decision to retire. Like last time, I left out some the most obvious choices (”The End”, “Voodoo Child”) and selected a few of my favorites*. Download the mix below and tell me your favorite swan songs in the comments.
MP3 LCD Soundsystem – Home
MP3 The Stone Roses – Love Spreads
MP3 Nick Drake – From The Morning
MP3 The White Stripes – Effect & Cause
MP3 Nirvana – All Apologies
MP3 Joy Division – Decades
MP3 Neutral Milk Hotel – Two Headed Boy Pt. 2
MP3 Pulp – Sunrise
MP3 Sunny Day Real Estate – The Rising Tide
MP3 Blur – Battery In Your Leg
MP3 Guided By Voices – Huffman Prairie Flying Field
MP3 Jay Reatard – There Is No Sun
MP3 My Bloody Valentine – Soon
MP3 Elliott Smith – A Distorted Reality Is Now Necessary To Be Free
*keeping in mind, that some of the bands here (like Sunny Day Real Estate, My Bloody Valentine) could potentially release another album, however unlikely.
Tags: Blur, Elliott Smith, Guided By Voices, Jay Reatard, Joy Division, LCD Soundsystem, My Bloody Valentine, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, Pulp, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Stone Roses, The White Strips
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March 23rd, 2011 at 9:32 am
Great cuts! ‘Decades’ is pretty much the swan song to end all swan songs. I’d add Jets to Brazil’s ‘Rocket Boy’.
(via twitter)
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 am
Fugazi – Argument
Slint – Good Morning, Captain
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:57 am
Brilliant list, but some absolute favourites of mine are-
Bon Iver- Re:Stacks
Noah & The Whale- My Door is Always Open
Paul Simon- All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints
Sufjan Stevens- Impossible Soul.
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:11 am
I think you missed the all-important “Final Album” aspect of this mix.
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:13 am
Well, shoot, I was just making a final album, final song mix, too! I’d add “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” (Squeeze doesn’t count, right?)
(via twitter)
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:14 am
Also: Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart,” Husker Du’s “You Can Live at Home,” and Sleater-Kinney’s “Night Light”
(via twitter)
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:19 am
@Josh No. Squeeze will never count.
March 24th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Thank you very nice site