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Post by kds on Apr 8, 2019 13:33:14 GMT
The opposite of the greatest debut album thread, here is a list of bands that went out on top
The Beach Boys - TWGMTR - In all likelihood, the 2012 album will serve as a capper of a great and diverse studio career. The final three songs in particular are a wonderful way to take a bow.
The Beatles - Abbey Road - The Beatles ended their recording career with arguably their greatest album.
Queen - Innuendo - Even though the patchwork Made In Heaven was technically the final Queen album, their final proper album, released while Freddie was still alive is a great farewell, and their best collection of songs since the 1970s.
Pink Floyd - The Division Bell - Much like Queen, a later "final" album was cobbled together, but this is the final album released while Floyd were an active band.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 8, 2019 16:05:52 GMT
Some good choices there. The idea is harder than debuts for me, maybe because the finale album is not usually intended as one: either it happens accidentally because the person (or a key person) dies (Bowie, Zeppelin, countless others), or the intended final album ends up doing better than expected or somehow otherwise the artist keeps on going (e.g. the Zombies). It’s rarely, “OK, this is it: our last hurrah, then we’re DONE,” even if it’s meant that way. I’d reuse one of my great latter-day albums, Bowie’s Blackstar. Like the overtones of mortality in Queen’s Innuendo, it’s hard not to read those sentiments into this album, considering Bowie knew he was dying. But beyond those semi-mystical vibes it gives off, it has some really strong music. It’s one of my favorite few Bowie albums, remarkable for so late in his career. Velvet Underground’s Loaded is also a great one, if we’re letting the canon stand as being just the initial, Reed-led iterations of the band. It spans a broader range of styles than their previous albums, but still has enough touchstones to their previous albums. Plus it spawned a few of not only their best known songs, but classic rock standards: Sweet Jane and Rock and Roll. Sadly I’d guess that overall, last albums are sad, last gasps that don’t come close to those artists’ peaks.
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Post by kds on Apr 8, 2019 16:33:33 GMT
True, it's far easier to list great debuts, as generally, most artists do tend to release their best material in their earlier years.
But, I thought of another one that I'd already mentioned on my later greater thread
Black Sabbath - 13 - The inventors of heavy metal went out with a very solid album that echoed their 70s classics.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 8, 2019 20:53:20 GMT
These are the only two I can think of right now:
...and The Doors' album might require an asterisk because there were two subsequent albums - Other Voices and Full Circle - released by Ray, Robby, and John as The Doors after Morrison's death. But, if there was ever a great "going out on top" (or below...cough) album, it would be L.A. Woman. "Riders On The Storm", "L.A. Woman", and even "Hyacinth House" are kind of "leaving" songs; at least they have that feel to them.
It's hard to believe Simon & Garfunkel could release an album as great as Bridge Over Troubled Water - and never record a studio album together again! Paul Simon is a strange bird, and I guess the money or fan pressure or curiosity or having your career need a shot in the arm never swayed him. Maybe the occasional live albums were enough. Maybe Paul had enough of Artie (or vice versa) with just performing live together.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 8, 2019 23:31:57 GMT
Two great picks.
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Post by kds on Apr 14, 2021 14:22:20 GMT
Interesting list of 41 (weird number) "final" albums ultimateclassicrock.com/final-albums/Although, some are cheating as they're just the final albums for classic lineups (ie. The Doors, Skynyrd). Also, odd that Cloud 9 is listed as George's final album instead of Brainwashed. By this logic, Innuendo should be Queen's finale, and The Division Bell should be Floyd's.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 14, 2021 14:39:53 GMT
That list is interesting and a little frustrating in its inconsistency of approach.
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Post by kds on Apr 14, 2021 14:45:46 GMT
That list is interesting and a little frustrating in its inconsistency of approach. Also a pretty glaring omission with TWGMTR not making the cut. Christ, they made room for KISS's Monster.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 14, 2021 14:49:15 GMT
He's writing off Billy Joel...
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Post by kds on Apr 14, 2021 14:51:20 GMT
He's writing off Billy Joel... It's been nearly 30 years for Billy. He hasn't really expressed much desire to release new music.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 14, 2021 14:54:48 GMT
He's writing off Billy Joel... It's been nearly 30 years for Billy. He hasn't really expressed much desire to release new music. I didn't find that particularly controversial a choice, either. He has said he doesn't intend to release new pop music and hasn't done so since I was a junior in high school. I am now 44 years old... I'm not saying never, but I don't think it's a stretch to assume Joel is done with new pop albums. (If not, not. But the same could be said of a few other artists on the list.)
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 14, 2021 14:56:32 GMT
I don't understand how they call Squeeze the last Velvet Underground album but LA Woman the last Doors album, though. I get that there are a lot of different ways you can approach the topic, but it seems you would be consistent in applying your standard.
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Post by jk on Apr 14, 2021 15:00:32 GMT
Not that their other albums weren't good or even outstanding in their own right, but Talk Talk certainly went out with a bang in 1991 with Laughing Stock. This is its third track, the epic "After The Flood":
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 14, 2021 15:16:56 GMT
Not that their other albums weren't good or even outstanding in their own right, but Talk Talk certainly went out with a bang in 1991 with Laughing Stock. This is its third track, the epic "After The Flood": Here is the track for those in a region where the previously shared version isn't available.
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Post by kds on Apr 14, 2021 15:22:26 GMT
I don't understand how they call Squeeze the last Velvet Underground album but LA Woman the last Doors album, though. I get that there are a lot of different ways you can approach the topic, but it seems you would be consistent in applying your standard. Very inconsistent. Especially since they mix and match which posthumous albums to include. They included Queen and Floyd's posthumous albums, but not Lennon's, Harrison's, or Zeppelin's.
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