The Hickensian

5.09.06

Endings

Just some album covers - nothing important I’ve had an idea for a while now about doing a one-off podcast on the theme of ‘endings’. Some of my favourite tracks happen to be the last on the album, but I know I’m never going to get around to recording a podcast or wading through the murky waters of licensing.

So, here’s a plain old text list of my (current!) favourite endings:

‘Everyone but me’ – Starflyer 59 (Americana) *
‘Walk into the Sea’ – Low (The Great Destroyer)
‘Comforting Sounds’ – Mew* (Frengers)
‘Burger Queen’ – Placebo (Without you I’m nothing)
‘The Party’ – Starflyer 59 (Everybody makes mistakes)
‘Sandpit’ – Curve (Doppelganger)
‘Reservations’ – Wilco (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
‘Mr November’ – The National (Alligator)
‘A Wolf at the Door’ – Radiohead (Hail to the thief)
‘Life is Sweet’ – Maria McKee (Life is Sweet)

(* This also happens to be my favourite song of all time. I’ll probably look back at this list in a few months time I wonder why I didn’t list x instead of y, but this one always remains at the top for me.)

A few of these tracks happen to be available via iTunes, so I’ve created an iMix of Endings, although the best parts of the songs tend to be after the preview cuts off.

Think of it as a meme if you will, and post your favourite ways of ending an album!

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No.1

Luke Redpath said 1033 days ago:

Mmm, off the top of my head:

* “Milk”, Garbage (debut album)

* “The Flames of the End”, At The Gates (Slaugher of the Soul)

* “All Play Dead”, Bjork (Debug) – might have been a bonus track, so I’m not sure if that can count.

No.2

Luke Redpath said 1033 days ago:

Debug? Haha, shows what I’ve been doing all morning. “DEBUT”

No.3

Mat S said 1033 days ago:

* ‘Natural Anthem’ – The Postal Service (Give Up)

* ‘Road To Joy’ – Bright Eyes (I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning)

* ‘Hooligans For Life’ – Rival Schools (United By Fate)

* ‘Argument’ – Fugazi (The Argument)

* ‘Megacolon’ – Fischerspooner (#1)

And I’m not sure if it really counts, but :

* ‘Intelligence’ – ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (The Secret Of Elena’s Tomb EP)

No.4

Matthew Buchanan said 1033 days ago:

I’ll bite…

‘Untitled’ – The Cure (Disintegration)
‘Finality’ – Dimmer (You’ve Got To Hear The Music)
‘Devil Will Ride’ – Gomez (Liquid Skin)
‘Air To Sky’ – Hint (Portakabin Fever)
‘Cosmic Supernatural’ – Kid Loco (A Grand Love Story)
‘Twilight’ – The Phoenix Foundation (Pegasus)
‘Havalina’ – The Pixies (Bossanova)
‘Now Here Is Nowhere’ – Secret Machines (Now Here Is Nowhere)
‘I Can’t Win’ – The Strokes (Room On Fire)
‘Well Itâ€™s True That We…’- The White Stripes (Elephant)

No.5

Kit said 1033 days ago:

The Living End are the masters of the ending track:

The Room (on Modern ARTillery) is the best track they’ve ever released.
Closing In (on their debut album) is possibly my favourite instrumental track.

I also really like Glimpse At the Good Life by Dogs Die In Hot Cars (on their Please Describe Yourself album).

No.6

Kalle said 1033 days ago:

Neat! As Mat said, Natural Anthem is a realy good ending.

Knights of Cydonia – Muse (Black Holes and Revalations)

No.7

Jon Hicks said 1033 days ago:

Gah! I’m already seeing some selections that should’ve been in my list!

No.8

Dave Jeffery said 1033 days ago:

# ‘Lamposts’ – Bell X1 (Flock)

# ‘The Blood’ – The Frames (Burn The Maps)

# ‘Puncture Repair’ – Elbow (Leaders Of The Free World)

# ‘I’ll See Your Heart & I’ll Raise You Mine’ – Bell X1 (Music In Mouth)

# ‘Underdog’ – Stoney (The Scene & The Unseen)

# ‘Jakov’s Suite’ – Tapes ‘n Tapes (The Loon)

They are the one’s that come to mind. I definitely agree with your choice of â€˜Mr Novemberâ€™ â€“ The National (Alligator) and â€˜A Wolf at the Doorâ€™ â€“ Radiohead (Hail to the thief).

I heard a bit of Starflyer 59 a few years ago and I liked them, I’m gonna give them another try.

No.9

Kevin said 1033 days ago:

I’m a big fan of albums ending in a specific way: the maudlin ballad that transfoms into a dixieland romp. The only examples I can remember off the top of my head are Tom Wait’s ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’ (Rain Dogs) and ‘Life In A Glass House’ (Amnesiac). These aren’t my favourite end-songs, but I like the stylistic singularness. Also ‘The Anchor Song’ from Bjork’s Debut makes the list, if only because it’s heavy on the woodwinds. By the way, Jon – nice realign. I lke some of these new usability features, and the more obviously grid-based sidebar area.

No.10

Colly said 1033 days ago:

Ohhhh, the bit in Comforting Sounds when it all kicks in – magical. Good choice, Hicks!

In fact, Mew are possibly the most underrated band ever! Kind of like Aha on speed. I love Stina Nordenstrum’s vocally bits on Frengers too.

I’m going to put it on now…

No.11

Pete Freitag said 1033 days ago:

The iMix link doesn’t work in the US, it gives you an error “The item you requested is currently not available in the US store”, bummer apple.

No.12

Jesper said 1033 days ago:

The Road to Mandalay by Robbie Williams (Sing When You are Winning).

No.13

Jon Hicks said 1033 days ago:

“The iMix link doesnâ€™t work in the US, it gives you an error â€œThe item you requested is currently not available in the US storeâ€, bummer apple.”

Don’t worry, I think only about 4 of the tracks are on there, and then you only get a wee 30 sec preview.

“Ohhhh, the bit in Comforting Sounds when it all kicks in â€“ magical. ”

Yeah thats the bit! And then it all ends in this great cacophony! :D

No.14

John Handelaar said 1033 days ago:

‘Every Little Counts’ – Brotherhood (New Order, 1986)
‘Out There Somewhere?’ – In Sides (Orbital, 1997)
‘When The Angels’ – Steve McQueen (Prefab Sprout, 1985)
‘The Mercy Beat’ – Infected (The The, 1986)
‘Time it’s Time’ – Colour of Spring (Talk Talk, 1986)

Simply couldn’t think of a decent example after 1990.

Is it me being an old fart, or does anyone else miss the way that so many of these highly-crafted 1980s albums deliberately organised tracks into two sides?

I could start a whole thing about “best first tracks on side B”...

No.15

Jon Hicks said 1033 days ago:

Aww “When the Angels” is superb, I’m going to play that now…

No.16

Scott Johnson said 1033 days ago:

I had a feeling I might find a Radiohead track in that list. They almost always have happy endings.

No.17

pr10n said 1033 days ago:

I would have to suggest:
‘Perfect Day’ – Lou Reed (Transformer)
‘Signing Off’ – Antiloop (LP)

No.18

Justin said 1033 days ago:

my Happy Endings:

One and the Same (Coda) – Rob Dougan (Furious Angels)
Simonize – Pete Yorn (Musicforthemorningafter)
Everything Will Be Alright – The Killers (Hot Fuss)

and the one-two punch of

Nightswimming – R.E.M. (Automatic for the People)
Find the River – R.E.M. (Automatic for the People)

No.19

Jeff Hume said 1033 days ago:

The White Stripes – White Blood Cells – This Protector
The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema – Stacked Crooked
Neil Young – After the Gold Rush – Cripple Creek Ferry
The Beatles – Abbey Road – Her Majesty
The Tragically Hip – Phantom Power – Emperor Penguin
The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldier – Blue Veins
Matthew Good Band – Beautiful Midnight – Running For Home
Electric Six – Fire – Synthesizer
The Doors – The Soft Parade – The Soft Parade
The Beatles – Revolver – Tomorrow Never Knows
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here – Shine on You Crazy Diamond Part II

No.20

Steve Cochrane said 1033 days ago:

Wow, great idea. I’ve got some downloading to do. I second “A Wolf at the Door” and submit Yo La Tengo – “Blue Line Swinger” (off Electr-O-Pura), Spoon – “Chicago at Night” (off Girls Can Tell), The Arcade Fire – “In the Back Seat” (off Funeral), and Van Morrison – “Moonshine Whiskey” (off Tupelo Honey).

No.21

Nick Harris said 1033 days ago:

Scattered Black & Whites – Elbow (Asleep in the Back) is my all time fave ender…

but, let us not forget…

Mother’s Of The Disappeared – U2 (The Joshua Tree)
Worms and Angels – Echobelly (On)
Archie and Veronica – Lovage (Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By)
Smile To The World – Magnet (On Your Side)
Broken Star – The Bluetones (Return to the Last Chance Saloon)
Emily’s Pine – The Bluetones (Science & Nature)
Centrefolds – Placebo (Sleeping With Ghosts)
Afternoons (and the secret track) – Lori McKenna (The Kitchen Tapes)
Slide Show – Travis (The Man Who)

and, of course… Street Spirit (Fade Out) – Radiohead (The Bends)

No.22

pauldwaite said 1033 days ago:

Intriguing: I can’t stand A Wolf At The Door. I think The Tourist is Radiohead’s best last track, partially because I like it, and partially because it closes one of the densest, most sprawling and bombastic albums I’ve ever heard with a single “ting” sound. Who says Radiohead don’t have a sense of humour?

My favourite ever last track is Attack Of The Giant Ants, by Blondie, from their debut album Blondie.

No.23

Reine Larsson said 1033 days ago:

I’ve always felt that “The End”, the final track on The Doors’ debut album, is a very appropriate ending.

No.24

Dan said 1032 days ago:

U2 has a lot of great tracks which are the last on the album. My fave is probably Love is Blindness off Achtung baby.

No.25

Ivar said 1032 days ago:

I defenitely agree with Reine here, “The End” by Doors is a very appropriate ending.

No.26

Jeff Hume said 1032 days ago:

OK, after buying Shut Up, I Am Dreaming by Sunset Rubdown I have to amend my list to include the final track – Shut Up, I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings. In fact, this might be one of the best last songs I have heard ever.

No.27

Gordon said 1024 days ago:

Ohh looky, the tree is back!

Hmmm, it’s been a while since I commented on here obviously..

Anyway, just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for ‘introducing’ me to Starflyer 59. It’s taken me all morning to track down where I first saw mention of them!

Mercy buckets Sir, that’s some good fish!

No.28

Scott said 1023 days ago:

I would have to sat that “Goodbye Sky Harbor” by Jimmy Eat World on the album Clarity is a beautiful way to end a fantastic album. Well worth a listen if you have a spare 18 minutes or so.

No.29

Tim Almond said 1023 days ago:

Cop Shoot Cop : Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space : Spiritualized
Champagne Supernova : What’s the Story… : Oasis
Oddfellows Local 151 : Document : REM
Sometimes it Snows in April : Parade : Prince
Party for your Right to Fight : It takes a Nation of Millions : Public Enemy
Bar Italia : Different Class : Pulp

No.30

Will said 1023 days ago:

Reading through your blog, Jon, and thought I’d join in:

The Arcade Fire (Funeral) – In the backseat
Wolf Parade (Apologies to the Queen Mary) – This Heart’s on Fire
Ben Folds Five (self-titled) – Boxing
Ben Folds (Rockin’ the Suburbs) – The Luckiest
Guster (Lost and Gone Forever) – Rainy Day

No.31

Chris said 1021 days ago:

I must admit a liking for Santana. However, I do find their endings sound the same. You could run a competition in your local pub, where people have to ideltify the endings of Santana songs. Could be the most difficult competition ever.

Their songs start so beautifully. It’s just like Carlos has only found one way to finish them. Am I being hard on him?