Variations on a Theme: Album Closers

The other bookend to last month’s installment, here we are exploring album closers! These can range from songs that sum up the album (think “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles) to songs that want to leave you with something to think about (think “Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran). Again the album name is in parentheses after the songs. Here’s a compilation of the ones that I enjoy the most!

1. “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac (The Dance)

A Fleetwood Mac classic to start us off. “The Dance” is arguably their best album, and this is arguably one of their best songs. It’s a pump up song, but one in a way that makes you strut your stuff down the street instead of jumping up and down to wake up your neighbors. It’s a great start to this, so let’s go!

2. “Oh Love” by Green Day (Uno)

This is the only album that has appeared on both of these playlists. As mentioned in the last post, I think that this is an incredibly underrated Green Day album. “Oh Love” was their hit off of this record, so it got some attention, but I rarely hear it anymore. It sounds like the Beatles mixed with The Lumineers with a dash of Fall Out Boy. It’s probably the best song on there.

3. “Gotta Get Away” by The Black Keys (Turn Blue)

The Black Keys are definitely not known for their second album, and for very good reason as well. However, I quite like the closer, which has a good beat and is quite simple really. It also flows very nicely from “Oh Love” in that they’re both more laid back songs with a beat to them, so they keep the pace of the playlist going without freaking out the dancers.

4. “Someone Like You” by Adele (21)

Every once in a while I remember that the names of Adele’s albums are her age when she recorded them and I get real upset. Because I was barely capable of doing my homework when I was 21, let alone creating hits. This is Adele’s most famous song, the one that defined her rise to the top and kept her there for quite a while. Thematically, I find it funny next to “Gotta Get Away” because both songs are about looking for someone and finding no one. I know this song, you know this song, let’s chug along shall we.

5. “A Certain Romance” by the Arctic Monkeys (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not)

I love this song. I think it’s great smack in the middle of the playlist too. It’s a little unusual in that the song is sandwiched in between these seemingly unrelated guitar riffs, but it works somehow. The repetitive nature of the guitar spirals you out of the song and out of the album into the world, it works really well as a closer. Not to mention the fact that the gritty melody is so classic Arctic Monkeys.

6. “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis (What’s the Story, Morning Glory?)

This is a classic Oasis song. The gently lapping waves that start it off segue nicely from the guitar spirals from “A Certain Romance.” It closed off what is probably Oasis’s most popular album (also containing “Wonderwall” which white boys have done homage to ever since. The gentle melody rocks you off into the waves, creating a relaxing atmosphere in which to appreciate the band’s structure in. Seriously this song has an entire world packed into it.

7. “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” by Vampire Weekend (Vampire Weekend)

The closer from Vampire Weekend’s self-titled album, this song has a similar laid-back vibe to the previous one, but brings more of a steady beat back into it. Instead of floating along aimlessly, we now have a specific direction to go in. I have always loved Vampire Weekend songs for their ambiguous lyrics and catchy tunes, which is definitely what this song consists of.

8. “Lost in the Wild” by Walk the Moon (What if Nothing)

Walk the Moon’s most recent album ends with this powerhouse. It takes a couple listens to really appreciate what’s going on here, since it doesn’t seem like a great closer at first. Somehow it’s too mellow and slow to really leave a distinct impression. But after listening a couple times, the melody of this song is glorious and it really does take you out into the wild to get lost, and marvel at the immensity of it. It’s rather similar to “Champagne Supernova” in that sense, but it still has the drive of “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” pulling you in a certain direction.

9. “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” by Boston (Boston)

If only Boston made more music. I could listen to this pump up track all day. The whooping and partying towards the end of the song is so joyful and spontaneous sounding, without losing any of its musicality. It’s a wonderful note to end on, and we are nearly at the actual end of this playlist now.

10. “End of the Line” by Traveling Wilburys (Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1)

Finally there is the true end of the line here. This is one of the band’s biggest hits, saying that everything will be all right, we’re just riding this train to see where we end up. The happy-go-lucky nature of it matches so well with the previous song, and I had to end on a truly final note. And what better way than with an upbeat song about endings?

So that’s all I’ve got for this month! Hope you enjoyed the selection and found some new songs. Next month will feature songs made for belting so I’m almost certainly going to have a fun time with that. Stay tuned, until next time!