Favorite "swan song" albums - Blu-ray Forum

Steelmaker · 03-15-2025, 11:53 AM

What do you consider the best albums that were a band's very last? I'll get things rolling...

Rush - Clockwork Angels

It takes a couple of songs to really get going, but man when it does, its magical! Such a great final effort from three monster musicians!

Thin Lizzy - Thunder And Lightning

Wow, what an album! Guitarist John Sykes really gave this band a much needed kick in the ass! The band never sounded so ferocious! It's such a shame we never got more music from this lineup.

The Police - Synchronicity

Its hard to believe this was the very last album this band released. It's been so long ago and I think I sometimes get Stings solo.stuff confused with being The Police material. But wow, what a great way to go out as a band.

The Beatles - Abbey Road

I mean, what needs to be said? A masterpiece of an album with so many iconic songs! I know Let It Be was technically released last and personally, I like Let It Be a little more, but Abbey Road was recorded last and is one of the GOATS!

Narcissus · 03-19-2025, 02:00 PM

L.A. Woman - The Doors

Steelmaker · 03-22-2025, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narcissus

L.A. Woman - The Doors

Good one! A band that ended far too soon!

The hitcher · 03-22-2025, 11:55 PM

Can - Rite Time

Alister_M · 03-23-2025, 01:55 AM

The Police - Synchronicity. Just the perfect send-off, especially the impeccable entirety of side two.

Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal. Even though it wasn't intended as such, the fact that they threw in the towel when they decided they couldn't top it speaks volumes.

Narcissus · 03-24-2025, 10:41 AM

Not to highjack the thread but IMO every Police record is stellar.

Small caveat, as the following should have been the closing track on Synchronicity:
"Murder By Numbers"

Alister_M · 03-24-2025, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narcissus

Not to highjack the thread but IMO every Police record is stellar.

Small caveat, as the following should have been the closing track on Synchronicity:
"Murder By Numbers"

It's on my CD, shame it wasn't included on every pressing though.

Brown Jenkin · 03-26-2025, 12:50 PM

Yeah, that threw me. Ha! I was like, "it was." Had no idea that was a bonus track on both versions I owned of the album. And yes, Synchronicity is my favorite "The Police" album by far as much as I love them all.

And speaking of my favorite drummers...

This is a cheat since it was a posthumous compilation album that he had nothing to do with, but Hendrix's First Rays of the Rising Sun is a near perfect album for me consisting of my favorite song from him, "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" and 2nd favorite instrumental, "Beginnings." I hated the Alan Douglas versions of the songs (they just sounded too artificial to me from the get), so when this collection came out it was a game changer for me. I really loved the direction Jimi was heading musically as shown by this album and the plethora of since released tracks he was working on in the last year or so of his life. To think this was a guy who changed so much in Rock in such a short amount of time and was just starting his journey bogles the mind.

My only issue is the track "My Friend" which sticks out like sore thumb for multiple reasons on an otherwise eclectic, yet free-flowing album of fantastic songs. Replace that track with pretty much any other track from the period and it would be a great improvement.

DragonOfTheBlackPool · 03-27-2025, 12:08 AM

Not necessarily favorites (don’t think I have one tbh), but a few that I like….

Bradly Nowell’s death ended the trajectory of this band, wonder what they would have sounded like or how they would have evolved if he was still around.

Same can be said for Lynn Strait’s death and this band.

And finally…

While their first two albums leaned on DJ Muggs production, House of Pain’s final album has none with DJ Lethal handling the task…..and man he knocks it out of the park. The album sputters towards the end with a couple of songs, but the first half of the album is great. Same As It Ever Was is still their best album though.

03-15-2025, 11:53 AM	#1
Steelmaker Blu-ray Duke Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Chattanooga, TN Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Favorite "swan song" albums What do you consider the best albums that were a band's very last? I'll get things rolling... Rush - Clockwork Angels It takes a couple of songs to really get going, but man when it does, its magical! Such a great final effort from three monster musicians! Thin Lizzy - Thunder And Lightning Wow, what an album! Guitarist John Sykes really gave this band a much needed kick in the ass! The band never sounded so ferocious! It's such a shame we never got more music from this lineup. The Police - Synchronicity Its hard to believe this was the very last album this band released. It's been so long ago and I think I sometimes get Stings solo.stuff confused with being The Police material. But wow, what a great way to go out as a band. The Beatles - Abbey Road I mean, what needs to be said? A masterpiece of an album with so many iconic songs! I know Let It Be was technically released last and personally, I like Let It Be a little more, but Abbey Road was recorded last and is one of the GOATS! Last edited by Steelmaker; 03-15-2025 at 12:03 PM.

03-24-2025, 10:41 AM	#6
Narcissus Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2011 Location:LV426 aka Seattle Blu-ray collection:257 DVD collection:31	Not to highjack the thread but IMO every Police record is stellar. Small caveat, as the following should have been the closing track on Synchronicity: "Murder By Numbers" Last edited by Narcissus; 03-24-2025 at 10:46 AM.

03-19-2025, 02:00 PM	#2
Narcissus Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2011 Location:LV426 aka Seattle Blu-ray collection:257 DVD collection:31	L.A. Woman - The Doors

03-22-2025, 11:55 PM	#4
The hitcher Special Member Member since:Mar 2024 Location:Washington state 4K collection:93 Blu-ray collection:656 DVD collection:179 Blu-ray reviews:7	Can - Rite Time

03-23-2025, 01:55 AM	#5
Alister_M Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Feb 2016 4K collection:352 Blu-ray collection:1923 DVD collection:21 Blu-ray reviews:15 Trading Score:5	The Police - Synchronicity. Just the perfect send-off, especially the impeccable entirety of side two. Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal. Even though it wasn't intended as such, the fact that they threw in the towel when they decided they couldn't top it speaks volumes.

03-26-2025, 12:50 PM	#8
Brown Jenkin Power Member Member since:Aug 2020 4K collection:21 Blu-ray collection:1084 DVD collection:1905	Yeah, that threw me. Ha! I was like, "it was." Had no idea that was a bonus track on both versions I owned of the album. And yes, Synchronicity is my favorite "The Police" album by far as much as I love them all. And speaking of my favorite drummers... This is a cheat since it was a posthumous compilation album that he had nothing to do with, but Hendrix's First Rays of the Rising Sun is a near perfect album for me consisting of my favorite song from him, "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" and 2nd favorite instrumental, "Beginnings." I hated the Alan Douglas versions of the songs (they just sounded too artificial to me from the get), so when this collection came out it was a game changer for me. I really loved the direction Jimi was heading musically as shown by this album and the plethora of since released tracks he was working on in the last year or so of his life. To think this was a guy who changed so much in Rock in such a short amount of time and was just starting his journey bogles the mind. My only issue is the track "My Friend" which sticks out like sore thumb for multiple reasons on an otherwise eclectic, yet free-flowing album of fantastic songs. Replace that track with pretty much any other track from the period and it would be a great improvement.

03-27-2025, 12:08 AM	#9
DragonOfTheBlackPool Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2012 Trading Score:2	Not necessarily favorites (don’t think I have one tbh), but a few that I like…. Bradly Nowell’s death ended the trajectory of this band, wonder what they would have sounded like or how they would have evolved if he was still around. Same can be said for Lynn Strait’s death and this band. And finally… While their first two albums leaned on DJ Muggs production, House of Pain’s final album has none with DJ Lethal handling the task…..and man he knocks it out of the park. The album sputters towards the end with a couple of songs, but the first half of the album is great. Same As It Ever Was is still their best album though.

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