Rank the songs on albums

Stephen · 03-25-2012, 07:04 PM

I have a vague theory that track four is generally the best track on an album.

Electrophonic Tonic · 03-25-2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp

I have a vague theory that track four is generally the best track on an album.

Back when album structure mattered much more with LPs, track 4 would likely be the last track of side 1. So ending an album side of a positive note would be in the band's best interest. I think that would be the explanation for your theory.

Alfred · 03-25-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

The Antlers - Hospice

1) Kettering
2) Wake
3) Epilogue
4) Sylvia
5) Bear
6) Shiva
7) Atrophy
8) Thirteen
9) Two
10) Prologue

Good call on Hospice. My ranking, however...

Sylvia
Kettering
Bear
Two
Epilogue
Wake
Prologue
Thirteeen
Atrophy
Shiva

Key · 03-25-2012, 08:16 PM

Love this idea.

An Introduction To Elliott Smith

Waltz #2
Pretty (Ugly Before)
Pictures of Me
Alameda
Needle In The Hay
Ballad Of Big Nothing
Between The Bars
The Biggest Lie
Angeles
Miss Misery (Early version)
Angel In The Snow
Last Call
Twilight
Happiness (Early version)

Stephen · 03-25-2012, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp

I have a vague theory that track four is generally the best track on an album.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrophonic Tonic

Back when album structure mattered much more with LPs, track 4 would likely be the last track of side 1. So ending an album side of a positive note would be in the band's best interest. I think that would be the explanation for your theory.

LOL. Considering only one track 4 has been placed at the top of anyone's list in this thread so far officially calls BS on my theory.

Alfred · 03-25-2012, 09:47 PM

I can think of a couple albums where that is true for me. David Comes To Life by Fucked Up and Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire come to mind, but I think that's coincidence. It's too dependent on personal preference, you'd have to conduct a massive poll to prove it.

In my experience, the first or last tracks are often the best.

Thom Yorke · 03-25-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Arcade Fire - Funeral

1) Wake Up
2) In the Backseat
3) Power Out
4) Rebellion
5) Laika
6) Tunnels
7) Haiti
8) Une Anee Sans Lumiere
9) Crown of Love
10) 7 Kettles

1) Power Out
2) Haiti
3) Rebellion

4) Tunnels
5) Wake Up
6) Laika
7) 7 Kettles

8) Une Anee Sans Lumiere
9) Crown of Love
10) In the Backseat

There's 3 noticeable groupings for the quality of the songs for me.

**Frownland** · 03-26-2012, 08:19 AM

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica

1. Frownland
2. Bill's Corpse
3. Sugar 'n Spikes
4. Ant Man Bee
5. Hair Pie: Bake 2
6. Ella Guru
7. Hobo Chang Ba
8. Well
9. Sweet Sweet Bulbs
10. My Human Gets Me Blues
11. Veteran's Day Poppy
12. Wild Life
13. Dali's Car
14. When Big Joan Sets Up
15. Dachau Blues
16. Steal Softly Through Snow
17. Old Fart at Play
18. She's Too Much for My Mirror
19. Pena
20. Hair Pie: Bake 1
21. Pachuco Cadaver
22. Orange Claw Hammer
23. Fallin' Ditch
24. The Dust Blows Forward 'n the Dust Blows Back
25. Moonlight on Vermont
26. The Blimp (Mousetrapreplica)

**Goofle** · 03-26-2012, 08:39 AM

Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

Rigamortis
F*ck Your Ethnicity
Kush & Corinthians (His Pain)
Ronald Reagan Era
Hol' Up
No Make-Up (Her Vice)
Ab-Soul's Outro
A.D.H.D
Keisha's Song
The Spiteful Chant
Tammy's Song
HiiiPoWeR
Blow My High (Members Only)
Poe Man's Dream (His Vice)
Chapter Six
Chapter Ten

Going through those songs makes me even more impressed with that release. Apart from the bottom two or three, I could have moved every single one at least two places up or down. Crazy good album.

mr dave · 03-26-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

Treefingers is beautiful. I don't know Kid A inside-out enough to rank the songs but that'd probably be near the top for me.

That's fair, and I agree but I also listened to Aphex Twin quite a bit before getting this disc and it sounds like something from SAW2. I think it's too close to the influence for me to stand above the rest of the disc. I wonder if it's similar reasons for the others who ranked it near the bottom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis_Bickle

Red Hot Chili Peppers - BloodSugarSexMagik

1 The Greeting Song
2 If You Have To Ask
3 Mellowship Slinky In B Major
4 The Power of Equality
5 The Righteous and the Wicked
6 My Lovely Man
7 Blood Sugar Sex Magik
8 Suck My Kiss
9 Give It Away
10 Breaking the Girl
11 Sir Psycho Sexy
12 Apache Rose Peacock
13 Under the Bridge
14 Naked In the Rain
15 Funky Monks
16 They're Red Hot!
17 I Could Have Lied

03-25-2012, 09:47 PM	#26 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	I can think of a couple albums where that is true for me. David Comes To Life by Fucked Up and Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire come to mind, but I think that's coincidence. It's too dependent on personal preference, you'd have to conduct a massive poll to prove it. In my experience, the first or last tracks are often the best. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

03-26-2012, 08:19 AM	#28 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica 1. Frownland 2. Bill's Corpse 3. Sugar 'n Spikes 4. Ant Man Bee 5. Hair Pie: Bake 2 6. Ella Guru 7. Hobo Chang Ba 8. Well 9. Sweet Sweet Bulbs 10. My Human Gets Me Blues 11. Veteran's Day Poppy 12. Wild Life 13. Dali's Car 14. When Big Joan Sets Up 15. Dachau Blues 16. Steal Softly Through Snow 17. Old Fart at Play 18. She's Too Much for My Mirror 19. Pena 20. Hair Pie: Bake 1 21. Pachuco Cadaver 22. Orange Claw Hammer 23. Fallin' Ditch 24. The Dust Blows Forward 'n the Dust Blows Back 25. Moonlight on Vermont 26. The Blimp (Mousetrapreplica) __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

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03-25-2012, 07:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
Stephen I sleep in your hat Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne, Vic. Aus. Posts: 1,846	I have a vague theory that track four is generally the best track on an album.

03-25-2012, 08:16 PM	#24 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Love this idea. An Introduction To Elliott Smith Waltz #2 Pretty (Ugly Before) Pictures of Me Alameda Needle In The Hay Ballad Of Big Nothing Between The Bars The Biggest Lie Angeles Miss Misery (Early version) Angel In The Snow Last Call Twilight Happiness (Early version)