What is the most rear-loaded album of all time?

It's a tough slog to reach the good song/piece/moment at the very end. For me, it's the Kinks' Phobia; after nearly an hour of undistinguished AOR rock, "Scattered" comes on like a sunbeam, so good it send you back to the rest of the record, wondering if it was really all that bad (in this case, yeah, it is).

Others?

I'm pretty sure there was a thread for "superior side 2's" which might help with this.. But I'm unsure how to find it.

http://robrimes.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/2-live-crew.jpg

Mekons: Fear & Whiskey

Mekons "Retreat from Memphis" is also pretty rear-loaded.

Genesis, Foxtrot

very few albums do this. gonna have to think about it.

Beach Boys "Today" is one example, but that's not to say the first half is bad.

Emperor Tomato Ketchup came to mind straight away. But then I am listening to Stereolab currently.

Also 2nd half finishes with "Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'" (xp)

The Mothers' "Absolutely Free"? I can't be arsed with the 1st side of that one.

Sir Mixalot - Mack Daddy

yeah, we've had the ghetto house jokes...

A lot of prog albums had the main suite on the second side, and as such were much better there. "Foxtrot" by Genesis is a typical example, with "Supper's Ready" obviously better than the (still excellent) first side.

And, I know a lot of people disagree with me, but for me, "Hounds Of Love" fit in here. That album became really glorious when those annoying drum machines were turned off and the songs were allowed to float in terms of tempo and dynamics.

There's a whole raft of albums that are regarded as TotalClassic that have a 'blindingly great' last track, which, without it, would be regarded as 'pretty good'...

(You can fill those in I'm sure)

That is true. Indeed, backloaded albums were not at all unusual in the past. What would be more interesting is to search for backloaded albums from the CD age. They are, I would think, rare indeed.

Backloaded albums are unusual in every era I'd say

I guess this question is about "albums that are rub, until halfway through something clicks and the last chunk are pretty fine"

I'd nominate "Computers and Blues" The Streets.

I was pretty unimpressed by the first bunch of tracks, it seemed to get better by about 2/3 of the way through...

Backloaded albums are unusual in every era I'd say

I'd argue in the prog era they were the rule more than the exception. But maybe otherwise.

Sigur Ros - ()

Well you're the expert there but I can't see why any sensible artist would want to start their album with some footling pieces o' crap and keep back the goodies till Side 2 (LP era) when the listener might have given up by then (xp)

The typical prog album would have somewhat shorter tracks on side 1 and one long suite filling side 2. In some cases (like ELP's "Tarkus") they would do the opposite, but the typical thing would have to have the suite on the second side. Prog fans tended to like longer works better, and would usually then consider the second side to the best if the longest track was there.

yeah, I can see how that would work..

Looking at "Pawn Hearts" here, two tracks on side 1, 11.5 and 10.5 mins each, and one on side 2, 23 mins.

Presumably, the third track is the 'best', I dunno one day I might summon up the courage...

It is (IMO). "Autobahn" is the opposite of course.

Ah, but there was some discussion on the KBox thread about how side 2 was 'best'

And funnily enough, I went back to it and realised they had a point! (I wouldn't say it was beeter than side 1, but it's not far off)

I think it's a great album throughout but 'The Golden Age' by Bobby Conn just turbo charges 3/4's the way through...

yeah, the last track on Pawn Hearts is by far the best. Haven't heard it in ages though!

I think anything particularly narrative based or filmic is going to attempt to do this. I bet albums comprised by single artists for films have this quality.

Yeah, nice big closing number.

You thinking "Purple Rain" again?

I would have said Purple Rain but Darling Nikki is floating in the middle and it's too much for me to write it off.

The Queen Is Dead & Electric Ladyland spring to mind immediately, sure there are lots more

QID?

Title Track vs Some girls are bigger than others...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aPtHw1L4m9g/TK4BzdToTvI/AAAAAAAABzk/9Y5QKK8K53w/s400/GiorgioMoroderBattlestarGalactica.jpg

First side mince, second side genius

first tom verlaine solo alb saves the best two tracks for last

New Order - Technique

xp mark... although it's longer than it seems, I always think of Some Girls as being a little jokey coda on the end of the record. The 2nd side run of pop songs from Bigmouth to There is a Light is so much better than the 1st side. IMO of course...

Well... it had the singles and a couple of classics, true.

Side 1 was no slouch tho.

On "Bad Girls", the best side is the fourth one. I guess that makes that album heavily rear-loaded.

Very subjective call, but I'd say OK Computer.

Really?

I guess the only tracks I'm not mad on are Let Down and Electioneering.

It's a great album throughout, but the big finish of Lucky + The Tourist just knocks me out -- great songs/arrangements, beauty, emotional power.

Bad Girls OTM

Lots of people don't like The Tourist. I wouldn't call it a highlight, but I like it enough I guess. Lucky still feels like an anomaly on that album since it was released ahead of the album on the Help! Warchild compilation (the first one, which was really good actually).

Swirlies - Blonder Tongue Audio Baton

Big rockers all throughout the second half.

Abbey Road

Prog fans tended to like longer works better, and would usually then consider the second side to the best if the longest track was there.

Speak for yourself. I've noticed that Van der Graaf Generator don't tend to feature in your scheme of things all that much, probably because they're not "melodic" enough for you. In the case of Pawn Hearts, the idea that "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" is better than either "Lemmings" or "Man-Erg" simply because it is longer would receive short shrift from most VdGG fans. Those shorter songs contain just as much, and I would say probably more, of what made VdGG great than the "suite" on side 2 (and by the way, a long song is not automatically a "suite").

On "Bad Girls", the best side is the fourth one. I guess that makes that album heavily rear-loaded.

Yeah but side three's the worst.

Abbey Road

I can actually buy this, esp. recalling that "Maxwell's Godawful Hammer" is on side one.

This is a difficult question largely because what Tom D. says here rings true: "I can't see why any sensible artist would want to start their album with some footling pieces o' crap and keep back the goodies till Side 2 (LP era) when the listener might have given up by then." And I don't think CD technology changes that fact too much. If the first few tracks are crap, then skipping forward to the last few might seem like a waste of time.

yeah Bill nailed it

alice cooper - billion dollar babies

... that's the other way round surely?

Yes, that's gotta be opposite. That fucker is strong as shit at the beginning. As for the end, Sick Things is allright, but I Love the Dead aint so hot.

nah, 1st side is some tunes, no argument, but no sense of musicians working/playing together as a band. the music is basically faceless, and i get how that suits the album concept, but i don't dig it. side 2 sounds the band we know from easy action thru killers, i.e. fully interconnected glam prog showtune monsters. and "i love the dead" is awesome.

taking nothing away from the likes of "elected" and "billion dollar babies"

Craziness

10. Forgive Them Father
11. Every Ghetto, Every City
12. Nothing Even Matters
13. Everything Is Everything
(14. The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill)
15. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

hey, i'm a relatively recent convert to the AC, still working out the kinks

taking nothing away from the likes of "elected" and "billion dollar babies"

― contenderizer, Thursday, May 19, 2011 12:03 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Elected is the greatest AC band song, and BDB is in the top 5.

AC is a broad church

hey, i'm a relatively recent convert to the AC, still working out the kinks

― contenderizer, Thursday, May 19, 2011 12:07 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

That's cool

L.A. Woman

R.E.M.'s Out of Time. Last three tracks are the best.

Those shorter songs contain just as much, and I would say probably more, of what made VdGG great than the "suite" on side 2 (and by the way, a long song is not automatically a "suite").

so then what's all this:
"A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" – 23:04, including:
"Eyewitness" (2:25)
"Pictures/Lighthouse" (Hugh Banton, David Jackson) (3:10)
"Eyewitness" (0:54)
"S.H.M." (1:57)
"Presence of the Night" (3:51)
"Kosmos Tours" (Guy Evans) (1:17)
"(Custard's) Last Stand" (2:48)
"The Clot Thickens" (Hammill, Banton, Evans , Jackson) (2:51)
"Land's End (Sineline)" (2:01)
"We Go Now" (Jackson, Banton) (1:51)

Sgt. Pepper

so then what's all this:

I don't know what you mean. Yeah it's made up of different sections. That doesn't make it a suite.

a suite = a set of musical compositions intended to be performed together

Surf's Up

The second half of Live's 'Throwing Copper' is better than the first.

New Order - Technique

― ginny thomas and tonic (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn),

Yeah. I kinda wanted to say this earlier but was a little frightened. Run is gorgeous and the last two tracks are the best on the album. If not two of the best of the band's career.

Said it on the other thread (wherever it is), and I'll say it again: Pretenders s/t.

oh yeah, good call

this is not a popular opinion (or album) but Crash Test Dummies' otherwise powder-puff 'A Worm's Life' ends with four solid-gold stunners

Very subjective call, but I'd say OK Computer.

I consider OK Computer to be very frontloaded. Yes, it has a great finish, but the part just before the finish is the weakest on the album. "Electioneering" and "Climbing Up The Walls" is for me a very week finish, whereas the first six tracks are all perfect.

"is for me a very week beginning of the second half", I meant to write.

Ditto about "Sgt. Pepper". It has a great finishing track, but I consider the first half to be generally better. The second side also contains crap like "Good Morning" and the unnecessary reprise of the title track.

Surf's Up is a good suggestion. It's good all the way through (that one track aside), but the last three songs are among the best of the Beach Boys' careers.

I agree with "Surf's Up". The last three tracks are all fantastic.

For me, the "Xanadu" album fits perfectly here. People who are more fans of Olivia Newton-John than of ELO may disagree though.

Joy Division, Closer

I was gonna say Out Of The Blue by ELO has a dearth of clunkers, but not so mad on Wild West Hero (although lotsa poeple like it).

I meant Birmingham Blues.

xposts. with respect, f-off. climbing up the walls is the best thing on that album.

radiohead fans be passionate

I'm just bored and wanna argue with Geir.

NEW BOARD DESCRIPTION!!!

The second half of Live's 'Throwing Copper' is better than the first.

― Leopard on the Cheetos Bag (MintIce), Thursday, May 19, 2011 8:13 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

So is what my dog left on the lawn this morning.