luci: albums where the bookends are best

luci 07.07.19	also considered: danny brown - xxx majical cloudz - impersonator ian william craig - centres
Ryus 07.07.19	best song on xxx is dna tho
luci 07.07.19	my fav is monopoly, that's why i only considered it :p someone could make the case that opener & closer are the best, it's def set up for that impression
Chambered79 07.07.19	The monitor maybe
luci 07.07.19	the national - alligator is another strong choice real estate - atlas oh yeah the monitor for sure (although theme from cheers is my fav)
Chambered79 07.07.19	Although a pot in which to piss
luci 07.07.19	which radiohead record best fits this? i think the king of limbs
luci 07.07.19	the weeknd - starboy, the opener and closer are the only worthwhile songs lol
Ryus 07.07.19	def the king of limbs
Chambered79 07.07.19	Relationship of command is close
GreyShadow 07.07.19	Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise
luci 07.07.19	godspeed's slow riot has the best bookends of all time
Ryus 07.07.19	cocteau twins - heaven or las vegas the replacements - let it be trail of dead - source tags and codes
luci 07.08.19	heaven or las vegas t/t though
Ryus 07.08.19	yeahh those are all borderline tbh haha t/t and the openers are definitely my top 3 though
Slex 07.08.19	The Line is so ridiculously underrated, respect for including it
luci 07.08.19	odd album for me because half of it is mediocre but i'd comfortably put "with me" and "the line" in my top 50 decade
Slex 07.08.19	The Line will easily be in probs my like top 30
Josh D. 07.08.19	Every Time I Die's From Parts Unknown
JohnnyoftheWell 07.08.19	Victorialand is a pretty easy fit if we're going Cocteau Twins Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg fits this v hard The Flaming Lips - Transmissions From the Satellite Heart Isis - Panopticon Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part Disagreed on Public Strain (always seen Drag Open as the strongest there)
sixdegrees 07.08.19	9 is on point
Slex 07.08.19	From Parts Unknown GOD YES
Trophycase 07.08.19	Strong disagree with 4
DominionMM1 07.08.19	the doors- strange days the beatles- revolver megadeth- peace sells
Winesburgohio 07.08.19	Concubine is super interesting in that i feel like it really needs Fault and Fracture to contextualise and then elevate it! I also really like China Steps! Particularly partial to Stay Home and The Summer Ends! off the top of my head Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space, TKOL, Halcyon Digest, Viscera and maaaaaybe Just A Taste - Ghost is such an amazing statement of intent and I'm Gone is so poignant and fitting an end, even though there are songs i do prefer in between subjectively
luci 07.08.19	"halcyon digest" helicopter though "viscera" portrait though both have iconic opener & closer pairings though. this is hard
Larkinhill 07.08.19	National’s Alligator is probably the best example of this. Deftones Saturday Night Wrist is another good one.
luci 07.08.19	hole in the earth is my fav song by them but I don't rank the closer highly. I think their best opener/closer pairing is koi no yakan (although entombed is the best on that one)
Winesburgohio 07.08.19	Oh! MPP! hmm i don't really like the recorded version of Helicopter, but Desire Lines...
JohnnyoftheWell 07.08.19	Peace Sells seconded hard (and Desire Lines)
luci 07.08.19	i've been racking my brain on the anco pick. i don't think they have a record where the bookends are the clear best, but my fav pairing is on feels
luci 07.08.19	the national tend to have 'soft' closers that few fans pick as a highlight. mr november is a huge exception which is why alligator wins
Winesburgohio 07.08.19	i love their soft closers (Hard to Find and Gospel are top10) and don't really like Mr. November - my first, admittedly pirated, copy of Alligator finished on City Middle and i grew so used to it Mr November came as a welcome but uncohesive surprise
Yotimi 07.08.19	Agree with a lot of these actually Antony and the johnsons - I am a bird now
luci 07.08.19	i view "stay home" as the closer on american football, wurlitzer is an outro
SmashIsTheWay94 07.08.19	first 3 songs on AF are the best I'd say
ArsMoriendi 07.08.19	One Size Fits All by The Mothers of Invention
ArsMoriendi 07.08.19	"Halcyon Digest" Couldn't agree with this less since Basement Scene is my fave on there
Trophycase 07.08.19	I'm gonna say Children of God
Avagantamos 07.08.19	autechre - untilted, chiastic slide cannibal ox - the cold vein (vinyl edition with pigeon as the last track) isis - panopticon nadja - touched syndrone - salmataxia converge - petitioning the empty sky cynic - focus glassjaw - worship and tribute n.o.d. - niggaz of destruction richard devine - risp
DoofDoof 07.08.19	Examples where both tracks are rated 5 out of 5 in my itunes library. Destroyer - Kaputt (the most perfect example imo) & Your Blues David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust & Hunky Dory & Station to Station Coma Cinema - Posthumous Release Darkside - Psychic The Doors - L.A. Woman Eleanor Friedberger - Rebound (lol) Exit North - Book of Romance The For Carnation - The For Carnation King Crimson - Red Lambchop- Damaged & FLOTUS Manics - The Holy Bible Megadeth - Rust in Peace Okkervil River - Away Paul Buchanan - Mid Air Pixies - Doolittle R.E.M - Automatic for the People Slint - Spideyland Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation Talking Heads - Little Creatures It would be a lot more difficult for me to work this out where one or both songs are rated a 4 or less though
luci 07.08.19	I definitely agree about Kaputt, forgot about that one. Spiderland is an interesting choice, "Washer" is my fav but I think most people rate the bookends higher.
DoofDoof 07.08.19	A few of these were a 50/50 decision as to my current feelings...I think an album like Spiderland it's the bookends I remember the most when I think of the album and I think they're the most important tracks. There are other songs I enjoy (Don, Aman is also close to being top 2) but overall I think the opener and closer are top. King Crimson 'Red' is another dead cert for me almost as much as 'Kaputt'. Sonic Youth 'Daydream' was another obvious one as long as you count all of 'Trilogy' as one closing song? I very nearly put Halcyon Digest up there...I think I just like Desire Lines a little bit too much.
unclereich 07.08.19	9 is phenomenal, great list
MrHarrison 07.08.19	Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
MrHarrison 07.08.19	Serious answer: The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour
unclereich 07.08.19	Niggas on the moon
Gyromania 07.08.19	kaputt is actually so wrong though. suicide demo is either the best or second best song on the album. some people might think foxing nearer my god would fit here. would put james blake st here. m83 hurry up we're dreaming for sure. nin the downward spiral.
luci 07.08.19	can't put james blake cause the wilhelm scream > measurements
Gyromania 07.08.19	hell no
Josh D. 07.08.19	I kinda want to say Powerslave.
Trifolium 07.08.19	Yeah man! Gas - Pop is a greeaat pick for this. I know what I'll be listening to next...
kalkwiese 07.08.19	Pain of Salvation - In The Passing Light of Day The book ends are the only songs (apart from Silent Gold) on the same level as their old stuff, but they're so damn good
Nerdurosis 07.08.19	Close to a World Below imo
tectactoe 07.08.19	Brand New - Science Fiction Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I
DoofDoof 07.08.19	'kaputt is actually so wrong though. suicide demo is either the best or second best song on the album.' For a while I would have agreed but that intro gets a little long eventually and knocks it into third best on the album. 'Chinatown' is prob my song of the decade, just perfect. The closer is a trip.
Chortles 07.08.19	Can't agree with 4 when Pop 4 exists! Zauberberg fits it more imo, those ambient bookends are so stunning another big one for me would be Huerco S - for those of you...
Project 07.08.19	5 is unfair, the whole album is stacked (but the bookends aren't the best part). The Wonder Years - Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing Icarus the Owl - Love Always, Leviathan Foo Fighters - Wasting Light Yellowcard - Paper Walls (probably the purest example) Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics Paramore - Brand New Eyes wow a lot of pop punk fits this mold
anat 07.08.19	Mineral - The Power of Failing Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Robert Wyatt - Shleep (last track is an outro afaic) The Streets - Original Pirate Material
Gyromania 07.08.19	how have you not added hurry up we're dreaming yet
wtferrothorn 07.08.19	Sleep - Dopesmoker
luci 07.08.19	@gyro: cause midnight city and it’s a lame album
accompliceofmydeath 07.08.19	Only Living Witness- Prone Mortal Form
DANcore 07.08.19	Portishead-dummy The doors-s/t Camel-mirage King Crimson-In Tha Court Opeth-BwP As i lay dying-frail words collapse Bad books-III Billy woods, kenny segal-hiding places Lamb of god-as the palaces burn The beatles-revolver (sort of, if we can scratch Taxman)
DANcore 07.08.19	Oh man wow Reign in Blood guys dang jeez
MrHarrison 07.08.19	Lou Reed - The Blue Mask Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets Hoodoo Gurus - Mars Needs Guitars!
hadeserbonfa 07.08.19	Unwound - Repetition My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Deez 07.08.19	Through Silver in Blood
luci 07.09.19	loveless doesn’t work, when you sleep bro
Ryus 07.09.19	only shallow is literally the worst song on loveless to here knows when and when you sleep are way better
hadeserbonfa 07.09.19	Nah, no way Only Shallow is the worst song on Loveless. Groundbreaking stuff. I love every song on there, to be honest, so my favorites change from time to time. The bookends are what got me hooked first though.
hadeserbonfa 07.09.19	I'm surprised nobody mentioned Who's Next.
Dylan620 07.09.19	"You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon" is the pinnacle of 3 for me Out of Radiohead's albums I'd say either Comp, Thief, or Limbs are the strongest contenders Gyro is correct about The Downward Spiral Arcade Fire - Funeral is my contribution
StrikeOfTheBeast 07.09.19	Every metal album ever
Larkinhill 07.09.19	Linkin Park — Meteora if we count the introduction and Don’t Stay as one song (which I do).
Larkinhill 07.09.19	Great example on Bad Books III, Dan. Army is epic.
Larkinhill 07.09.19	Gyro — NIN The Downward Spiral is perfect too.
Larkinhill 07.09.19	Somebody already said Alligator, but High Violet is another good one.
deathofasalesman 07.09.19	Surprised no mention of Alice in Chains - Dirt. "Them Bones" & "Would?" are amazing bookends.
Relinquished 07.09.19	yea but rooster
JayEnder 07.09.19	Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want
deathofasalesman 07.09.19	Rooster is the perfect mid-album track :D
tectactoe 07.09.19	Only reason I can't fully agree with Stay What You Are is because I think "See You" and "This Is Not an Exit" are both a little better than "At Your Funeral," though I agree that AYF is a better sounding "opener" for the record.
MrHarrison 07.09.19	Oh shit here's a good one: The Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Gyromania 07.09.19	jayender: holy shit... how did this one not immediately spring to mind. the bookends destroy everything else on that album.
Gyromania 07.09.19	yeah saves the day is also wrong, tect. nightingale is also better than the bookends
Gyromania 07.09.19	larkin: gotta second meteora
tectactoe 07.09.19	forgot about Nightingale, actually. you're right, i'd also put that above AYF. some days maybe Certain Tragedy, too. I guess I forgot how much I like SWYA.
Zig 07.09.19	Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Relinquished 07.09.19	yea let's just literally go thru a list of two track albums
WretchedCacophony 07.09.19	Spawn of Possession - Incurso That's all I've got
Bedex 07.10.19	If you lump its final trilogy (tretralogy even) as a one 'bookend' track, Agalloch's Ashes Against the Grain is a clear contender for me. The opener sets the mood literally in the first two seconds and is an immense track. Our Fortress Is Burning and the bonus track form such a strong story-telling grand finale. It could pretty much be an EP on its own.
J() Alexander 07.10.19	The original releases of The Dance of Death and Other Plantation Favorites.
supremejelly 07.10.19	Macho Man Randy Savage - Be a Man. Song is "My Perfect Friend" ft. Prymary Colorz.
Larkinhill 07.10.19	Macho Man Randy Savage - Be a Man. Song is "My Perfect Friend" ft. Prymary Colorz. (2) Can’t believe nobody has mentioned this yet.
Sowing 07.10.19	Brand New - Daisy
BigHans 07.10.19	List begins and ends with Reign in Blood
Dylan620 07.10.19	@Doof just saw your comment - you nailed it with FLOTUS, that album is the very embodiment of one which is bolstered by its bookends, by far and away the two best tracks on that album. I prefer "Prepared" and maybe "Fear" on Damaged though.
0GuyMan0 07.11.19	If you count Decade of Statues as one track (I do), then BTBAM's Colors does this for me.
Tb1114 07.11.19	Home, Like NoPlace Is There and DB's XXX are perfect for this - To the Radiohead discussion, I think Kid A would be the best album bookends. Everything In It's Right Place & Motion Picture Soundtrack? C'mon now. Wish You Were Here kinda seems too on-the-nose... Rush's Hemispheres is kinda a gimme
Tb1114 07.11.19	Who's Next [1234567890]
luci 07.11.19	the middle of kid a is too good though. idioteque is an all-timer i'm comfortable calling bloom and separator the best on tkol
tectactoe 07.11.19	but codex :(
Tb1114 07.11.19	I get that, & I think in the context of looking at the albums isolated from the greater RH discog, TKOL makes the most sense isolated. But if looking at their entire discog in one scope, I think Kid A has the stronger bookends. Also HttT when I think about it. This being said, Lotus Flower, Mr. Magpie, & Giving Up the Ghost are my fave songs on TKOL, whereas Bloom is my least unfortunately. Separator is amazing too.
0GuyMan0 07.11.19	Rush - Signals. I mean its fucking close. I love losing it so much. But Signals is this.
neekafat 07.11.19	Peter Gabriel - Us Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off Dog Citizen - As You Please
R4zor3dge 07.11.19	Edge of Sanity - Crimson
MusicinaBox 07.13.19	He Is Legend's new album is up there.
TheSupernatural 07.13.19	Copeland - Ixora
GhettoHmbrglr 07.13.19	camel-mirage
theBoneyKing 07.14.19	Ecailles De Lune for sure
luci 07.14.19	^that's a great pick
Meridiu5 07.16.19	opeth morningrise
SublimeSound 07.16.19	Good list. I'd add Fishman's live album to the list as well.
kalkwiese 07.16.19	Also Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
luci 07.17.19	how did i forget cloud nothings - here and nowhere else