Title Tracks
Sometimes a title track comes to define an album, other times they prop up an average or weak album...then sometimes you're left scratching your head as to how and why a title track leant its name to the parent album in the first place... |
| 1 |  | Faith No More
The Real Thing
On an album that can easily be dismissed as a 'bit poppy' or, if you're feeling particularly cruel, a little disposable, this T/T is the biggest claim to this album being a real artistic statement. It's the 'deep cut' true epic to end them all, a legendary title track.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 2 |  | Iggy Pop
Lust For Life
A classic example of a title track fooling you into feeling what you're dealing with is a classic album. You think of this album and you immediately think of the intro to the title track, simple as that. There's a case for saying the title track IS the album (ok, you've got The Passenger too...).
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 3 |  | Sunhouse
Crazy on the Weekend
A traditional T/T as opener, setting up the rest of the album with little fuss. One of the most intimate moments on the album, here Gav Clark is asking you to listen in and maybe fall in love with him a bit.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 4 |  | Metallica
Master of Puppets
Sandwiched between a more bombastic opener and the more traditionally epic tracks 3-4 you'd worry a bit for this one. As it turns out this is the meat of the album and one of the greatest Metallica efforts.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 5 |  | Fennesz
Endless Summer
One of the longest compositions on the album, this t/t dominates the tracklist for me and just captures everything great about the album in the one song.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 6 |  | David Bowie
"Heroes"
This is a commercial life saving title track, without this anchoring the disc the whole enterprise would be far too abstract and, imo, slight. You think Heroes and it's hard not to think of the song ahead of the parent album.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 7 |  | Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
I See a Darkness
Oldham's most famous song instantly makes the parent album his most well known by association.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 8 |  | Television
Marquee Moon
Ok, some of these are so obvious it's...
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 9 |  | Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
Another obvious one, one of Floyd's best known and emotionally plain speaking songs.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 10 |  | David Bowie
Blackstar
This appeared ahead of the parent album attached to all sorts of strange imagery and drew you in...what did it all mean? We soon found out.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 11 |  | Wipers
Youth of America
The T/T as epic, this one fair dominates the entire album clocking in at 10:27.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 12 |  | Tool
Ænima
'Ænema'
In some ways the ultimate Tool track, it's angry and a little pissy at everyone and everything, and of course apocalyptically depressive. Easily their best album and this is the T/T it deserves.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 13 |  | Pantera
Cowboys From Hell
Not just an album opener but effectively an artist rebranding. Only a few more songs on the album could seriously live next to this thing but it kickstarted their careers and defined this record.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 14 |  | David Bowie
Diamond Dogs
Yeah, more Bowie, this is so obviously t/t material - again, you think Diamond Dogs the album and you think of the song.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 15 |  | The Clash
London Calling
An example of a great song being elevated to being considered as a classic thanks to its T/T status and 1st track placing. Bury this in the tracklist and call the album something different and this wouldn't be the most famous song on the disc.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 16 |  | Megadeth
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
'Peace Sells'
Mustaine really loved these glib faintly political titles back then, and the song itself is suitably snotty and snarly. The album needed a song this obvious in its appeal.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 17 |  | Nick Drake
Pink Moon
One of the all time great low key folk openers and a highly effective choice for T/T. Super sad Nick sings the phrase 'pink pink pink pink moon' an awful lot and it's lovely. Can't shake the feeling the song is nevertheless lifted a smidgen through it's billing, it's not even in the top 3 songs on the album for me.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 18 |  | Destroyer
Kaputt
This comes across as Bejar's mission statement for the album, so a near perfect T/T.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 19 |  | Sleaford Mods
The Mekon
A perfectly weighted equal parts cheeky, anarchic and cynical jab that's definitely one of the high points of the album.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 20 |  | The Microphones
The Glow Pt. 2
This song does the job of welcoming you into the world of the album perfectly and is easily one of the highlights here.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 21 |  | David Bowie
Scary Monsters
'Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)'
The 'super creeps' livid they didn't make the album title huh.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 22 |  | Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree
Ah, a curtain closer T/T, and what a great example of the form it is. Possibly the grower of the album and an inspired choice of T/T.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 23 |  | Lambchop
Is a Woman
Same drill as Skeleton Tree, I think I personally really appreciate the 'final song T/T', seems a classy choice. This song is totally unique among their catalogue but I think it makes sure the album closes on a memorable note.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 24 |  | The Cure
Disintegration
Not the greatest song on the album, and it has a mammoth runtime to boot - but it works well enough.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 25 |  | Michael Jackson
Thriller
The most famous title track of them all?
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 26 |  | The Flaming Lips
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots I and II'
A 'two for one' t/t and both instalments work their magic in different and complementary ways. The first shows the Lips fresh 'Yoshimi' song writing approach and the second conjures up an instrumental musical landscape that the listener can then imagine is operating in the background of this Yoshimi world the rest of the runtime.
Song(s) Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 27 |  | The Knife
Silent Shout
Not a song to make an instant massive impact, but slowly grows into its stature as an opening t/t.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 28 |  | Fear Factory
Demanufacture
The only Fear Factory album anyone truly needs is kicked off by this statement of intent. A classic T/T opener that sets the scene and defines the album as a whole.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 29 |  | Faith No More
King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
'King for a Day'
Similar to The Real Thing this deep cut is the best thing on the album, and again it helps by adding some pure artistry to an album that can be a bit schizo attention grabby elsewhere. Why not as highly placed as TRT? That's a better album and a better song (this one does get glossed over a bit).
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 30 |  | The The
Infected
A none too subtle t/t opener, with an a capella croon crying out 'infect me with your love'. One of the 'weakest' songs on the album (ho ho, the album is the greatest ever so means little) - it's a near perfect choice of catchy t/t.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 31 |  | Mogwai
Come On Die Young
An 'odd one out' title track that tells the audience 'we're going to be trying some new things here, we can surprise you'. The emotional core of the album.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 32 |  | Massive Attack
Protection
Leading with the big hit to open and name the parent album - it's an obvious choice but it makes sense.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 33 |  | Tom Waits
The Heart of Saturday Night
I'm a sucker for this t/t, even if it's hella cheesy. It sure fleshes out the picture of the album art anywho.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 34 |  | Michael Kiwanuka
Love & Hate
A recent one, this is textbook title track right here, almost cynically so.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 35 |  | Wipers
Over the Edge
Another T/T opener, it's a perfect title for an album and a well judged opener...but it's not quite Youth of America in impact.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 36 |  | Black Sabbath
Paranoid
One of their best known songs, seals the deal at track 2 t/t placing.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 37 |  | Anathema
A Fine Day to Exit
A strange album that improves as it progresses, this late in the tracklist T/T really grounds the whole album. Anathema at their atmospheric best.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 38 |  | Metallica
Ride the Lightning
Not quite as essential in defining the album as MOP but this is still a very effective T/T nonetheless.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 39 |  | Fleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues
Definitely one of my three favourite songs on the album, a little bit of a generic sentiment/title but they ride it out ok.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 40 |  | Red Hot Chili Peppers
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
A little underrated as it's certainly one of the better songs on the album. As a T/T it sets out the album's intentions (mainly being rude) with aplomb.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 41 |  | King Crimson
Red
Rip snorting instrumental mood setter, you are left with no doubt what the colour red sounds like after this.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 42 |  | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
One of the catchiest moments of the album and it just feels like it should be the title track, hard to put a finger on why exactly.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 43 |  | Deerhunter
Monomania
A patchy album but this T/T really saves the day, propping up the second half of the album on its own.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 44 |  | Megadeth
Rust in Peace
'Rust in Peace...Polaris'
An unconventional closing title track, it certainly summarises the themes at work here...like we're all doomed to die in a great big sulphurous fiery ball.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 45 |  | Sepultura
Arise
A pummelling no nonsense 'this eees the album title, this is the first track, it's called aaaarrrrriiiiise' sort of affair.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 46 |  | The The
Soul Mining
Ridiculously downbeat, I guess it stumbles a bit as a t/t because it does shrink a little in comparison to some of the big hitters who surround it...I enjoy it as a title track though and still think it works well enough.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 47 |  | Fleetwood Mac
Tusk
A 'sort of' instrumental (there's a bit of sing-chanting) that sounds like some weird carnival/marching band...it's a lot better than that description makes it sound.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 48 |  | Sparklehorse
It's a Wonderful Life
Primarily a mood setter, but as this album is so cohesive and mood driven this has to go down as an ingenious T/T choice. Obvious example of the title track not needing to be the greatest song on an album to have the desired impact.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 49 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Illinois
'Come On Feel The Illinoise!'
A little twee, a lot precocious, undeniably well crafted...a microcosm of the album as a whole? You bet.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 50 |  | Sepultura
Roots
'Roots Bloody Roots'
Grrr
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 51 |  | Pantera
The Great Southern Trendkill
The funniest opening 15 seconds of any album ever, this T/T sums up the whole vibe of trying to up the ante at any cost...even at the risk of ending up in silly territory...
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 52 |  | Lucinda Williams
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Sweet easygoing tune that works really well as an 'early in the track order' title track.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 53 |  | Sufjan Stevens
The Age of Adz
'Age of Adz'
A 'we're not in Kansas anymore Toto' t/t that bowls in after a restrained opener. Bells and whistles doesn't do it justice, this is all over the place. It sums up the parent album pretty well though.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 54 |  | Massive Attack
Mezzanine
This song is the stuff of nightmares, probably the darkest thing on the album - if the stag beetle has a theme then yup, it's this number. Brave choice for title track.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 55 |  | Morphine
Cure for Pain
Like, the music even cuts away a bit every time he calls out 'cure for pain'.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 56 |  | Cass McCombs
Big Wheel & Others
'Big Wheel'
Really effective T/T opener that sets you off on your roadtrip around buttsville USA in a big fat truck.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 57 |  | Alice in Chains
Dirt
This tune is the sound of 'duuurt', an addictive churning sun soaked desert dirge. Does the listener occasionally forget it exists? Probably.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 58 |  | The Tiger Lillies
Either Or
A rambling T/T, setting out the many themes of the album above anything else...which is quite unique.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 59 |  | Monster Magnet
Powertrip
I think this is their most fun and stoopid album and the title track is well on board with all that.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 60 |  | AC/DC
Back In Black
I'm not a major fan of AC/DC but this has to go down as one of the most memorable title tracks of all time.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 61 |  | Eels
Electro-Shock Blues
The cold blue heart at the centre of the tracklist, a ghostly moment of stillness in the hospital ward. It's not one that beats you over the head but over time it reveals itself as an effective T/T.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 62 |  | Bad Religion
Stranger Than Fiction
Definitely one of the better songs on the album and someone needed to name an album/base a song around the old 'stranger than fiction' idiom.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 63 |  | Clutch
The Elephant Riders
If you call your album 'The Elephant Riders' you better have a title track that goes someway to explain wtf you're on about.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 64 |  | Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago
'For Emma'
A strange one, a non celebrated song that's pretty enough but also quite forgettable, and nowhere near the emotional peak of the album. As T/T's go a middle hitter.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 65 |  | David Bowie
Outside
Ooh, a strange one - I like this as an opener but it's also not all that memorable. Strange t/t for an eccentric old album. Dave does sing about 'it happening outside' a fair bit though, so marks for effort.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 66 |  | AC/DC
Highway To Hell
Slightly prefer Back in Black, this does similar.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 67 |  | Radiohead
Kid A
At the time a slap round the chops oddball and a half. A real statement of a T/T and it fits the mood but I wouldn't call it one of the defining songs on the album.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 68 |  | Wilco
Summerteeth
'Summer Teeth'
Really excellent song but one I often forget is the title track. It sort of slinks in late in the tracklist and is always welcome company...but oh so easy to forget about.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 69 |  | Soundgarden
Superunknown
Solid rocker but a slightly strange fit as title track (I'm not sure the song even made every edition of the album?).
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 70 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Carrie and Lowell
It's pretty of course but it's one of the most lightweight entries on an album of huge peaks. Needless to say it fits the mood and themes...but then so does every other song here.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 71 |  | Radiohead
The Bends
The Bends is a great name for an album but would it have been a disaster if the competent T/T rocker was replaced with something else? No.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 72 |  | The Smashing Pumpkins
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
A sweet instrumental piano driven opener. It shows Corgan's grand intentions with the project but would anyone threaten to cry and cry and cry if it wasn't there? Unlikely.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 73 |  | The Stooges
Raw Power
Raw Power is such a classic name for a song/album I always want this tune to be slightly more effective than it actually is. Search and Destroy feels like the actual T/T.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 74 |  | Deftones
Around The Fur
One of the band's greatest but least heralded songs, and about as heavy as the parent album gets. It fits perfectly but I doubt it's the first or second song anyone remembers from the album.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 75 |  | Lambchop
FLOTUS
'Flotus'
Very pretty no doubt but 'The Hustle' and in particular 'In Care Of...' seem to define the mood more.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 76 |  | Motorhead
Motörhead
The double whammy...self titled song and title track. It sounds exactly like you'd expect the first ever Motorhead album track would sound like.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 77 |  | Red House Painters
Songs for a Blue Guitar
'Song for a Blue Guitar'
Wonderfully evocative country tinged track from Kozelek, can you forget it's the t/t? Sure. Still a nice pick though.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 78 |  | Mark Lanegan
Field Songs
A strong tune but it doesn't really stand out as an obvious choice for t/t.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 79 |  | Megadeth
Countdown To Extinction
Cheesy? Sure. But memorable.
Song Rating: 3
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 80 |  | Parquet Courts
Light Up Gold
'Light Up Gold I and II'
These two short tunes kinda work as a 'you are listening to...' intermission T/T. They remind you what the name of the album is at least...
Song(s) Rating: 3
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 81 |  | Sun Kil Moon
Among the Leaves
The album is an absolute mess and nothing was going to bring order to this chaos...not even a beautiful t/t choice.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 82 |  | Tindersticks
Waiting for the Moon
Sums up the mood of the album perfectly, it would be more forgettable if it wasn't billed as the t/t though.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 83 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Seven Swans
The album demands patience and similarly this title track takes an age to build up to anything interesting. Atmospherically this really does feel a good choice for title track.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 84 |  | The War on Drugs
Lost in the Dream
A little nondescript perhaps, even a little lost in the mix (snarf). It doesn't harm anything, but it certainly doesn't define the album for me.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 85 |  | Paradise Lost
One Second
One of Paradise Lost's better all out pop numbers, an obvious choice for an opening T/T. It damn well repeats the phrase 'and for one second' enough to crack into anyone's skull.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 86 |  | Pixies
Trompe Le Monde
At once quite an exciting start to the album...and at the same time evidence this probably won't be an album to rival Surfer Rosa or Doolittle. An average title track in all honesty.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 87 |  | Catherine Wheel
Chrome
Not one of the highlights of the album for me, it's still in keeping with the rest but almost skippable - not great for a T/T.
Song Rating: 3
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 88 |  | Muse
Absolution
'Sing for Absolution'
I can't stand this pomp rock nonsense but it is a decent choice for T/T as it fair defines the style and concept of the album.
Song Rating: 2
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 89 |  | Mac DeMarco
Salad Days
It's just a Mac DeMarco song that happens to have a title that lends itself to be an album name tbh. Ok, it's one of the best 6 songs maybe.
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 90 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Gold Against The Soul
This is quite a sucky t/t, never enjoyed it. Comes across as try hard, a flop closing a flop of an album.
Song Rating: 2
T/T Potency: 2 |
| 91 |  | Red Hot Chili Peppers
One Hot Minute
What are the Chili's doing? What is Navarro doing? On a piss poor album we get an even worse title track.
Song Rating: 2
T/T Potency: 1.5 |
| 92 |  | Porno For Pyros
Good God's Urge
'Good God's:// Urge!'
As the added punctuation in the title would suggest, this is a game of two halves...and as a result it's pretty odd. I sorta like it, but it's far from a legendary T/T.
Song Rating: 3
T/T Potency: 2.5 |
| 93 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris
Not a bad song but it doesn't even make the actual tracklist, only the bonus edition. An apology of a title track.
Song Rating: 2.5
T/T Potency: 1 |
| 94 |  | Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
This one didn't even end up on the correct album wtf?
Song Rating: 4
T/T Potency: 0 |
| 95 |  | Arcade Fire
Reflektor
"Easily AF's most out-there and monolithic track that changes so many times and yet keeps a cohesive songwriting structure, much like the record itself." Courtesy UniqueUniverse
Yes, this was meant to make the list, best song on the album.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 5 |
| 96 |  | Wild Beasts
Two Dancers
'Two Dancers I and II'
Two excellent songs, both sung by 'second singer' Fleming on lead which makes them feel connected. Not a traditional approach to a 'title track' but they feel like a double helping of calm in the centre of the track order surrounded by more lively neighbours.
Song Rating(s): 4.5
T/T Potency: 3.5 |
| 97 |  | Jeff Buckley
Grace
Another one I forgot, this is a bit overlooked, but makes my top three songs on the album. This is one of the less vampy and more straightforward songs on the album, and a Buckley original, so I like that about it.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 98 |  | Massive Attack
Blue Lines
I love this smoky spliffed out tune but it's so laid back it's easy to forget it's the t/t here.
Song Rating: 5
T/T Potency: 3 |
| 99 |  | Anathema
Alternative 4
A somewhat creepy t/t that ended up becoming the name of departing songwriter Duncan Patterson's new band.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4 |
| 100 |  | Fugazi
The Argument
A t/t that contains 'the big political message' of the album. Not my favourite song musically speaking but as a statement it's memorable.
Song Rating: 3.5
T/T Potency: 4.5 |
| 101 |  | Roni Size and Reprazent
New Forms
This track is very representative of the sound Roni Size was developing here, a craftily titled modus operandi t/t if ever I've heard one.
Song Rating: 4.5
T/T Potency: 4 |
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