My Top 10 Album Closers

The album closer is just as important as the album opener because if the last song sucks, listeners may feel disappointed, like they wasted time on that one record that ended on a sour note. This a follow-up to a previous post I did titled, My Top 10 Album Openers. Now, I’ll focus on my top 10 album closers. Just like last time, I only picked songs that are in my CD collection because if I were to include every awesome album closer out there, this list would be way too long. With all that said, let’s get on with the music!

10. “Vincent Price” by Deep Purple, from Now What?! (2013)

Not sure if it’s because I’ve been fascinated with horror movies recently, but I really like “Vincent Price.” It’s dark and moody, which is what you want in a song about horror films. Think Dracula and Frankenstein. The organ melody is fantastic; it keeps listeners at the edge of their seats. Steve Morse’s guitar solo is absolutely chilling and Ian Paice hasn’t missed a beat. Plus, Ian Gillan’s scream at the end makes it all worthwhile.

9. “What About Now” by Daughtry, from Daughtry (2006)

I’ve said it a million times on this blog, but I grew up with American Idol and I have no regrets about it. As mentioned in my Songs with the Same Title – Bon Jovi Edition post, “What About Now” is a Daughtry song and I first heard it during season seven’s top 24 results show. Every time I listen to it, I think of happy memories from my childhood. I don’t think it’s Daughtry’s best song, especially since it’s one of those hits that wasn’t written by the band, but I still enjoy “What About Now” regardless.

8. “Good Night” by Overkill, from The Electric Age (2012)

For the first minute and 15 seconds, it’s a pretty acoustic guitar melody, but right afterwards, it’s pedal to the metal! The first time I listened to “Good Night,” I was still living in Florida for my Disney College Program. It was my day off from work and I decided to play The Electric Age on my cheap portable CD/DVD player, because why not? I enjoyed the whole album on first listen and thought the last track was the perfect way to finish it, especially when Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth whispers, “good night,” at the very last second. The riff is also killer.

7. “The Answer” by Richie Sambora, from Stranger in This Town (1991)

I thought “The Answer” would be higher on my list because of how much I love Stranger in This Town, but I underestimated the amount of great album closers I had to deal with. It’s a pretty acoustic track that totally works. Richie Sambora has that soulful and bluesy voice, where an acoustic guitar is all he really needs to shine. The lyrics are spiritual, in a way, which shouldn’t be surprising because Sambora is a spiritual person. “The Answer” ends the album in a calm and peaceful manner.

6. “The Thin Line Between Love and Hate” by Iron Maiden, from Brave New World (2000)

“The Thin Line Between Love and Hate” showcases how Iron Maiden are a heavy metal orchestra. Everything from the riffs, the drum parts, the solos, and the vocal melodies are constructed perfectly. Their jam sessions can be long and annoying at times, but every so often, they put together epic masterpieces. “The Thin Line Between Love and Hate” is eight and a half minutes long, but it goes by so quickly because the band pours their heart and soul into the track, and it’s easy to get lost in the music. As mentioned in my Brave New World album review, I bought the album solely because of this song; it’s that good.

5. “The Outlaw Torn” by Metallica, from Load (1996)

Not going to lie, I totally forgot about “The Outlaw Torn” when putting my list together. It wasn’t until Ryan Skow mentioned it in a recent Sea of Tranquility episode, where I decided to check it out again for this post. “The Outlaw Torn” is as good as I remember it and easily the best song on Load. It’s dark, moody, the bass riff is brilliant, and it sounds so good live (based on the clips I’ve seen on YouTube). Also, for those of you that say Lars Ulrich is a terrible drummer, listen to his fills on “The Outlaw Torn” and come back here when you’re done.

4. “The Show Must Go On” by Queen, from Innuendo (1991)

When recording “The Show Must Go On,” Freddie Mercury was dying of AIDS and he somehow delivered one of the best vocal performances of his entire career. According to Rolling Stone, after he drank some vodka, he nailed the vocals for the song. Guitarist Brian May wrote “The Show Must Go On” about Mercury’s determination to keep recording new music, despite his deteriorating health. He never complained about his condition and never said that his life sucked. Instead, he lived every last moment of his life to the fullest; props to him for that.

3. “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” by AC/DC, from Back in Black (1980)

There are certain tracks on Back in Black that are overplayed, but “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” isn’t one of them. It’s kinda bluesy in the beginning, before the human metronome, Phil Rudd, swings into gear. The song is an anthem for those who were categorized as outsiders and rejected by the public. “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” is a song about coming together for the love of rock ‘n’ roll. I get chills from Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar playing because it’s such a good riff. The casual fans praise Angus Young for his guitar prowess, but Malcolm was the real heart and soul of AC/DC. 

2. “Descending” by The Black Crowes, from Amorica (1994)

Keyboardist Ed Harsch was the secret weapon of The Black Crowes, at least in the early years. His keyboard parts for “Descending,” especially for the intro, are breathtaking. It’s simply the most beautiful keyboard piece I’ve ever heard. That, along with Chris Robinson’s soulful vocals and Marc Ford’s slide guitar parts, give the song a dreamlike vibe. “Descending” just feels like one big, magical dream you don’t want to wake up from. 

1. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, from (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) (1973)

It almost pains me to make “Free Bird” my number one pick for this list because of how overplayed it is. But, it’s such a well-written song and scarily sums up the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s got a great melody, Gary Rossington’s slide guitar parts are brilliant, and Allen Collins’ long guitar solo is jaw-dropping. There’s a reason why every Skynyrd fan air guitars to that solo; it’s freaking epic. Personally, I think that Collins and Steve Clark had similar vibes because both were shy offstage, but rockstars onstage. Interestingly enough, Clark played “Free Bird” for his Def Leppard audition and blew everyone away. 

There you have it, people! Those are my top 10 album closers. I tried not to include the same albums from My Top 10 Album Openers post, but “Free Bird” from (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) was an exception because it’s a classic. “Shooting Stars” from Rival Sons’ Feral Roots (2019) almost made my list, but I got rid of it at the last minute.  

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Comment below some of your favorite album closers!

Take care and see ya real soon!

Lana