Listening to a great record is an existential experience that most of us can reconcile, especially for some of our favorite albums. Regardless if you’re listening to an album for the first time or the 1000th time, the closing track of a record is typically what sends the listener off. In a sense, the importance of a closing track can seem a lot more than just another song on an album.

Typically, if an album starts out great, has a mediocre middle, but a great ending, we tend to think of it as a decent to a good album. Whereas, an album with a great beginning, a good middle, and a bad ending might leave a sour taste in our mouth, even though both examples have an equal amount of good tracks. 

Nevertheless, it’s interesting to look at the subject matter of a closing track and how it can influence a user on their opinion of a record. Impressions are important, especially when it’s the last moment involved in something so personal like listening to an album for the first time.

From another point of view, concept albums heavily rely on their closing tracks since it’s the closing point of a story. Think of it similar to a film or final chapter in a book, it’s the last moment of a story, an important moment no matter the severity of the story. A record doesn’t necessarily need a grand finale, but a moment that finishes everything up is vital for any ordeal.

Personally, I can see how a closing track can influence an album one way or another, but only to a degree. A bad album can’t be saved by a great closing track and a great album can’t be ruined by a bad closing track. Whatever your perspective is on closing tracks, let me know what you think about the subject and some of your favorite closing tracks down below. Be sure to follow the site on Twitter and Instagram.

Some of My Favorite Closing Tracks

Radiohead – True Love Waits

Daughters – Guest House

Pink Floyd – Eclipse

Nirvana – All Apologies

Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork

My Bloody Valentine – Soon