Have you ever listened to an album and felt completely captivated by the way the band or musician decided to close out the record? The following three albums have endings that I still can’t stop thinking about. And if you’re a fan of noise rock, shoegaze, or post-rock, these three records might just steal your attention.
‘I Love You’ by Sadness
If you’re a fan of shoegaze, you’ve probably already experienced this incredible album by Sadness. The band is better defined as “blackgaze,” a heavier approach to the shoegaze genre. This recent release from 2024 is not unlike its predecessors. Sadness is the kind of band that will make you sit in silence for a minute after any of their albums finish.
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However, I Love You takes the bleakness of heartbreak and makes it all the more emotional. Much of that emotion comes from its final two tracks, both of which are titled “I Love You”. Even with its climactic intensity, the final songs on this record are more or less simple in structure. Yet, those vocals are powerful, and those riffs are beautifully melodic.
‘Ants From Up There’ by Black Country, New Road
This is one of the more well-known bands on this list. Black Country, New Road’s second album Ants From Up There was released back in 2022. It’s a post-rock chamber pop gem. The entirety of the album is lovely. It makes sense why the band received almost unanimous critical props and a no. 3 spot on the UK Albums chart after this album was released.
Ants From Up There makes this list because the closing track, “Basketball Shoes”, was the hot subject in many critical reviews of the record. It’s a devastating yet healing and emotional ending to a gorgeous record. Few albums create a sense of euphoria quite like this one does.
‘Lun Yurn’ by Burmese
Noise rock might seem like an unlikely genre to make it to this list, but Lun Yurn by Burmese has one of the most powerful endings found on modern-day albums. Released in 2011, this work boasts 13 tracks… and the vast majority of the album’s runtime comes down to just one song.
That untitled closing track clocks in at over 45 minutes long, and it’s an enormous powerhouse of a noise rock escapade. And despite being so long, it’s the kind of album closer that you just can’t pause or turn off until it’s finished. Make sure to plan ahead if you want to listen to this record in full.
Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns
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