Albums with one great side

Music
1

Listened to Bang Bang Rock & Roll for the first time in a while last night and realised that I love side A as much as anything ever. Absolute 10/10 perfection. Side B I can take or leave.

Those first 6 tracks are untouchably excellent imo

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Any others?

1 Like
2

Sleater Kinney’s One Beat is wall to wall bangers for the first side, more of a mixed bag in the second.

One Beat
Far Away
Oh!
The Remainder
Light Rail Coyote
Step Aside

Combat Rock
O2
Funeral Song
Prisstina
Hollywood Ending
Sympathy

3

The CD version of OK Computer.

2 Likes
4

Which side?

5

The shiny metal one!

4 Likes
6

Love - Da Capo…

First side is every bit as good as Forever Changes. Side B is handed over to the meandering jam Revelation which is a bit :woman_shrugging:

Side A
Stephanie Knows Who 2:33
Orange Skies 2:49
¡Que Vida! 3:37
Seven & Seven Is 2:15
The Castle 3:00
She Comes In Colors 2:43

Side B
Revelation 18:57

3 Likes
7

Whole album is very good but the first side of REM’s Document is basically flawless

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4 Likes
8

I agree apart from 18,000 Lira which is my fave :nerd_face:

9

First side of Hot Fuss, innit. No matter what you think of them now, it’s a corker

7 Likes
10

Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker

Wall to wall bangers on side A, side B is fine

1 Like
11

Great example. That first side is amazing. Second side starts with The One I Love then meanders off into the sunset a bit.

12

Closing song is the best though

13

Hunky Dory fits the bill:

Side one

  1. “Changes” – 3:37
  2. “Oh! You Pretty Things” – 3:12
  3. “Eight Line Poem” – 2:55
  4. “Life on Mars?” – 3:43
  5. “Kooks” – 2:53
  6. “Quicksand” – 5:08

Side two has The Bewlay Brothers which is possibly the greatest Bowie song ever but the rest of it doesn’t live up to Side One.

4 Likes
14

Oddfellows is good but Disturbance at the Heron House is my favourite song on Document. There seems to be a pattern of albums with great first sides and then disappointing second sides ending with a great song (see also Hunky Dory).

15

Can take or leave most of side one of Born in the USA but side 2 is smash after smash.

5 Likes
17

Such a good example

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No Surrender into Bobby Jean, phoar

7 Likes
18

Yeezus sounds like the greatest album ever made for the first four tracks, back end, not so much

7 Likes
19

Maybe Silent Alarm by Bloc Party? Like Eating Glass through She’s Hearing Voices feels like a great album, but after that it starts feeling more like a collection of songs.

1 Like
20

Probably the two best tracks after that though IMO (This Modern Love and So Here We Are)

21
  • Second half of bang bang rock and roll isn’t that good
  • It’s impossible for anything to follow the ‘we went to the cinema…’ bit of good weekend without seeming disappointing in comparison

0 voters