Songs that climax February 8, 2013 3:59 PMSubscribe
I'm looking for songs that build to a climax or erupt into loudness and are also purely spectacular. These songs are epic. My best example is Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Soundsystem. posted by goosechasing to media & arts (75 answers total) 93 users marked this as a favorite
Patterns (Remix) fits your description pretty perfectly, but is so completely different from your example that I have no idea if it's what you're looking for.
Of course, give it some time to get there. No cheating and skipping ahead, right? posted by aubilenon at 4:08 PM on February 8
That's really incredibly vague, so this may not be what you're looking for, but Rhapsody by Siouxsie & the Banshees does exactly that, and is really epic. posted by smoq at 4:19 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]
This, essentially, is Arcade Fire's entire gimmick, errrm, I mean "creative process". posted by humboldt32 at 4:27 PM on February 8 [2 favorites]
Night on Bald Mountain, Ride of the Valkyries, and Bolero if you are including classical music. posted by obol at 4:27 PM on February 8 [2 favorites]
Doves, "Intro/Words" -- the crash into "Words" sends me every time. You do have to have your speakers turned up tho. posted by Infinity_8 at 4:28 PM on February 8
Yeah, that's also the formula for a ton of progressive trance. In fact, that's the "progressive" in progressive trance. See Binary Finary - 1998 for a classic example. posted by smoq at 4:29 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]
Spectacular loudness?
The best example I can think of probably isn't even on your list.
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Op. 49
It builds for about 14 minutes until the end when the whole symphony is playing, the canon's are blasting and the roof is shaking. Read more here. posted by Leenie at 4:34 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]
Heroin - Velvet Underground
Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Nirvana
Hurt - NIN/Johnny Cash
A Day in the Life - The Beatles
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys posted by obscure simpsons reference at 4:59 PM on February 8 [3 favorites]
There are quite a few Swans songs that get into this pure Dionysian overwhelmingness.
"Our life is not a movie, but maybe" by Okkervil River. Sorry, can't link from my computer, but give it a listen--it's great! posted by dysh at 6:11 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]
The Wedding Present - "What have I Said Now?" posted by N-stoff at 6:11 PM on February 8
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Let Down - Radiohead
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:57 PM on February 8
And some purely guitar ones that are fantastic (slow build but the payoff is worth it): Past Is Not Passed by James Blackshaw, and Ocean by John Butler (it's different every time he plays it!).
One of the best rock intros ever, which builds and builds until it explodes into a skyfall of bombastic guitar that MUST be played at max volume in the car. Or anywhere. It just effing rules. posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:49 AM on February 9 [1 favorite]
Of course, White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplaine is amazing.
Motorcycle Drive By, by Third Eye Blind, one of the most perfect songs out there
Beethoven also wrote some amazing climaxes. The 2nd movement of the 7th Symphony is probably my favorite piece of music of all time - it somehow fits any mood I'm in, as if it reads my mind. Also, the last movement of the 9th (Choral) Symphony - Ode to Joy - is amazing. posted by Cygnet at 6:39 AM on February 9
Upwards of 40 guitar tracks over the course of the song. posted by lukez at 6:51 AM on February 9
Oh, and by the way, with the Beethoven you have to be patient. For example, the first 12:50 minutes of Ode to Joy is the build-up ! posted by Cygnet at 6:52 AM on February 9
Tool - Triad
Nine Inch Nails - The Way Out Is Through posted by neushoorn at 9:00 AM on February 9
Come Downstairs And Say Hello by Guster posted by dgeiser13 at 9:12 AM on February 9
With an LCD Soundsystem example, I doubt there's much overlap in our musical tastes, but here's the content of my longstanding "Here It Comes" playlist:
The track you provided was really upbeat! Unfortunately all I can offer is some classical/symphonic music, haha...
Mars, Bringer of War (Gustav Holst) War (Hans Zimmer, Pearl Harbor OST) Hard to Starboard (James
Horner, Titanic OST) -- Epicness begins at 00:50. The first climax is not the most epic :D Oh the snares and anvils and basses! Theme: Broken Arrow (Hans Zimmer, Broken Arrow OST) -- a very quiet section leading to a climax begins at 1:40 that but the whole thing is epic really The Shadow of Golgotha (Wouter Lenaerts) -- You can start at 2:22 Saga Maligna (Bert Appermont) -- this one is long with multiple climaxes but the best climax (in my opinion) starts at 14:18. This piece is one of my favourites. Romeo and Juliet: The Montagues and Capulets (Sergei Prokofiev)
I just listened to all those songs to vet them and am now excited as hell. posted by rozaine at 6:23 AM on February 10
Sigur Ros' Festival does this for me. I usually skip the first four minutes, but that part definitely sets the stage for the climax. posted by benbenson at 6:28 AM on February 10 [1 favorite]
Sorry for coming in late, but if you're okay with non-electronic selections I strongly recommend the Hold Steady's beautiful and cathartic "First Night" (and second "Thunder Road" while I'm at it). posted by honey wheat at 6:22 PM on February 23
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