Trim Those Albums, Rubin!

[HarleyQuinn]

In part due to a chat discussion between Metal Maniac, CWM, and I about Metallica's Load and trimming that album from 14 tracks to 8 tracks.

What albums (including double albums) would you shorten considerably and what would the final track list/length look like?

Metallica - Load
01: Ain't My Bitch [5:04]
02: 2x4 [5:28]
03: The House That Jack Built [6:39]
04: Until It Sleeps [4:30]
05: King Nothing [5:28]
06: Hero of the Day [4:22]
07: Bleeding Me [8:18]
08: The Outlaw Torn [9:52]

Total Track Time: 49 Minutes, 41 Seconds

 

[The Coat Is My Father]

I don't know most of those songs, but Ain't My Bitch is one of the worst songs ever. Load must be pretty dire if it survived the cull.

 

[Red Baron]

Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

D'yer Mak'er.

Save 4:23. Would be the best album ever recorded.

 

[BUTT]

I don't know most of those songs, but Ain't My Bitch is one of the worst songs ever. Load must be pretty dire if it survived the cull.

There are few musical experiences more daunting than listening to Load, finishing the last of the three hits from the album, and realizing that there are still 8 songs left, two of which are over 8 minutes long, and they're all boring shit. So glad I never bought that album as a kid. And I considered it!

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

I'd trim Load down to 0 songs. That was easy.

 

[Taxman]

Nirvana - Nevermind

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" – 5:01
"In Bloom" – 4:14
"Come as You Are" – 3:39
"Drain You" – 3:43
"Polly" – 2:57
"Lounge Act" – 2:36
"Breed" – 3:03
"Aneurysm" – 4:47
"On a Plain" – 3:16
"Something in the Way" – 3:55

Total Track Time: 37 Minutes, 11 Seconds

I included Aneurysm because it's too great of a song to be stuck as a b-side to SLTS. I took off Stay Away because I think it's a rather boring song and brings down the album. Despite popular opinion, I also omitted Territorial Pissings and Lithium. I feel that Lithium is better suited to be a standalone single and Territorial Pissings as a b-side or held off for the Hormoaning EP. With Polly and Something in the Way as tracks 5 and 10, each side of the record starts heavy and gently eases you down.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Nirvana - Nevermind

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" – 5:01
"In Bloom" – 4:14
"Come as You Are" – 3:39
"Drain You" – 3:43
"Polly" – 2:57
"Lounge Act" – 2:36
"Breed" – 3:03
"Aneurysm" – 4:47
"On a Plain" – 3:16
"Something in the Way" – 3:55

Total Track Time: 37 Minutes, 11 Seconds

I included Aneurysm because it's too great of a song to be stuck as a b-side to SLTS. I took off Stay Away because I think it's a rather boring song and brings down the album. Despite popular opinion, I also omitted Territorial Pissings and Lithium. I feel that Lithium is better suited to be a standalone single and Territorial Pissings as a b-side or held off for the Hormoaning EP. With Polly and Something in the Way as tracks 5 and 10, each side of the record starts heavy and gently eases you down.

Interesting... here's my breakdown.

01: Smells Like Teen Spirit [5:02]
02: Breed [3:04]
03: Drain You [3:44]
04: In Bloom [4:15]
05: Come As You Are [3:39]
06: Polly [2:56]
07: On A Plain [3:17]
08: Lounge Act [2:37]
09: Territorial Pissings [2:23]
Total Track Length: 30 Minutes, 57 Seconds

Slightly tweaked the order around. I've always thought Breed was more impactful and should have followed up the explosive intro of SLTS. I also like Drain You the best of the "pop" songs. Lead into a bit of a slow down and then surge to a finish with a solid "pop" song that fits the front, an underrated song with a screamed finish, and finally a punk number to slam the door so to speak.

Never been a big fan of Lithium or Something In the Way. Also Stay Away always struck me as a carryover that fit better on Incesticide. I'd probably throw Aneurysm on as a hidden track (maybe put Endless, Nameless on Incesticide instead).

 

[Mickey Massuco]

I'd trim Load down to 0 songs. That was easy.

Beat me to this joke.

Nobody should ever pare down Nevermind what's wrong with you guys.

 

[Taxman]

That's your point of view.

 

[vivisectvi]

I'd trim Load down to 0 songs. That was easy.

lol nice

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

King Nothing and Until it Sleeps are both really good songs. I put myself listening to Load today in the chat and those were the only songs that really rocked. Bleeding Me is pretty good as well but those are the only essentials on it.

 

[Richard]

Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

D'yer Mak'er.

Save 4:23. Would be the best album ever recorded.

Put that song on PG and place the title track on the album it's the title track of.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Or accept that Houses of the Holy is an incredible album and all the songs are vital.

 

[Red Baron]

It is an incredible album, but that song just ruins it from being perfection. Bonham sloppy drumming, Plant's voice is god awful and grating, and it just drags on forever. I really hate this song.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

I still disagree but I thought you meant you'd want the album to only consist of 'D'yer Mak'er', so your view seems significantly less barmy now.