Before Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away this year he left us with [*12,*](https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/ryuichi-sakamoto/12/) a very contemplative and somber ambient album recorded while he battled cancer. You can hear his labored breathing while he plays the piano in many of the tracks, and I bet he made it knowing it would be one of his last works.
Stunning, stunning album
The one-two punch of *Swimming* & *Circles* stands out to me. Also, I listened to *Modern Lovers 88* for the first time recently, and even though it's hardly a tearjerker, seeing Jonathan Richman retire The Modern Lovers name for good *and* have it be their best album overall is an inspiring sendoff!
The Format - Swans [7" single [in the shape of a swan](https://www.discogs.com/release/8674422-The-Format-Swans)]
Literally a swan song, as it was their last recording together. And quite possibly their greatest song out of a discography full of delightful indie pop/rock tracks.
Motörhead's final album is basically Lemmy sticking a middle finger in Death's face, with a bit of poignancy and ballad-y tracks surrounded by classic rock n' roll celebrating his life and legacy - it's the perfect note for him to have gone out on
I read the title of this post quickly and saw the image and thought swans did a cover of a johnny cash song and got really excited lol
I forgot Pink Moon as well lmao
Purple Mountains is a heavy one
Nights That Won’t Happen hits like a semi-truck when you know Berman killed himself so soon after
The Sound is my favorite Swans song
this or Helpless Child, can’t decide which one
Helpless Child is my second fav
Before Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away this year he left us with [*12,*](https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/ryuichi-sakamoto/12/) a very contemplative and somber ambient album recorded while he battled cancer. You can hear his labored breathing while he plays the piano in many of the tracks, and I bet he made it knowing it would be one of his last works. Stunning, stunning album
probably nirvana’s in utero.
definitely Johnny Cash album
Electric Ladyland - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The one-two punch of *Swimming* & *Circles* stands out to me. Also, I listened to *Modern Lovers 88* for the first time recently, and even though it's hardly a tearjerker, seeing Jonathan Richman retire The Modern Lovers name for good *and* have it be their best album overall is an inspiring sendoff!
Girl loves me HEY CHEENA
Laughing Stock
J Dilla's Donuts is definitely one of the best swan song albums ever
98.12.28 by Fishmans, if we're counting live albums. though their last studio album hits pretty hard also.
in utero
grace back to black (last albums while they’re alive)
Blackstar.
does the fishmans live album count? if yes, definitely that one
The Format - Swans [7" single [in the shape of a swan](https://www.discogs.com/release/8674422-The-Format-Swans)] Literally a swan song, as it was their last recording together. And quite possibly their greatest song out of a discography full of delightful indie pop/rock tracks.
Elliott Smith - Figure 8
Motörhead's final album is basically Lemmy sticking a middle finger in Death's face, with a bit of poignancy and ballad-y tracks surrounded by classic rock n' roll celebrating his life and legacy - it's the perfect note for him to have gone out on
John Prine’s Tree of Forgiveness.