bonus tracks on albums
 

queen remasters thread got me thinking, am i the only one who dislikes them? i'm cool if it's like a second cd of live stuff and outtakes and songs which didn't make the cut or whatever, but really you have an album which flows perfectly and is classic and new songs can change the dynamic completely. imagine sgt peppers without a day in the life as the last song, for instance.

Most of the time I find bonus tracks unnecessary, unless it is a separate disc of bonus material. Otherwise, as you said, they can ruin the dynamic of an album.

Imagine you could program your CD player to only play the classic tracks, or if they came up with some sort of electronic musical storage medium where one could create some sort of playlist and use it in the future.

Bonus tracks are a mixed bag, but they really are optional.

Especially in the case of deals like the recent series of "deluxe editions" from major acts, or the Queen albums, where the bonus tracks are completely on a second disc.

Only instance I can think of it being to the benefit of the album is "Leave Me Alone" at the end of the Bad album by Michael Jackson. Perfect ending there.

Who's Next comes to mind. While it's arguable that "Won't Get Fooled Again" should be the closing track (And some some of the records with bonus tracks, it still is), the extra tracks bolster the album. I'd say the exceptions are the alternate takes of "WGFA" and "Behind Blue Eyes," Plus the live tracks, but I can barely imagine Who's Next without "Pure and Easy."

Even if it's not another "Baba O'Riley."

Actually, A Quick One is another example. Another Who album.

Agreed. Bonus tracks should be separate, they kill the flow of the album.

the only bonus track on a cd I liked was when Placebo included Running Up That Hill on their albums MEDS a few yrs ago

fucking great song

I also think Lost In Space would have been a better album with the presence of two of the B-Sides (Nightmare Girl and Observatory) as well as her cover of "The Scientist" on the proper disc.

My favorite is Break on the second shinedown album. To be honest I think it was strong enough to be a single.