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Track Four

75 Favorite Fourth Tracks

A friend shared with me some advice a record store clerk gave him: when demo-ing a new album skip the first three tracks and listen to track #4. The logic is obvious - labels/bands front load discs to grab your attention, kind of like putting your best foot forward. If there is going to be a break in continuity or weakness in their game the earliest it is likely to show up is track four. So cut to the chase, see what the album is really made of, start with track four.

Compiled below are the best track fours money can buy, the track fours that make rather than break their albums. A note: with two exceptions* greatest hits and live albums were not considered due to their padded track lists.

1. Led Zeppelin IV "Stairway to Heaven"
2. Styx The Grand Illusion "Come Sail Away"
3. Neil Young Harvest "Heart of Gold"
4. Daft Punk Homework "Da Funk"
5. Bob Marley and the Wailers Legend "Three Little Birds" *
6. Neil Young After the Goldrush "Southern Man"
7. Aerosmith Toys in the Attic "Walk This Way"
8. REM Automatic for the People "Everybody Hurts"
9. The Beatles The White Album (disc two) "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me & My Monkey"
10. Band of Horses Everything All the Time "The Funeral"
11. Nirvana Nevermind "Breed"
12. INXS Kick "Need You Tonight"
13. Beulah When Your Heartstrings Break "Emma Blowgun's Last Stand"
14. Violent Femmes Add It Up "Gone Daddy Gone" *
15. Uncle Tupelo No Depression "No Depression"
16. Social Distortion Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell "Born to Lose"
17. Bjork Post "It's Oh So Quiet"
18. Smashing Pumpkins Gish "Bury Me"
19. The Cure Disintegration "Lovesong"
20. Neil Young Harvest Moon "Harvest Moon"
21. Cowboy Junkies Black Eyed Man "A Horse in the Country"
22. White Stripes White Blood Cells "Fell in Love with a Girl"
23. Yes 90125 "Changes"
24. Afghan Whigs Gentlemen "Debonair"
25. Hefner Breaking God's Heart "Love Will Destroy Us in the End"
26. Weezer Blue Album "Buddy Holly"
27. Spoon Gimme Fiction "My Mathematical Mind"
28. Radiohead Ok Computer "Exit Music (For a Film)"
29. Arcade Fire Funeral "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"
30. The Beatles Rubber Soul "Nowhere Man"
31. Afghan Whigs Black Love "Blame, etc."
32. New Pornographers Twin Cinema "The Bleeding Heart Show"
33. Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America "Same Kooks"
34. Boston s/t "Rock and Roll Band"
35. Radiohead The Bends "Fake Plastic Trees"
36. David Bowie Ziggy Stardust "Starman"
37. Blur Parklife "Parklife"
38. Seal s/t (1991) "Killer"
39. Genesis Abacab "Keep It Dark"
40. Wilco A Ghost Is Born "Muzzle of Bees"
41. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain "Cut Your Hair"
42. Franz Ferdinand s/t "The Dark of the Matinee"
43. Pulp This Is Hardcore "Help the Aged"
44. Hold Steady Separation Sunday "Banging Camp"
45. Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights "PDA"
46. Steve Earle Copperhead Road "Devil's Right Hand"
47. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band "Getting Better"
48. Beastie Boys Check Your Head "Gratitude"
49. Prince 1999 "Let's Pretend We're Married"
50. Fiona Apple Tidal "Criminal"
51. Neil Young and Crazy Horse Ragged Glory "Over and Over"
52. The Shins Wincing the Night Away "Phantom Limb"
53. Van Halen s/t "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"
54. Secret Machines Now Here is Nowhere "Nowhere Again"
55. Son Volt Trace "Route"
56. M. Ward Transistor Radio "HiFi"
57. Danielson Ships "Did I Step on Your Trumpet"
58. Bonnie Billy The Letting Go "Cursed Sleep"
59. The Shins Chutes Too Narrow "Young Pilgrims"
60. Matthew Sweet 100% Fun "Giving it Back"
61. Elvis Costello Spike "Veronica"
62. Andrew Bird …and the Mysterious Produciton of Eggs "Fake Palindromes"
63. Nirvana In Utero "Rape Me"
64. Neil Young Zuma "Lookin' for a Love"
65. Eve Scorpion "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"
66. Vic Chesnutt About to Choke "Tarragon"
67. The Cult Sonic Temple "Edie (Ciao Baby)"
68. Matthew Sweet Altered Beast "Time Capsule"
69. Go Team Thunder Lightning Strike "The Power Is On"
70. Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication "Otherside"
71. Stone Temple Pilots Purple "Interstate Love Song"
72. Cake Comfort Eagle "Short Skirt/Long Jacket"
73. Bob Mould Workbook "See a Little Light"
74. Beck Guero "Missing"
75. CSS s/t "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above"

Lists are culled from my personal library so there are likely to be a few holes. If I have overlooked something I'd love to hear about it. Better yet, send me the album.