Fourteen Truly Epic Track One Side Ones

Any jerk with a guitar can write an epic song, from the Velvet Underground to Bright Eyes, Sigur Rós to Kanye West. In fact, some of those folks aren’t even jerks! But there’s something special about the Epic Track One Side One. It’s the song that kicks off an album with such tenacity that there’s no hope for recovery afterward. The song that no other song on the album wants to follow, but has to anyway. The song that is very often very long, but regardless of length, is a monster of sound. Below are 14 of the very best of this song’s ilk. Why 14? We’re not sure. But we are sure you shouldn’t try to listen to all of these in one sitting.

Yo La Tengo’s “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind”
From 2006’s I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain”
From 1971’s Maggot Brain

Titus Andronicus’ “A More Perfect Union”
From 2010’s The Monitor

Sonic Youth’s “Teenage Riot”
From 1988’s Daydream Nation

Tyler the Creator’s “Bastard”
From 2009’s Bastard

LCD Soundsystem’s “Dance Yrself Clean”
From 2010’s This is Happening

Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane”
From 1976’s Desire

The Fall’s “The Classical”
From 1982’s Hex Enduction Hour

Freddie Gibbs’ “G.I. Pride”
From 2009’s The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs

The Fiery Furnaces’ “Quay Cur”
From 2004’s Blueberry Boat

David Bowie’s “Station to Station”
From 1976’s Station to Station

Sufjan Stevens’ “All Delighted People”
From 2010’s All Delighted People EP

Curtis Mayfield’s “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go”
From 1970’s Curtis

Nick Cave’s “The Mercy Seat”
From 1988’s Tender Prey