The term Swan Song, a metaphor for a final gesture or effort, is often used when the year draws to a close. In fact, it was quite a few months before the New Year’s Eve in October when veteran Boston designated hitter David Ortiz enjoyed his swan song as he played his final season with the Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians in the LA Division Series. American League.

A more appropriate use of the swan song occurs when it comes to musicians, to whom it is applied in a literal sense. For example, David Bowie recorded his song of the swan this year, an album called Black Star, released a few days before his death in January.

The album was well received by critics and fans alike, and the track Dollar days It is one of the sweetest songs on his discography. Black Star, Nevertheless, pales in comparison to Bowie’s best albums. The disc Scary Monsters and Super Creeps 35 years ago is still the best, along with Hunky dory since 1972.

Rarely is a band or artist’s swan song the best album of their career, but several groups have made recent albums that surpassed all of their previous releases. Here are five of those bands whose last album was the best in their catalog.

The Hoople by Mott the Hoople

Guitarist and co-founder Mick Ralphs had left before this album, so vocalist Ian Hunter took sole control of the glitter rock quintet. Melodies like Alice, puppet, and Roll away the stone they made this latest album the best of their impressive catalog.

Look? Listen? by 10cc

His greatest successes, such as I’m not in love, Dreadlock Holiday and The things we do for Love, preceded this album. However, the ten songs here could be pop hits as, unlike his other records, there are no rags on either side of this vinyl.

Dandy in the underworld by T. Rex

The title track became an instant classic when, shortly after the album’s release, frontman Marc Bolan was killed in a car accident.

Lost without your love by Bread

David Gates and his hit group parted ways in 1972, but thank God they reunited six years later. The title track became a huge hit and Change of heart It could be the best song about a boy in a love triangle.

good times by the Monkees

Mickey Dolenz, who had an excellent voice in the band’s heyday in the sixties, somehow sounds even better now. The dozen songs here, written by an All-Star cast that includes the boys themselves, make this collection of new material better than any of the band’s previous albums. Those old like Campus They were certainly good but, unlike on this album, they all had a bit of flaws. Even Davy Jones appears posthumously to sing Love takes love, an unreleased song from a session from the sixties.