I mentioned Mac Miller in another thread and it made me think about his posthumous album. It’s the only good one I can think of off the top of my head, but they really knocked it out of the park. The people who finished the album clearly cared deeply about him and didn’t want to just ride his name into the ground for cash. They didn’t even want to overshadow him, with details such as uncredited background vocals from Ariana Grande on one of the tracks.
The album also kicks ass, and can consistently make me cry with songs like Good News and Everybody. His death also makes the lyrics of the album hit so much harder, like I said Good News makes me bawl my eyes out on the right day.
Are there any other posthumous albums that were this good?
Kino’s Black Album is the obvious choice for me.
Sparklehorse - Bird Machine is great and feels like classic Sparklehorse, really deep emotional lyrics and twinkly production.
Sparklehorse is so so good
Damn yeah id say circles is the best one I have heard basically.
Jimmy Hendrix - Blues is also incredible honestly
J Dilla - Donuts (although it released 3 days before he died)
guy got his family to bring him tapes and records in hospital, and then mixed it all on his deathbed (or so the story goes…)
Depends on what you’re into, but “Apple” was Mother Love Bone’s debut album; the singer died of an overdose before release. Pretty good combination of polished Seattle sound and glam rock.
Jeff Buckley’s “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk” is rough in places but good. It was the album he was working on when he died.
I love Mac Miller. His National Petroleum Radio Tiny Desk Concert was released posthumously, wasn’t it?
Sublimes self titled album
Made in Heaven by Queen is underrated. Better than their 80s albums at least.
Mac Miller Circles
elliott smith - new moon