I love last tracks on albums. There’s the sense of satisfaction at having consumed something completely, like turning over the back cover of a book you just finished. And while they’re not as crucial or weighty as movie endings, they can be just as revealing. There’s also a unique sense of intimacy to last tracks. Casual listeners may not hear the very end, so it’s like the room gets a little smaller, especially when they’re quieter, more confessional tunes.

That’s how the end of this Marias album feels. I enjoyed all of Peace Sign, but “R U Trying 2 Break My Heart” is a knockout punch. It’s the longest song on the album, and it might be its most pensive, as well, but what really gets me is the chorus. “Are you trying break my heart while the world is falling apart?” it asks, absorbing personal and public devastation into a single desperate plea. Then it exhales: “I guess I’m ready for this to begin. Breathing out while the fire comes in.” The fact that “this” is ambiguous makes the chorus even more enveloping and universal. The whole thing makes me think of old videos of atomic bomb tests, for some reason. Certainly left me feeling leveled.

That’s how you end an album.

Marias — “R U Trying 2 Break My Heart” [Spotify/Bandcamp]