Favorite Opening Track(s)

[metaphours]

For me it would have to be "Disorder" by Joy Division. What's yours?

 

[disregard]

One's gotta be Angel by Massive Attack on their amazing Mezzanine album.

 

[Prime]

Wow, my first thoughts coming into this thread were Unknown Pleasures and Blue Lines.

Hmmm, so many...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Accidents Will Happen (Armed Forces)
Cocteau Twins - Cherry-Coloured Funk (Heaven Or Las Vegas)
Love - Alone Again Or (Forever Changes)
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (same title as album)

 

[speculative]

I am always delighted to fire up Pearl Jam's Vitalogy with its opening song, "Last Exit." It frames the album, along with the last song "Immortality," like two bookends. The song is full of playful energy and does not come on too strong, yet has a catchy driving beat. The lyrics are coy and clever.

A strong opener off the top of my head is "Piano Man" off of Ghostland Observatory's album Paparazzi Lightning. It pulls no punches right off the bat and is a great headfirst dive into that GO sound.

Also, since Rolling Stone named "Everything in Its Right Place" off of Kid A by Radiohead, I'll mention it here. It is indeed a good introduction to the sound of Radiohead in their Kid A/Amnesiac era.

I also like Beth Orton's "Stolen Car" from Central Reservation. The rest of the album is slower for the most part, and I think it could have benefitted from a faster song somewhere in the middle.

From the Crystal Method's Divided by Night, I think the first track of the same title is a strong opener and a good introduction to the sound of the album.

 

[pure_mercury]

Wow, my first thoughts coming into this thread were Unknown Pleasures and Blue Lines.

Hmmm, so many...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Accidents Will Happen (Armed Forces)
Cocteau Twins - Cherry-Coloured Funk (Heaven Or Las Vegas)
Love - Alone Again Or (Forever Changes)
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (same title as album)

These are all great. I would add:

"I Wanna Be Adored" - The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses)
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds)
"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream)
"London Calling" - The Clash (London Calling)
"Debaser" - The Pixies (Doolittle)
"Baba O'Riley" - The Who (Who's Next)
"Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed)

 

[speculative]

These are all great. I would add:

"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream)

That is also a great one. It's recurring chords in the very first few moments that gradually build to a crescendo make it a great intro song to the entire album.

 

[EffEmDoubleyou]

"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream)

This was the first one that came to mind. And I'm the third to say it, so it must be good

 

[speculative]

I'm ripping some more of my CDs to my HD. How could I not mention:

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel from their album Bridge Over Troubled Water. One of the best ballads/anthems of all time. In fact, Stevie Wonder sang this for the Haiti shindig just last week...

 

[pure_mercury]

Oh, let's not forget "A Hard Day's Night."

 

[speculative]

/fuzz pedal

Also: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Nevermind is quite a heavy hitter.

 

[Falcarius]

"Handle with Care" from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 album - Traveling Wilburys.
"Just Like Honey" from Psychocandy - The Jesus and Mary Chain.
"Peacebone" from Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective.
''Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels)'' from Funeral - Arcade Fire.

 

[EffEmDoubleyou]

"Welcome To The Jungle" from Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction

 

[mr.awesome]

one that really sticks out to me is 'How to Start a Fire' by Further Seems Forever, on their album 'How to Start a Fire' haha. theres a bunch of good opening songs... but that one really just sets off the rest of the album and makes it memorable.

"Lets set this city ablaze
Burn down the monuments and
Build mountains in their place
Where we can see everything
We could start a fire
And I'll shine in its light"

 

[Unkindloving]

Emily Haines - Our Hell
Cat Power - The Greatest
Company of Thieves - Old Letters
The Red Paintings - Walls
Amanda Palmer - Astronaut
Blonde Redhead - Equally Damaged

 

[Thursday]

Fiona Apple " On the Bound " off of When the Pawn....
Brand New "Vices" off of Daisy

 

[valentine]

Replacements- "I will dare"
Cure- "Out of this world"
Pavement-"Stereo"
Bauhaus- "Third Uncle"

 

[Kingfisher]

Are You Experienced? on Jimi Hendrix's album 'Are You Experienced' is a perfect lead-in to an amazing album. in just a couple of seconds it sets the whole tone for the album really simply and perfectly.
also:

Singapore - on Rain Dogs - by Tom Waits
Break On Through - on The Doors - by The Doors
Haitian Fight Song - on Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus - by Charles Mingus
Blueport - on At The Village Vanguard - by Gerry Mulligan
So What - on Kind Of Blue - by Miles Davis
Faith - on 'S Make It - by Art Blakey
Down On The Corner - on Willy And The Poor Boys - by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Two Of Us - on Let It Be - by The Beatles

 

[Prime]

These are all great. I would add:

"I Wanna Be Adored" - The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses)
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds)
"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream)
"London Calling" - The Clash (London Calling)
"Debaser" - The Pixies (Doolittle)
"Baba O'Riley" - The Who (Who's Next)
"Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed)

Nice!! I just sold my Siamese Dream-esque fuzz pedal. What was I thinking.

Also, I just bought a bootleg of Smile by the Beach Boys. I know it's, like, the most beloved unreleased album of all time, but seriously... Pet Sounds is still better.

 

[Prime]

Replacements- "I will dare"
Cure- "Out of this world"
Pavement-"Stereo"
Bauhaus- "Third Uncle"

I like your tastes and I like using black mages, too. Although the reissue editions are so much easier so I just go straight Fighter/Monk/Thief/Red Mage. Swords, son.

 

[TenebrousReflection]

Eluveitie - Sacrapos - At First Glance
A narrative track with music to set the tone for the album, the first actual song on the album is Brictom which is also a great song from what is one of my favorite albums from last year.

A few other opening tracks I really like that do a good job of setting the mood of the album...

Michelle Belanger featuring Nox Arcana - Ligeia's Lament

Gaia Consort - Evolve

Xandria - India

Skyclad - Inequality Street

Bruce Dickinson - Freak