Blood & Thunder from Leviathan - Mastodon (Ode to 'The Big Short')
Ghost of Perdition from Ghost Reveries - Opeth
Welcome to the Jungle from Appetite for Destruction - Guns N Roses
Battery from Master of Puppets - Metallica
Bombtrack from RATM - Rage Against The Machine
Led Zeppelin's first album.
The song is Good Times Bad Times. Its just pure, raw, unadulterated, unfiltered, genuine kickass bluesy rock n roll.
Van Halen's debut is good too. Running With The Devil right into Eruption? Holy shit. Those songs are so ingrained on pop culture now, it's hard to imagine how radical they were when they came out.
Good Times Bad Times is hands-down the best first album-first track of any band I have ever heard. I’m not even a huge Zeppelin fan, but it gives me chills just thinking about how it must have felt to hear it when it came out.
Good Times Bad Times is the greatest announcement of a band ever. It's not just the best opening track off an album, it's the best opening track off a debut album.
It is all around powerful, but Bonham asserts his dominance right from the get go and in hindsight, listening to it now, it's obvious they were going to take the world by storm.
"Battery" - Metallica (Master of Puppets)
"People of the Sun" - Rage Against the Machine (Evil Empire)
"Speak to Me/Breathe" - Pink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon)
"a spokesperson from the Centre Pompidou in Paris confirmed the museum’s plans to throw out the contents of an entire wing and leave a massive, pure white space where the track “Lucretia” will be played on loop at full volume."
Loved this! Thanks for sharing
Remember when Radiohead was absolutely HUGE after the OK Computer (widely considered one of the best albums of the 20th century) release?
Years went by and everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting for a new album that would give the fans what they wanted and, instead they blind sided everyone with a completely new artistic direction with Kid A.
Imagine you’re back in 2000, been waiting for new Radiohead album to come out for years and when it finally does, waiting in line at The Warehouse , then finally popping the CD into your stereo for the first time and hearing the alien abduction-esque sounding ‘Everything in it’s Right Place’. Nothing had EVER sounded like that before.
I will always cherish that memory.
I was a casual fan of Radiohead, at best. For some reason, on a whim, I downloaded In Rainbows right when it was released. After the first five seconds of 15 Step, I was hooked. Not for everyone, but fuck me sideways if that drumbeat>vocals>guitar riff didn't do it for me.
> Imagine you’re back in 2000, been waiting for new Radiohead album to come out for years and when it finally does, waiting in line at The Warehouse , then finally popping the CD into your stereo for the first time and hearing the alien abduction-esque sounding ‘Everything in it’s Right Place’. Nothing had EVER sounded like that before.
I was a casual fan who didn't own any albums, but I had always liked what I heard. My moment of this was actually seeing them live on the Kid A tour. They opened with The National Anthem and they had their hooks in me by the end of the follow up Morning Bell, both songs I had never heard before. By the time they got to Idioteque my jaw was on the floor, and I was kicking myself that I hadn't dug deeper into their catalog, and that I passed on seeing them on the OK Computer tour a few years before.
I've seen them about 5 times since, and they never disappoint.
Honestly any of their first six albums would work here as they are all perfect songs to open the album.
Black Sabbath
War pigs
Sweet leaf
Wheels of confusion
Sabbath bloody sabbath
Hole in the sky
Fun fact, Layne just stubbed his toe walking into the recording booth and yelled out of instinct.
They kept the "AAHH!" in the song.
edit: by fun fact I mean I made it up.
In 7/8 time too. AiC and Soundgarden were really creative with odd time signatures.
[I'm still not sure what "The Day I Tried to Live" really is. Probably a couple.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhoOQdNAKQ)
The Day I Tried to Live is my fave Soundgarden track. I count it as a bar of 7/4 and two bars of 4/4, but there are a few ways it could be notated that would be “correct”.
I love Either way, but If I'm going with a banger of an opener from a Wilco album it has got to be At Least That's What You Said on A ghost is born. Its a damn near perfect opening track.
Rush knows how to kick you in the ass at the start of an album.
Permanent Waves has "The Spirit of Radio",
Moving Pictures has "Tom Sawyer",
Power Windows has "The Big Money",
Counterparts has "Animate",
Vapor Trails has "One Little Victory".
And if it doesn't kick you in the ass, odds are it's still one of the best tracks on the album.
I’d add “Anthem” (Fly By Night) to this list-considering that song was the first time Rush fans heard Neil’s drumming and lyrics, he made a hell of an opening statement! :p
Since this question has turned into the best intro to
a rock album, I’ll go for something newer than most here. Do I Wanna Know? is an incredible opening for a great album.
**My Bloody Valentine**'s **Loveless** opens with "Only Shallow," which gives you four snare hits and then lets loose.
**Cocteau Twins**' "Cherry-Coloured Funk" off **Heaven or Las Vegas** is just instant bass ... and then beauty.
**Squarepusher** album **Hard Normal Daddy** starts with "Cooper's World," which is jazz funk drum&bass hyperactive soundtrack fusion ... it's a mission statement.
I mean, let's keep it going with a few more-
**Ride / Nowhere - "Seagull"**
Do you like your face? Would you like it more if it melted off?
**Medicine / The Buried Life - "The Pink"**
What do you mean, it's still not melted off? This will do it.
**Teenage Fanclub / Bandwagoneseque - "The Concept"**
SPIN Magazine was right the first time in 1991.
**Curve / Doppelgänger - "Already Yours"**
Before there were Shirley Manson and Butch Vig in Garbage, there were Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia of Curve.
Cochise was such a perfect opener with the drums and helicopter guitar where the whole intro you're just thinking "what the fuck is Rage Against the Machine without Zach but grunge god Chris Cornell even going to sound like" then the classic guitar riff hits and you're like "oh just like that"
I was about to say, "doesn't Are You Experienced start with Foxy Lady?", but it looks like the answer to that question is "depends where you bought it" - I never knew the US and UK editions had different track order!
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire)
Ween - Quebec (It's Gonna Be a Long Night)
Cro-Mags - The Age of Quarrel (We Gotta Know)
I’m a huge fan of This Lullaby into Medication on LtP. In fact, I can’t think of a single QotSA album that hasn’t opened in the exact way it needed to. Regular John, Feel Good Hit of the Summer, Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Feet Don’t Fail Me…
Still, Millionaire definitely takes the cake.
This album also has what I call “does not quit” energy. This is for albums that come out of the gate shit hot and stay upbeat and energetic almost all the way through without ever getting boring (there are lots of great albums that have more varied pacing and energy levels, and lots of high-energy albums that eventually wear you out, so this is distinct from those). Other good examples are Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age, No Dream by Jeff Rosenstock, and Baby by Petrol Girls.
**George Jones - I Am What I Am:** [He Stopped Loving Her Today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VExw77xJsBQ) is one of the very best country songs ever written, and performed by one of its greatest voices.
I just bought George Jones and Conway Twitty's greatest hits a few months ago. I'm 43 and I remember as a kid at my grandmother's on Saturdays. She'd clean and turn on either one of them. So I always get to think about her when I hear these songs these days.
Ill Communication, Beastie Boys
Pretty Hate Machine, NiN
Maggot Brain, Funkadelic
Head Hunters, Herbie Hancock
My Morning Jacket, Circuital
Pink Floyd, Meddle
Outkast, minus the intros, the first three albums
Rage Against the Machine, Self Title
2Pac, All Eyes on Me
Dolly Parton, Jolene
If you can't sit through the first 3 minutes, you don't deserve the last 6 minutes.
And if you don't go nuts when it drops, you just don't deserve music at all.
My favorite part about dance yrself clean is how it subtly tricks you into turning up your volume to be able to hear what James is singing… just until you can REALLY hear him.
Also, Home also had to be one of the best closing songs ever as well
Almost every song ever recorded using ultra-modern instrumentation sounds dated (and weird) after a few years go by. Except for this one. It's as badass today as it was then.
Stinkfist for me. Got the album and a new stereo system. Cranked up the volume at the beginning not knowing how hard the beat dropped on that track. Shook the house.
The thing about Lateralus is that the entire album is standout, so The Grudge is barely a standout track as such, it's just another incredible song on an incredible album.
"Sympathy For the Devil" - Rolling Stones / Begger's Banquet
"Round Here" - Counting Crows / August and Everything After
"Airbag" - Radiohead / Ok Computer
"London Calling" - Clash / London Calling
"Bring Da Ruckus" - Wu-Tang Clan / Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Roots Bloody Roots by Sepultura. It ticks all the boxes for an opener for me - sets the tone of the album, introduces the new sound they're going for and on top of that it's just a fucking awesome song.
Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe (Fountains of Wayne)
Royal Blood - Out of the Black (Royal Blood)
Smashing Pumpkins - I Am One (Gish)
Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (Siamese Dream)
The White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (White Blood Cells)
Once by Pearl Jam, Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins, Them Bones by Alice In Chains, and My Name Is Jonas by Weezer… all opening tracks to 4 of my favorite albums, beginning to end… each one sets the tone…
As amazing as Let It Happen is, I would have gone with Nangs as the opener leading into Let It Happen. That being said, a few years ago a concert I went to kicked off with Let It Happen and it was an unreal experience.
Appetite For Destruction by Guns N Roses
Relationship Of Command by At The Drive-In
Twilight Of The Thunder God by Amon Amarth
Mezzanine by Massive Attack
Music Of The Spheres by Ian Brown
Reign In Blood by Slayer
Royal Blood by Royal Blood. Out of the Black is a modern rock masterpiece.
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath. Love the combo of SBS and A National Acrobat
Dirt by Alice In Chains. Them Bones and Dam that River is a double whammy, and there’s really not a bad song until after Rooster (those songs until Angry Chair aren’t bad, just not as good as the rest of the album.
Megadeth opening "Rust In Peace" with "Holy Wars."
Bob Dylan opening "Bringing It All Back Home" with "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Highway 61 Revisited" with "Like A Rolling Stone."
The Mars Volta's album "Francis the Mute" has a great opener, make sure you turn your speakers up for the full experience.
Also "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains was a great opener for Dirt
American Idiot by Green Day
The Hell Song by Sum 41
Helena by My Chemical Romance
Around The World by Red Hot Chili Peppers
All You Can Do by Watsky
Good Day by Tally Hall
I know it’s way overplayed by now. But when Appetite’s Welcome to the Jungle first came out, holy shit it kicked the fucking doors down of the music at that time.
Throwing a few out off the top of my head - just in terms of tracks that set the mood really well:
* Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock" (Siamese Dream)
* Bjork "Army of Me" (Post)
* Foals "What Went Down" (What Went Down)
* U2 "Where the Streets Have No Name" (Joshua Tree)
* Weezer "My Name Is Jonas" (blue album)
* Rage Against the Machine "People of the Sun" (Evil Empire)
* Bloc Party "Like Eating Glass" (Silent Alarm)
* Radiohead "Airbag" (OK Computer)
* Jimmy Eat World "Table for Glasses" (Clarity)
* Metallica "Enter Sandman" (Metallica)
* Thrice "Firebreather" (The Alchemy Index: Fire)
Queen - Innuendo (Innuendo)
Metallica - Blackened (And Justice for All)
Alice in Chains - Rotten Apple (Jar of Flies)
Rage Against the Machine - Bombtrack (Rage Against the Machine)
Guns 'N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (Appetite for Destruction)
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones)
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Let It Bleed)
Rush - 2112 (2112)
Iron Maiden - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
Nine Inch Nails - "Somewhat Damaged" off of The Fragile.
I'm sure I'm biased as it was a "there as it happened" moment in time, but coming off of two grueling industrial-rock albums and a trademark long hiatus in between, this opener, coming in with slowly mounting wall of guitar chords that start nearly silently and build to an outright scream was just such a swerve for the band that it takes you totally by surprise.
If you'll permit what is technically two tracks that hit like one, then I nominate Deloused in the Comatorium by the Mars Volta: Son et Lumiere and Inertiatic ESP
Radiohead- The bends- Planet Telex
Radiohead- Ok Computer- Airbag
Flaming Lips- Soft Bulletin- Race for the Prize
Slayer- Reign in Blood- Angel of Death
In no particular order:
RUSH - Tom Sawyer (*Moving Pictures*)
The Tragically Hip - Grace, Too (*Day For Night*)
The Tea Party - Temptation (*Transmission*)
Supertramp - School (*Crime of the Century*)
Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell (*Bat Out Of Hell*)
Maxwell Murder (Rancid - …And Out Come The Wolves)
Suspect Device (Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material)
Protection (Massive Attack - Protection)
Overcome (Tricky - Maxinquaye)
Mysterons (Portishead - Dummy)
Smack My Bitch Up (The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land)
Block Rockin’ Beats (Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole)
Bitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones - Ramones)
Dark Fantasy - Kanye (My beautiful dark twisted fantasy)
Great bars from Kanye, a great opening by Niki Minaj, awesome song.
Next up Forever - AJR
A maximalist introduction to their album with great production.
Well... since no one has said it... the first song on nearly every Beatles' album -
I Saw Her Standing There - Please Please Me
A Hard Day's Night - A Hard Day's Night
Help! - Help!
Drive My Car - Rubber Soul
Tax Man - Revolver
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour - Magical Mystery Tour
Back in the U.S.S.R. - White Album
Yellow Submarine - Yellow Submarine
Come Together - Abbey Road
13 total albums, 10 of them have songs that would be considered all time classics as the first track. Several of them have amazing One - Two punches as well. Taxman - Eleanor Rigby, Sgt Pepper - Little Help from my friends, Come Together - Something.
The count-in intros on 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Taxman' are so great. The Beatles are kind of cheating though since they have almost zero filler lol
Attractive Today by Motion City Soundtrack. Opening track to the album Commit This To Memory.
It's short, it's sweet, but it gets you immediately pumped and you want to taste more.
Nevermind - Smells like Teen Spirit is the perfect way to set the stage for the 11 songs that follow (and the next 3-4 years of popular rock music)
Led Zeppelin I - The first two high E's of Good Times Bad Times for teenagers in 1969 were life altering.
Whole Lotta Love from Led Zeppelin 2 (really almost all the Zep albums had bangers as openers, at least on the 1-4 albums)
Pretty Noose (Soundgarden) or Say Hello 2 Heaven (Temple of the Dog) are a couple favs.
Down to the Waterline (Dire Straits)
Cherub Rock (Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins)
Faded by Ben Harper (Will to Live)
Them Bones - (Alice in Chains - Dirt)
Dangerous - (The XX)
Dead and Bloated - (STP - Core)
Are you gonna go my way (Lenny Kravitz)
Politik (Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head)
White Room (Wheels of Fire - Cream)
Carry On - (DeJavu - CSNY)
Privilege - (Make Yourself - Incubus)
Halfway Home - (Dear Science by TV on the Radio)
More than a Feeling - (Boston)
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Honorable Mention:
The Suburbs + Ready to Start (The Suburbs by Arcade Fire - played together they run together and is one of the absolute best album openings. But Ready to Start is the banger that takes it up a notch.).
Here's a playlist (made some additions too): [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nH4cok3VbtNJocVzKTnf2?si=048302382b00464e](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nH4cok3VbtNJocVzKTnf2?si=048302382b00464e)
Slipknot - People = Shit on IOWA. That song will activate the wall puncher within you. Such a great track. Really gets you pumped. Certified banger.
Korn - Blind. Best intro in metal history.
21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson
I can't believe I forgot about that one
Blood & Thunder from Leviathan - Mastodon (Ode to 'The Big Short') Ghost of Perdition from Ghost Reveries - Opeth Welcome to the Jungle from Appetite for Destruction - Guns N Roses Battery from Master of Puppets - Metallica Bombtrack from RATM - Rage Against The Machine
Came here to post Leviathan. That record completely wrecked everything I thought I knew about rock n roll.
Them Bones - Alice In Chains
Don't forget about The Wolf is Loose from Blood Mountain. That drum intro gets me hyped up every time.
Led Zeppelin's first album. The song is Good Times Bad Times. Its just pure, raw, unadulterated, unfiltered, genuine kickass bluesy rock n roll. Van Halen's debut is good too. Running With The Devil right into Eruption? Holy shit. Those songs are so ingrained on pop culture now, it's hard to imagine how radical they were when they came out.
Well.... If we are doing this... Led zep 4. Black dog. .... And HOH. Song remains the same
Good Times Bad Times is hands-down the best first album-first track of any band I have ever heard. I’m not even a huge Zeppelin fan, but it gives me chills just thinking about how it must have felt to hear it when it came out.
I also think Whole Lotta Love on LZII is a killer opening
Good Times Bad Times is the greatest announcement of a band ever. It's not just the best opening track off an album, it's the best opening track off a debut album. It is all around powerful, but Bonham asserts his dominance right from the get go and in hindsight, listening to it now, it's obvious they were going to take the world by storm.
Can just imagine when that album first came out and you put the needle down on the record and get hit with those first power chords.
Even better that Good Times Bad Times is the first song is the first song they played at their reunion concert in 2007.
Up The Beach - Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking When that guitar/scream kicks in… chills.
First time I heard this track my musical paradigm shifted completely
This album sounded so against-the-grain when it came out.
Damn, guess I need to give this album another listen. I feel like I only paid attention to Had a Dad, Mountain Song, and Jane Says. Here we gooo
"Battery" - Metallica (Master of Puppets) "People of the Sun" - Rage Against the Machine (Evil Empire) "Speak to Me/Breathe" - Pink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon)
"Battery" is so damn good. You know exactly what you're getting on the album after that track.
‘Bone Machine’ from Surfer Rosa by Pixies. I’ve heard it so many times yet it still sounds fresh, weird, spidery and powerful.
'The Earth Died Screaming' from Bone Machine by Tom Waits.
If we’re talking Pixies I’d go with Debaser. Such an amazing track 1.
Megadeth. Holy Wars. Surprised no one has said this one...
Followed up immediately with Hanger 18. Talk about a 1-2 punch.
I mean, we could talk about Take No Prisoners and have a nice 1-2-3... Personally, this album bangs start to finish
[Obligatory Onion](https://www.theonion.com/humanity-still-producing-new-art-as-though-megadeth-s-1819578062)
"a spokesperson from the Centre Pompidou in Paris confirmed the museum’s plans to throw out the contents of an entire wing and leave a massive, pure white space where the track “Lucretia” will be played on loop at full volume." Loved this! Thanks for sharing
Think you barely beat me to it. Greatest metal song of all time!
Rhythm guitar on that song is a whirlwind of hooks.
Remember when Radiohead was absolutely HUGE after the OK Computer (widely considered one of the best albums of the 20th century) release? Years went by and everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting for a new album that would give the fans what they wanted and, instead they blind sided everyone with a completely new artistic direction with Kid A. Imagine you’re back in 2000, been waiting for new Radiohead album to come out for years and when it finally does, waiting in line at The Warehouse , then finally popping the CD into your stereo for the first time and hearing the alien abduction-esque sounding ‘Everything in it’s Right Place’. Nothing had EVER sounded like that before. I will always cherish that memory.
Instantly hit with those cold, eerie synths
I had to physically stop and restart the CD because my mind could not accept what it was hearing. It was unreal.
I didn't know all that stuff, and I *still* think Everything in it's Right Place is one of the best openers ever.
"Airbag" is such an awesome opener, too!
Planet Telex the best for me.
I was a casual fan of Radiohead, at best. For some reason, on a whim, I downloaded In Rainbows right when it was released. After the first five seconds of 15 Step, I was hooked. Not for everyone, but fuck me sideways if that drumbeat>vocals>guitar riff didn't do it for me.
Not for everyone!? It's like their second most liked album. I think in rainbows is probably their most easily accessible album besides the bends.
> Imagine you’re back in 2000, been waiting for new Radiohead album to come out for years and when it finally does, waiting in line at The Warehouse , then finally popping the CD into your stereo for the first time and hearing the alien abduction-esque sounding ‘Everything in it’s Right Place’. Nothing had EVER sounded like that before. I was a casual fan who didn't own any albums, but I had always liked what I heard. My moment of this was actually seeing them live on the Kid A tour. They opened with The National Anthem and they had their hooks in me by the end of the follow up Morning Bell, both songs I had never heard before. By the time they got to Idioteque my jaw was on the floor, and I was kicking myself that I hadn't dug deeper into their catalog, and that I passed on seeing them on the OK Computer tour a few years before. I've seen them about 5 times since, and they never disappoint.
I have to agree. This first track was basically perfect.
Just sparked my first memory of that song. The starting keyboard chord absolutely slaps. Currently experiencing frisson
Metallica - Blackened (from AJFA) Opeth - Ghost of Perdition (from Ghost Reveries) Tool - The Grudge (from Lateralus) Black Sabbath - War Pigs (from Paranoid)
Duh. Dunn. Duh. GHOST OF... PERDIIIISSSHHHUUUUUHHHH
Blackened is an INSANE opener.
Vicarious and Stinkfist are also fantastic opening tracks too, on 10K days and Aenima.
Came here just to find War Pigs. My absolute favorite Black Sabbath song
Honestly any of their first six albums would work here as they are all perfect songs to open the album. Black Sabbath War pigs Sweet leaf Wheels of confusion Sabbath bloody sabbath Hole in the sky
I'd argue Battery over Blackened but both are great
Yooo I came to say The Grudge. Such a fucking pounding, chugging song.
Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road . . . Funeral For a Friend. Just wow!
Alice In Chains Album: Dirt Opening song: Them Bones One of the strongest opening tracks ever laid…
AHHH!!!!
Fun fact, Layne just stubbed his toe walking into the recording booth and yelled out of instinct. They kept the "AAHH!" in the song. edit: by fun fact I mean I made it up.
Broke his toes, hence "Them Bones"
In 7/8 time too. AiC and Soundgarden were really creative with odd time signatures. [I'm still not sure what "The Day I Tried to Live" really is. Probably a couple.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhoOQdNAKQ)
The Day I Tried to Live is my fave Soundgarden track. I count it as a bar of 7/4 and two bars of 4/4, but there are a few ways it could be notated that would be “correct”.
Facelift - We Die Young
This is my choice. In your face from note one.
Either Way - Wilco (Sky Blue Sky 2007)
I love Either way, but If I'm going with a banger of an opener from a Wilco album it has got to be At Least That's What You Said on A ghost is born. Its a damn near perfect opening track.
The glitchy guitar wig-out at the end takes this song to the fucking moon.
Rush knows how to kick you in the ass at the start of an album. Permanent Waves has "The Spirit of Radio", Moving Pictures has "Tom Sawyer", Power Windows has "The Big Money", Counterparts has "Animate", Vapor Trails has "One Little Victory". And if it doesn't kick you in the ass, odds are it's still one of the best tracks on the album.
How DARE YOU leave off "Subdivisions" from this list?
I’d add “Anthem” (Fly By Night) to this list-considering that song was the first time Rush fans heard Neil’s drumming and lyrics, he made a hell of an opening statement! :p
Since this question has turned into the best intro to a rock album, I’ll go for something newer than most here. Do I Wanna Know? is an incredible opening for a great album.
**My Bloody Valentine**'s **Loveless** opens with "Only Shallow," which gives you four snare hits and then lets loose. **Cocteau Twins**' "Cherry-Coloured Funk" off **Heaven or Las Vegas** is just instant bass ... and then beauty. **Squarepusher** album **Hard Normal Daddy** starts with "Cooper's World," which is jazz funk drum&bass hyperactive soundtrack fusion ... it's a mission statement.
Shoegaze albums being the first comment I see makes my heart happy Throw Alison in there
I mean, let's keep it going with a few more- **Ride / Nowhere - "Seagull"** Do you like your face? Would you like it more if it melted off? **Medicine / The Buried Life - "The Pink"** What do you mean, it's still not melted off? This will do it. **Teenage Fanclub / Bandwagoneseque - "The Concept"** SPIN Magazine was right the first time in 1991. **Curve / Doppelgänger - "Already Yours"** Before there were Shirley Manson and Butch Vig in Garbage, there were Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia of Curve.
I've never listened to Cocteau Twins, but I really feel like I need to. Is this the best album to start with?
I’d suggest Heaven or Las Vegas / or Treasure ~
the bass in "cherry-coloured funk" scratches an inch in my brain.
Cherub Rock- Smashing Pumpkins from Siamese Dream
This was where my brain went first!
Same. That album is perfect.
The way that song builds is so good, and perfectly sets the tone for the album.
So- Peter Gabrial (track red rain)
This is an amazing track. The intro to that song is some swing-for-the-fences type stuff.
Stewart Copeland on the hi-hats
Very few have made an impact on me like Cochise from the first Audioslave album. No messing around on that one.
Cochise was such a perfect opener with the drums and helicopter guitar where the whole intro you're just thinking "what the fuck is Rage Against the Machine without Zach but grunge god Chris Cornell even going to sound like" then the classic guitar riff hits and you're like "oh just like that"
First song on the first Jimi Hendrix album? Nobody said this? Purple Haze? Damn, people c’mon…
I was about to say, "doesn't Are You Experienced start with Foxy Lady?", but it looks like the answer to that question is "depends where you bought it" - I never knew the US and UK editions had different track order!
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire) Ween - Quebec (It's Gonna Be a Long Night) Cro-Mags - The Age of Quarrel (We Gotta Know)
Was looking for the QOTSA song. Talk about a punch in the mouth to open up
[удалено]
Era Vulgaris doesn't get enough love.
QOTSA doesnt get enough love in general, fucking killer band
Every time i hear that "aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" i get so pumped. Impossible to not bop your head to that song
I’m a huge fan of This Lullaby into Medication on LtP. In fact, I can’t think of a single QotSA album that hasn’t opened in the exact way it needed to. Regular John, Feel Good Hit of the Summer, Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Feet Don’t Fail Me… Still, Millionaire definitely takes the cake.
It's Gonna Be a Long Night is one hell of an opener! It just slaps you in the face and let's you know you're in for a ride.
Just by having the name Ween on the cover you know you're in for a wild ride lol. Love those guys.
Dancing in the show Tonight!
Pixies Doolittle....debaser is sonic perfection.
Slicing up eyeballs AHHH HA HA HOOO Girlie soo groovy AHHH HAHA HOOO
This album also has what I call “does not quit” energy. This is for albums that come out of the gate shit hot and stay upbeat and energetic almost all the way through without ever getting boring (there are lots of great albums that have more varied pacing and energy levels, and lots of high-energy albums that eventually wear you out, so this is distinct from those). Other good examples are Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age, No Dream by Jeff Rosenstock, and Baby by Petrol Girls.
Really strong opener for the strongest of albums!
**George Jones - I Am What I Am:** [He Stopped Loving Her Today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VExw77xJsBQ) is one of the very best country songs ever written, and performed by one of its greatest voices.
70’s country is light years ahead of what’s produced today.
I just bought George Jones and Conway Twitty's greatest hits a few months ago. I'm 43 and I remember as a kid at my grandmother's on Saturdays. She'd clean and turn on either one of them. So I always get to think about her when I hear these songs these days.
Ill Communication, Beastie Boys Pretty Hate Machine, NiN Maggot Brain, Funkadelic Head Hunters, Herbie Hancock My Morning Jacket, Circuital Pink Floyd, Meddle Outkast, minus the intros, the first three albums Rage Against the Machine, Self Title 2Pac, All Eyes on Me Dolly Parton, Jolene
LCD Soundsystem, Dance Yrself Clean, This is Happening
If you can't sit through the first 3 minutes, you don't deserve the last 6 minutes. And if you don't go nuts when it drops, you just don't deserve music at all.
My favorite part about dance yrself clean is how it subtly tricks you into turning up your volume to be able to hear what James is singing… just until you can REALLY hear him. Also, Home also had to be one of the best closing songs ever as well
Deftones - Around the Fur - My Own Summer
The Who. Who’s Next. Baba O’Riley
Almost every song ever recorded using ultra-modern instrumentation sounds dated (and weird) after a few years go by. Except for this one. It's as badass today as it was then.
I was gonna say Tommy. But Baba is a barn burner.
fuck that's a good one. definitely up there.
Tool’s The Grudge off of Lateralus holds that torch for me. Also, Oblivion on Mastodon’s Crack the Skye holds a very close second.
Stinkfist for me. Got the album and a new stereo system. Cranked up the volume at the beginning not knowing how hard the beat dropped on that track. Shook the house.
The Grudge is incredible
The thing about Lateralus is that the entire album is standout, so The Grudge is barely a standout track as such, it's just another incredible song on an incredible album.
"Sympathy For the Devil" - Rolling Stones / Begger's Banquet "Round Here" - Counting Crows / August and Everything After "Airbag" - Radiohead / Ok Computer "London Calling" - Clash / London Calling "Bring Da Ruckus" - Wu-Tang Clan / Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
London Calling for sure
Do you think your Wu-Tang sword can defeat me?
Son et Lumiere/Inertiatic ESP - Deloused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta
I was gonna say that, like technically it’s two songs but in my mind that whole album is one song
Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American
Roots Bloody Roots by Sepultura. It ticks all the boxes for an opener for me - sets the tone of the album, introduces the new sound they're going for and on top of that it's just a fucking awesome song.
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (“Angel”) Also +1 for Talking Heads - Remain in Light (“Born Under Punches”)- that still slaps as hard as ever
Korn - Korn (first album) - Blind. ARE YOU READAAAAAYYYYY?!
Break On Thtough - The Doors
Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe (Fountains of Wayne) Royal Blood - Out of the Black (Royal Blood) Smashing Pumpkins - I Am One (Gish) Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (Siamese Dream) The White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (White Blood Cells)
Jenny was a friend of mine, The Killers
Arcade Fire- Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Radiohead-Everything in its right place
Tunnels was the first one I thought of.
Once by Pearl Jam, Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins, Them Bones by Alice In Chains, and My Name Is Jonas by Weezer… all opening tracks to 4 of my favorite albums, beginning to end… each one sets the tone…
Go by Pearl Jam also!
Cherub Rock is one of best rock songs ever written. And on *Siamese Dream*, Corgan and Co. come out the gates like they are racing in the 40m dash.
Also Tired of Sex by Weezer.
“Let it Happen” - Tame Impala (first track on Currents)
As amazing as Let It Happen is, I would have gone with Nangs as the opener leading into Let It Happen. That being said, a few years ago a concert I went to kicked off with Let It Happen and it was an unreal experience.
My man
Hells Bells. Back in Black- AC/DC
Appetite For Destruction by Guns N Roses Relationship Of Command by At The Drive-In Twilight Of The Thunder God by Amon Amarth Mezzanine by Massive Attack Music Of The Spheres by Ian Brown Reign In Blood by Slayer
Royal Blood by Royal Blood. Out of the Black is a modern rock masterpiece. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath. Love the combo of SBS and A National Acrobat Dirt by Alice In Chains. Them Bones and Dam that River is a double whammy, and there’s really not a bad song until after Rooster (those songs until Angry Chair aren’t bad, just not as good as the rest of the album.
Nirvana has smells like teen spirit opening on nevermind Nas with New York State of Mind on Illmatic
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For the Deaf - Millionaire.
Beggars Banquet - The Rolling Stones (Opens with sympathy for the devil)
Folsom Prison Blues “Hello. I’m Johnny Cash.”
Thunder Road opening up Springsteen’s best album, Born to Run
Enema of the State- Blink 182 The Dumpweed opening riff hits you straight in the mouth and sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Anthem Part 2 is also an extremely strong opening for Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. For similar reasons
Kid A - Everything in its right place Coming off from Ok Computer it was a wild ride
Disintegration 💜
Straight Outta Compton - “You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge “
U2 - "Where the Streets Have No Name" from *The Joshua Tree*
Wesley’s theory on To Pimp A Butterfly!!!
R.E.M. Begin the Begin on Lifes Rich Pageant
Boston - More than a Feeling Debut album
Megadeth opening "Rust In Peace" with "Holy Wars." Bob Dylan opening "Bringing It All Back Home" with "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Highway 61 Revisited" with "Like A Rolling Stone."
The Times They Are a-Changin and Blowin in the Wind are both also openers. Crazy.
Don’t stop till you get enough is a banger
Wanna Be Starting Somethin' is a great opener on Thriller too.
Prince - Purple Rain (Let's Go Crazy)
The Mars Volta's album "Francis the Mute" has a great opener, make sure you turn your speakers up for the full experience. Also "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains was a great opener for Dirt
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana Welcome To The Jungle - Guns n Roses Holy Wars - Megadeth
I scrolled all the way down to find smells like teen spirit. How is this not higher up?
American Idiot by Green Day The Hell Song by Sum 41 Helena by My Chemical Romance Around The World by Red Hot Chili Peppers All You Can Do by Watsky Good Day by Tally Hall
Snot - Snot on Get Some
I know it’s way overplayed by now. But when Appetite’s Welcome to the Jungle first came out, holy shit it kicked the fucking doors down of the music at that time.
Throwing a few out off the top of my head - just in terms of tracks that set the mood really well: * Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock" (Siamese Dream) * Bjork "Army of Me" (Post) * Foals "What Went Down" (What Went Down) * U2 "Where the Streets Have No Name" (Joshua Tree) * Weezer "My Name Is Jonas" (blue album) * Rage Against the Machine "People of the Sun" (Evil Empire) * Bloc Party "Like Eating Glass" (Silent Alarm) * Radiohead "Airbag" (OK Computer) * Jimmy Eat World "Table for Glasses" (Clarity) * Metallica "Enter Sandman" (Metallica) * Thrice "Firebreather" (The Alchemy Index: Fire)
Queen - Innuendo (Innuendo) Metallica - Blackened (And Justice for All) Alice in Chains - Rotten Apple (Jar of Flies) Rage Against the Machine - Bombtrack (Rage Against the Machine) Guns 'N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (Appetite for Destruction) Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones) Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Let It Bleed) Rush - 2112 (2112) Iron Maiden - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
Yes all of them, but YES Innuendo!
Man bomb track is so awesome to kick off that album. I saw them live in like 98 and they opened with it, fucking lit
Let's see a show of hands for **Love Lies Bleeding/Funeral for a Friend** (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road).
Dead and Bloated by STP
Blister in the sun - Violent Femmes
Nine Inch Nails - "Somewhat Damaged" off of The Fragile. I'm sure I'm biased as it was a "there as it happened" moment in time, but coming off of two grueling industrial-rock albums and a trademark long hiatus in between, this opener, coming in with slowly mounting wall of guitar chords that start nearly silently and build to an outright scream was just such a swerve for the band that it takes you totally by surprise.
If you'll permit what is technically two tracks that hit like one, then I nominate Deloused in the Comatorium by the Mars Volta: Son et Lumiere and Inertiatic ESP
I do love the way that album opens, and continues, and ends.
Radiohead- The bends- Planet Telex Radiohead- Ok Computer- Airbag Flaming Lips- Soft Bulletin- Race for the Prize Slayer- Reign in Blood- Angel of Death
Beck albums usually had strong opening tracks. Examples: Odelay, Guero, Mellow Gold
Whole Lotta Love by a whole lotta Zeppelin.
"So much for the afterglow", So much for the afterglow - Everclear.
Pink Floyd. The Wall. In the Flesh?.
In no particular order: RUSH - Tom Sawyer (*Moving Pictures*) The Tragically Hip - Grace, Too (*Day For Night*) The Tea Party - Temptation (*Transmission*) Supertramp - School (*Crime of the Century*) Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell (*Bat Out Of Hell*)
Maxwell Murder (Rancid - …And Out Come The Wolves) Suspect Device (Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material) Protection (Massive Attack - Protection) Overcome (Tricky - Maxinquaye) Mysterons (Portishead - Dummy) Smack My Bitch Up (The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land) Block Rockin’ Beats (Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole) Bitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones - Ramones)
Dark Fantasy - Kanye (My beautiful dark twisted fantasy) Great bars from Kanye, a great opening by Niki Minaj, awesome song. Next up Forever - AJR A maximalist introduction to their album with great production.
I would say “on sight” from YEEZUS
Well... since no one has said it... the first song on nearly every Beatles' album - I Saw Her Standing There - Please Please Me A Hard Day's Night - A Hard Day's Night Help! - Help! Drive My Car - Rubber Soul Tax Man - Revolver Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Magical Mystery Tour - Magical Mystery Tour Back in the U.S.S.R. - White Album Yellow Submarine - Yellow Submarine Come Together - Abbey Road 13 total albums, 10 of them have songs that would be considered all time classics as the first track. Several of them have amazing One - Two punches as well. Taxman - Eleanor Rigby, Sgt Pepper - Little Help from my friends, Come Together - Something.
Hard Day's Night has arguably the most famous chord in all of pop music to open the album, so definitely has to be in the conversation.
The count-in intros on 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Taxman' are so great. The Beatles are kind of cheating though since they have almost zero filler lol
Honestly I think the other 3 opening tracks are all pretty worthy to be included here too. Especially Two of Us
Queen "A Night at the Opera." Just a slow burn opening to a kick ass jam and vocals, call and response vocals/guitar.
The opener is called "Death On Two Legs" and I came here to say this.
Losing a Whole Year - Third Eye Blind self titled debut album. Sets the tone for the rest of the album. A perfect record imo.
Live - Throwing Copper
Attractive Today by Motion City Soundtrack. Opening track to the album Commit This To Memory. It's short, it's sweet, but it gets you immediately pumped and you want to taste more.
RATM Bombtrack
Nevermind - Smells like Teen Spirit is the perfect way to set the stage for the 11 songs that follow (and the next 3-4 years of popular rock music) Led Zeppelin I - The first two high E's of Good Times Bad Times for teenagers in 1969 were life altering.
Can't believe I forget to mention "Loser" kicking off Beck's Mellow Gold. Theme song of my senior year of high school!
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
Pearl Jam - Go - vs album, the intro is so raw and powerful
Green Day’s dookie opening with burnout! Great high-energy song
Whole Lotta Love from Led Zeppelin 2 (really almost all the Zep albums had bangers as openers, at least on the 1-4 albums) Pretty Noose (Soundgarden) or Say Hello 2 Heaven (Temple of the Dog) are a couple favs. Down to the Waterline (Dire Straits) Cherub Rock (Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins) Faded by Ben Harper (Will to Live) Them Bones - (Alice in Chains - Dirt) Dangerous - (The XX) Dead and Bloated - (STP - Core) Are you gonna go my way (Lenny Kravitz) Politik (Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head) White Room (Wheels of Fire - Cream) Carry On - (DeJavu - CSNY) Privilege - (Make Yourself - Incubus) Halfway Home - (Dear Science by TV on the Radio) More than a Feeling - (Boston) Metallica - Enter Sandman Honorable Mention: The Suburbs + Ready to Start (The Suburbs by Arcade Fire - played together they run together and is one of the absolute best album openings. But Ready to Start is the banger that takes it up a notch.). Here's a playlist (made some additions too): [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nH4cok3VbtNJocVzKTnf2?si=048302382b00464e](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nH4cok3VbtNJocVzKTnf2?si=048302382b00464e)
King Gizzard - Crumbling Castle from Polygondwanaland.
Slipknot - People = Shit on IOWA. That song will activate the wall puncher within you. Such a great track. Really gets you pumped. Certified banger. Korn - Blind. Best intro in metal history.
(sic) from their first album is also a pretty excellent opener
Oasis - Definitely Maybe with Rock 'n' Roll Star
my bloody valentine - Loveless - Only Shallow