Best song to open an album (cd)?
12-02-13, 12:41 PM
#1
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Best song to open an album (cd)?
Call me nostalgic, but I miss the days with side one and two. The artist strategically put a strong song to start and to kick off side 2. I have been on an Iron Maiden kick recently and was thinking about which was a better song to open: Invaders (NOTB) or Aces High (Powerslave)? Which ones do you feel started your favorite albums off with a bang?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoXuACtVSZ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsUUV1VDE3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoXuACtVSZ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsUUV1VDE3Y
12-02-13, 12:47 PM
#4
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
Aces High is the better of those two IMO. But I think Where Eagles Dare might be even better.
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As far as other bands, Forbidden's "Chalice Of Blood" is my fave opener ...
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And yeah - Angel Of Death is also a classic opener.
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As far as other bands, Forbidden's "Chalice Of Blood" is my fave opener ...
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And yeah - Angel Of Death is also a classic opener.
12-02-13, 01:03 PM
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Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
Great choices so far! Where Eagles Dare is great too. I'll never forget the first time I heard Angel of Death come blaring out of the speakers. I had ordered the record from Lakeshore Record Exchange in NY and the guy said, "you won't believe this album, it is only 29 mins long!" I thought, what a rip off, but then after hearing it, I still feel the magic every time I listen.
12-02-13, 01:37 PM
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Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
It was open to any genre, and not really a competition. Just thinking about songs that really set the tone and grab the listener. I started with metal because that is mostly what I listen to. I would say "Good Times Roll" by the Cars is one from classic rock.
12-02-13, 02:13 PM
#9
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
"Do They Owe Us a Living?" (CRASS - The Feeding of the 5000)
"Suspect Device" - (STIFF LITTLE FINGERS - Inflammable Material)
"Sonic Reducer" - (THE DEAD BOYS - Young Loud and Snotty)
"Suspect Device" - (STIFF LITTLE FINGERS - Inflammable Material)
"Sonic Reducer" - (THE DEAD BOYS - Young Loud and Snotty)
12-02-13, 02:20 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
This is really hard to answer, there are so many good side one track ones. Some of my favorites:
"Alone Again Or" off of Love's "Forever Changes" - romantic gothic California defined. Might be my favorite song ever.
"Soul and Fire" off of Bubble and Scrape by Sebadoh - the perfect alt rock ballad, IMO and one of the best songs of the ninties, downbeat, moving, catchy, smart, nostalgic, beautiful.
"One Nation under a Groove" of the album by the same name by Funkadelic. It basically sounds like you were dropped into the most insane party ever with no introduction. The groove on this song is definitive.
"War Ensemble" off of "Seasons in the Abyss" by Slayer. Slayer is not fucking around.
"What's Going On" off the album by the same name by Marvin Gaye. An obvious all-time classic. Instantly relaxing and chill, then you realize the lyrics are all about major problems with the world.
"Thieves" off of "A Mind is a Terrible thing to Taste" by Ministry. It still effing rocks.
"Love is the Drug" off of "Siren" by Roxy Music. The guy climbing into a European car and then speeding off for a night of debauchery. Perfect.
"Comfy in Nautica" off of "Person Pitch" by Panda Bear. Intergalactic Beach Boys with whizzing Formula One engines.
"Radio Free Europe" off of "Murmur" by REM. A definitive statement of purpose, a call to arms, the first college rock anthem.
"You Wouldn't Like Me" by Tegan and Sara off of "So Jealous". A perfect slab of gritty pop and one of my favorite openers from the last decade.
"Shine Eye Gal" by Black Uhuru off of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". Dark, dank, dub-soaked reggae. Instantly sets the mood for (IMO) the greatest roots-reggae album ever made.
"Master of my Craft" by Parquet Courts off of "Light up Gold". Funny, rocking and smart. The perfect opener to the best album made this year.
"Come All Ye" off off "Leige and Leaf" by Fairport Convention. It rocks, it's fun, it's deep, the vocal is perfect, the theme is appropriate. You're transported to late-sixties England in one track.
"Blood Visions" off of the album of the same name by Jay Reatard. Comes at you all broken and sideways. Dimented energy pulsing off of it. Weird, scary and compelling.
"Disorder" off of "Unknown Pleasures" by Joy Division. Urban decay on record and then Curtis comes in with "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by my hand...". I've heard this song roughly 6 million times and it still works perfectly.
"Synchronicity 1" off of "Synchronicity" by The Police. So. Much. Fucking. Energy. The bassline and drums on this song just rip. This will remind you that Sting used to ROCK. What a way to start an album.
"Svefn-g-englar" off of "Agaetis Byrjun" by Sigur Ros. Not really the first track, bu the first actuall piece of music on the album. Submarine sonar pings, glaciers cracking, wind blowing though enormous pine forests... whatever you want to call it, it's perfect.
"Alone Again Or" off of Love's "Forever Changes" - romantic gothic California defined. Might be my favorite song ever.
"Soul and Fire" off of Bubble and Scrape by Sebadoh - the perfect alt rock ballad, IMO and one of the best songs of the ninties, downbeat, moving, catchy, smart, nostalgic, beautiful.
"One Nation under a Groove" of the album by the same name by Funkadelic. It basically sounds like you were dropped into the most insane party ever with no introduction. The groove on this song is definitive.
"War Ensemble" off of "Seasons in the Abyss" by Slayer. Slayer is not fucking around.
"What's Going On" off the album by the same name by Marvin Gaye. An obvious all-time classic. Instantly relaxing and chill, then you realize the lyrics are all about major problems with the world.
"Thieves" off of "A Mind is a Terrible thing to Taste" by Ministry. It still effing rocks.
"Love is the Drug" off of "Siren" by Roxy Music. The guy climbing into a European car and then speeding off for a night of debauchery. Perfect.
"Comfy in Nautica" off of "Person Pitch" by Panda Bear. Intergalactic Beach Boys with whizzing Formula One engines.
"Radio Free Europe" off of "Murmur" by REM. A definitive statement of purpose, a call to arms, the first college rock anthem.
"You Wouldn't Like Me" by Tegan and Sara off of "So Jealous". A perfect slab of gritty pop and one of my favorite openers from the last decade.
"Shine Eye Gal" by Black Uhuru off of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". Dark, dank, dub-soaked reggae. Instantly sets the mood for (IMO) the greatest roots-reggae album ever made.
"Master of my Craft" by Parquet Courts off of "Light up Gold". Funny, rocking and smart. The perfect opener to the best album made this year.
"Come All Ye" off off "Leige and Leaf" by Fairport Convention. It rocks, it's fun, it's deep, the vocal is perfect, the theme is appropriate. You're transported to late-sixties England in one track.
"Blood Visions" off of the album of the same name by Jay Reatard. Comes at you all broken and sideways. Dimented energy pulsing off of it. Weird, scary and compelling.
"Disorder" off of "Unknown Pleasures" by Joy Division. Urban decay on record and then Curtis comes in with "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by my hand...". I've heard this song roughly 6 million times and it still works perfectly.
"Synchronicity 1" off of "Synchronicity" by The Police. So. Much. Fucking. Energy. The bassline and drums on this song just rip. This will remind you that Sting used to ROCK. What a way to start an album.
"Svefn-g-englar" off of "Agaetis Byrjun" by Sigur Ros. Not really the first track, bu the first actuall piece of music on the album. Submarine sonar pings, glaciers cracking, wind blowing though enormous pine forests... whatever you want to call it, it's perfect.
12-02-13, 02:23 PM
#12
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
12-02-13, 02:28 PM
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Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
The Clash with "Safe European Home" off Give 'Em Enough Rope.
Not their best album, but I might rank that as their best single.
Not their best album, but I might rank that as their best single.
12-02-13, 02:29 PM
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone
It is also the single greatest song ever written and recorded and just happens to be the first song on Highway 61 Revisited.
It is also the single greatest song ever written and recorded and just happens to be the first song on Highway 61 Revisited.
12-02-13, 02:41 PM
#16
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
12-02-13, 03:22 PM
#19
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
"Filler" (MINOR THREAT - Minor Threat)
"Atrocity Exhibition" - (JOY DIVISION - Closer)
"Cavity" - (CHRISTIAN DEATH - Only Theater of Pain)
"Requiem" - (KILLING JOKE - Killing Joke)
"Black Planet" - (THE SISTERS OF MERCY - First and Last and Always)
"Atrocity Exhibition" - (JOY DIVISION - Closer)
"Cavity" - (CHRISTIAN DEATH - Only Theater of Pain)
"Requiem" - (KILLING JOKE - Killing Joke)
"Black Planet" - (THE SISTERS OF MERCY - First and Last and Always)
12-02-13, 04:12 PM
#20
Banned by request
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
I don't even think that "Like A Rolling Stone" is the best song Bob Dylan ever wrote. That would probably be, "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts".
12-02-13, 04:36 PM
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
12-02-13, 04:36 PM
#22
Re: Best song to open an album (cd)?
"We Gotta Know" (CRO-MAGS - Age of Quarrel)
"Fight Fire With Fire" (METALLICA - Ride the Lightning)
"Wake Up Dead" (MEGADETH - Peace Sells)
"Fight Fire With Fire" (METALLICA - Ride the Lightning)
"Wake Up Dead" (MEGADETH - Peace Sells)
12-02-13, 06:02 PM
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12-02-13, 07:06 PM
#24
Banned by request