Music Thread #745: The Ultimate Album Openers

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RFUS

Anustart
Fairly simple this one, lids and lidettes, if a bit niche. What are your favourite album openers?

They could just be ace songs to kick off albums, short intros that lead into great songs or even, if you're a Juice FM ted, those catchy singles they plonk at the start of an album before they flood the rest with filler.


In terms of brilliant songs that kick off their albums in the right way, I'd have to submit:


[video=youtube;KbHkwrGgsoA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbHkwrGgsoA&ob=av3e[/video]

[video=youtube;lmTSQZjR3DE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmTSQZjR3DE[/video]

[video=youtube;k9IfHDi-2EA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9IfHDi-2EA[/video]


And for JDawg:

[video=youtube;bqY4f45SKqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqY4f45SKqY[/video]




In terms of intros, my favourite is probably "Son et Lumiere", by the Mars Volta, for the way it cresdendos into the magnificent "Inertiatic Esp". Here's the two songs combined:

[video=youtube;NsxAJAqook0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsxAJAqook0[/video]



I've got a million more but I know people hate it when I post 50 youtube links in one post. :unsure:

So then, please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks about these things!
 

Juice FM ted. Go ed lad.

Dark Side Of The Moon for me,
 
I always think about this RFUS, so well in man

Doves - Jetstream (Kingdom of Rust album) - I had been waiting years for their new album. I dare anyone to listen to this and not want to buy the album

[video=youtube;DaJ1X1tlJSI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJ1X1tlJSI[/video]
 
Juice FM ted. Go ed lad.

Dark Side Of The Moon for me,

Speak to Me + Breathe, you mean?

Good shout, Bry. Didn't know you had it in you. ;)



I always think about this RFUS, so well in man

Doves - Jetstream (Kingdom of Rust album) - I had been waiting years for their new album. I dare anyone to listen to this and not want to buy the album

[video=youtube;DaJ1X1tlJSI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJ1X1tlJSI[/video]

Fair enough like. I think I might check that album out!
 

[video=youtube;rLKL6iUFSQQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLKL6iUFSQQ[/video]

I've mentioned this song in another thread, recently as well. But it's definitely one of my favourites.

[video=youtube;Iz-WDk7Tbsc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-WDk7Tbsc[/video]

Bit of a feel good song.

[video=youtube;eJerSKdtVQw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJerSKdtVQw[/video]

Aptly named.

[video=youtube;L73OLaG4_kA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L73OLaG4_kA[/video]

[video=youtube;TU7JjJJZi1Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7JjJJZi1Q[/video]

Pretty much every Beatles album starts off brilliantly: Drive my car (Rubber soul), A hard days night, Sgt. Peppers, Back in the USSR (White album), Come together (Abbey road).

Bit of old hip hop

[video=youtube;iBrzEVJwYFg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBrzEVJwYFg[/video]

Love this one.

[video=youtube;eD0Ar8fwQBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD0Ar8fwQBE[/video]

[video=youtube;8rfDvpfC2bw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rfDvpfC2bw[/video]

One of my favourites ever.

[video=youtube;j4TSy8A9-Ec]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4TSy8A9-Ec[/video]

Foo fighters first album.

[video=youtube;Rptto6Feobk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rptto6Feobk[/video]

Right I'm going to stop now before I start pissing people off. I'll be sure to add more though.
 
Making a statement with their opening albums and opening track.
This one
[video=youtube;7R2_4-421GM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R2_4-421GM[/video]
and this one
[video=youtube;TGDQ85Dg-ss]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGDQ85Dg-ss[/video]
 
Last edited:
This is going better than expected.

Lots of ace songs above but I think Arcade Fire's Tunnels take the biscuit. PHWOAR.
 
[video=youtube;8YCLBL4LEkc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YCLBL4LEkc[/video]

The American Civil War quotes appeal to me as a history geek and the guitars and raw emotion expressed by the vocals are mindblowing. Also like how it switches track at several points throughout the song always coming back when you think it's over.

[video=youtube;OoA0cTC228M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoA0cTC228M[/video]

Another mini epic at 9 minutes that lulls the listen in at first with a pretty simple beat and almost muted monotone vocals. Then at around the three minute mark **** goes insane and it becomes incredibly dancy and everything just gets so much louader and clearer. Great start to another one of my favourite albums.

[video=youtube;RMB3M43AEpc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMB3M43AEpc[/video]

Not actually the Boss' best album in my opinion but probably his best opener. Winding tale with some cracking and funny lyrics that really draws the listener in.
 
[video=youtube;rLKL6iUFSQQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLKL6iUFSQQ[/video]

I've mentioned this song in another thread, recently as well. But it's definitely one of my favourites.

[video=youtube;Iz-WDk7Tbsc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-WDk7Tbsc[/video]

Shouts!

Tunnels is an amazing song off what is probably my favourite album.

And I just love The Cribs.
 

2 things I've learned so far....

I need to listen to some more Placebo, it's been far too long

And Baines's left foot, not only are you my favourite foot on any footballer, you have wonderful taste

Cribs take the lead here......2 songs up. Bovine Public is unbelievably good to kick off an album...not sure if this one beats it though, in the album in that came before it??

[video=youtube;0QpkuxPJ-8A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QpkuxPJ-8A[/video]
 
Iron Maiden - Powerslave:
[video=youtube;GghCs_C65v0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GghCs_C65v0[/video]

AC/DC - Highway To Hell (Close call with Back In Black, opener is Hells Bells)
[video=youtube;Q21eDcY01RY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q21eDcY01RY[/video]

Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution:
[video=youtube;TEZ3bStjUN0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEZ3bStjUN0[/video]
When I heard it live 2 weeks ago i exploded, seriously... amazingness.

Judas Priest - Painkiller:
[video=youtube;nM__lPTWThU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM__lPTWThU&ob=av2e[/video]

Metallica - Self Titled/Black Album:
[video=youtube;uY3LAFJbKyY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3LAFJbKyY[/video]
 
Shouts!

Tunnels is an amazing song off what is probably my favourite album.

And I just love The Cribs.

Yeah, Funeral is an amazing album and Tunnels is probably my favourite Arcade Fire song all together. I often find with bands that their first album is my favourite.

2 things I've learned so far....

I need to listen to some more Placebo, it's been far too long

And Baines's left foot, not only are you my favourite foot on any footballer, you have wonderful taste

Cribs take the lead here......2 songs up. Bovine Public is unbelievably good to kick off an album...not sure if this one beats it though, in the album in that came before it??

[video=youtube;0QpkuxPJ-8A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QpkuxPJ-8A[/video]

Lol Cheers mate your not so bad yourself, I've really enjoyed some of the music you've shared in these music threads.

I can't believe I didn't think of Hey scenesters. To be honest I can't really pick between that and Our bovine public, but maybe the latter edges it. I've seen them live twice and the first time I saw them they started the set with it. I just love the aggression in his voice and the straight to the point impact the song has. Both albums are incredible.

We were aborted, on their fourth album is a great opener too, my least favourite album of all the albums though.
 
XTC- Nonsuch- 'The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead'
- The Black Sea - 'Respectable Street'

Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom - 'Beyond Belief'
- Get Happy - 'Love for Tender'

Weather Report- Heavy Weather- 'Birdland'
 
Thinking about the openers that really set the tone for the album then the title track and opener from Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska really fits the bill. Very sombre and haunting track told from the point of view of spree killer Charles Starkweather. Pretty much the perfect opening to a stripped down and bleak album which may well be Springsteen's best.

Can't find the album version online but live acoustic versions pretty much capture it anyway:

[video=youtube;199xgYVqmcU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=199xgYVqmcU&feature=related[/video]
 

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