The Best Album Opener - EVER

Submitted by PhillyCSpires t3_11doqy3 in Music

What do you think is the best album opener of all time? A track that captures your attention, blows you away, and then keeps you hungry for more for the rest of the album that follows it? The track that tells you "that's it, you're in for a great time."

I'll post mine shortly. I'm very interested to see what you guys select 👀

10

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manicxmusic t1_ja9zu87 wrote

Plainsong by The Cure from Disintegration.

17

sigurrosco t1_jabdfa2 wrote

Came here to say this.

That opener set the scene for the rest of the (greatest ever) album (of all time).

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MannerElectrical9901 t1_jaa0flw wrote

Good Times Bad Times. First song first album. Zeppelin takes off!

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Myoosik70 t1_jabsdnh wrote

I went with In The Light, Physical Graffiti. Great minds think alike.

1

Acceptable-Fold-3192 t1_jaachuy wrote

Welcome to the Jungle- G’n’R “Appetite for Destruction “.

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HistoricalMud9080 t1_jaa50bh wrote

The way that "In the Flesh?" introduces you to the immersive experience of The Wall is unparalleled imo.

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GreaterMook t1_jaa7jcg wrote

The version of Psycho Killer on Stop Making Sense

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Johnny_Segment t1_jac9nz3 wrote

I far prefer the acoustic Psycho Killer on Stop Making Sense to the original version on '77.

2

thegabrieldavid t1_ja9z4uq wrote

I remember listening to Dirt by AIC for the first time and hearing that “AH” from Layne on “Them Bones” followed by that riff; I was absolutely floored and listened to almost nothing but that album for a year straight

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Fuzzdouglas t1_ja9zlda wrote

Teenage Riot on Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation

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Baldran t1_jaapdsz wrote

Sonic Youth has a knack for killer openers, like “Dirty Boots” and “Tom Violence”. But this one takes the cake.

2

SevenStones24 t1_jaaqmvb wrote

Cherub Rock- Smashing Pumpkins on Siamese Dream

The intro builds, adding more elements and then it explodes into a beautiful wall of guitar fuzz, and you're off.

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sebenak t1_jaasle8 wrote

Absolutely I commented the same before i found yours

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LazySilver t1_jaa12hu wrote

Korn - Blind

Perfect opening to a song and perfect song to open the album. So perfect they opened every concert that I’ve been to with it. Gets you amped and prepares you for the rest of the album/show.

Arrrre you reaaaddddy?

8

PhillyCSpires OP t1_jaa3xb1 wrote

Forget best first track on an album - this is one of the best ways to announce yourself as an artist, period.

3

MightyMe1969 t1_jaa0zst wrote

"Battery" on "Master of Puppets"

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Practical_Price9500 t1_jaai2wm wrote

Smells like Teen Spirit AND Serve the Servants from Nirvana’s Nevermind and In Utero.

Say what you want about em, but those motherfuckers knew how to kick it off

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_oh_save_me_jebus_ t1_jaae7rz wrote

Aretha Franklin- Respect is the opener on I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

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stMozzer t1_jaagmah wrote

Debaser from doolittle by Pixies

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LowGradePlayer t1_ja9yyux wrote

Love Reign Over Me

The Who

Quadrophinia

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WhoFan t1_jaaayuu wrote

But... it is the closer!

That being said, I can't decide Baba O'Reilly (Teenage Wasteland) or the Overture from Tommy.

Honestly though, my vote goes to Elton John with Funeral For a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding.

Honorable mentions are: More than a Feeling, by Boston and Bat Outta Hell, by Meatloaf,

3

Equal_Win t1_ja9ybbo wrote

Hexagram- Deftones

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Data_shade t1_jaa0sg1 wrote

Mr self destruct from NIN’s downward spiral

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Puzzleheaded_Bit9469 t1_jaa9uf7 wrote

Rush 2112 - the concept basically tie’s every song together on side A. Changed my entire view of music up to that point. I was 14, and have avoided the radio since.

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Able_Vermicelli9401 t1_jaaog27 wrote

Like a Rolling Stone

from ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ by Bob Dylan

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derekz83 t1_jabdpnm wrote

Everything in its right place

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disco_cerberus t1_jabrkl4 wrote

i went to a record release party for this album. the label set up a movie theater with an amazing sound system. the first notes started and our jaws dropped. we looked at each other, stopped what we were doing, sucked on our drinks, and listened to the album over and over until they kicked us out. so good.

1

Public_Growth_6002 t1_ja9x141 wrote

Album - Rattlesnakes.

Artist - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Track - Perfect Skin

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dhayes67 t1_jaa3064 wrote

The View from the Afternoon - Arctic Monkeys

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everydaydecorations t1_jaahxer wrote

Needles in the Camel’s Eye by Brian Eno from the album Here Come the Warm Jets.

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RaymondSpaget t1_jaaqjfa wrote

"Arcarsenal" from At the Drive In's Relationship of Command.

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Click_Due t1_jabz023 wrote

Five years from ziggy stardust and the spider from mars

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untitled5a1 t1_jacb4d6 wrote

Smells Like Teen Spirit literally started a musical revolution.

2

Paragon8384 t1_ja9xgoh wrote

Between the Buried and Me - Goodbye to Everything / Astral Body

Goodbye to Everything is the album's opening prelude that transitions into the first actual song Astral Body (Transition is at 1:39 in the video, and the slight skip you'll hear there is the youtuber's fault).

1

Bosgarage57 t1_ja9yhsa wrote

Bayside - Big Cheese (Cult album)

1

Astangaman t1_jaa0ggu wrote

Theme from S'Express.

1

peterRous t1_jaa3tv3 wrote

The two drum beats at the start of Jimmy Rodgers all stars album.... ta dum! Music!

1

yayayananana t1_jaa54pl wrote

Pantera - the great southern trendkill

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shmangliad t1_jaa788d wrote

broken cog-meshuggah

1

bazza_ryder t1_jaa994p wrote

Cold Cold Change, from Head Injuries, by Midnight Oil

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Brave-Rough1478 t1_jaabpgm wrote

Don't make me a Target by Spoon off the album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Incredible song that really captures the art rock aspect of the album while being a very accessible banger on its own.

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PristineMap3597 t1_jaai952 wrote

Slow and Steady Wins the Race from Winners Never Quit by Pedro the Lion. Just acoustic guitar and lyrics that get into your soul.

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cloodle t1_jaam3dh wrote

"The Great Southern Trendkill" -Pantera

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thatweirdbeardedguy t1_jaamstw wrote

Go wherever you wanna go from American Kid by Patty Griffin. It's about her dad dying but it fitted perfectly to me losing my dog I couldn't listen to it for yrs because of that.

1

Baldran t1_jaaoxaf wrote

“The Headmaster Ritual” from Meat is Murder

“New Feeling” from The Name of This Band is Talking Heads

“Atrocity Exhibition” from Closer

1

sebenak t1_jaas216 wrote

Maybe it's a Pavlovian response at this point but Cherub Rock - Siamese Dream never lets me down.

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snackcake t1_jaaxikl wrote

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

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attention21 t1_jaaz2nt wrote

Panic by Green Day on Insomniac

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memisschanandlerbong t1_jab7c20 wrote

Power of Equality by Red Hot Chili Peppers from Blood Sugar Sex Magik

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DuckCrimes t1_jabf3up wrote

The Adults Are Talking, without a doubt.

1

Tranquility-Android t1_jabfbqm wrote

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes on Elephant

Airbag by Radiohead on Ok Computer

Time to Pretend by MGMT on Oracular Spectacular

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kmoon122 t1_jabg9l8 wrote

Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same

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mfirdaus_96 t1_jabhop4 wrote

Race:In from Mirrored by Battles

1

shawnshine t1_jabjocr wrote

Do you listen to Kim Petras?

Isn’t she problematic?

No, she’s Problematique.

1

Myoosik70 t1_jabsarg wrote

Led-Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti, "In The Light" 😎✌️

1

disco_cerberus t1_jabslni wrote

ramblin rose - MC5 - kick out the jams
press gang - murder city devils - in name and blood
into my arms - nick cave/bad seeds - the boatman's call
oh my lover - pj harvey - dry
happiness is all the rage - the promise ring - very emergency
feel good hit of the summer - qotsa - rated r
talent show - the replacements - don't tell a soul
let's eat - riverboat gamblers - somthin' to crow about
middle - rocket from the crypt - scream dracula scream
angel of death - slayer - reign in blood
london calling - the clash - london calling
every track one - the smiths - every LP they put out

1

Free-form_Suffering t1_jac3inh wrote

Skip It, Type O Negative, World Coming Down

Actually worked since everyone still had a CD player.

1

bop999 t1_jac3s7s wrote

Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes

1

MissowFissow t1_jac4vo4 wrote

Miseria Cantera by AFI at the beginning of Sing the Sorrow.

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MissowFissow t1_jac4xdw wrote

Is anyone on this sub under 50 years old? I just see the same questions asked and the same bands named over and over.

1

psychocatharsis t1_jac6ijr wrote

The song 'Where eagles dare' on the 'Piece of Mind' album of Iron Maiden. A hell of a way to introduce Nicko McBrain as the new drummer. He worked his ass off to follow the impeccable Clive Burr, as he should!

Great album too that marked a new era for Maiden.

1

Toolcannabis46and2 t1_jacdzkf wrote

Stinkfist -Tool from the album Aenima. A great song that starts off an adventure!

1

Ash_LLR t1_jacw980 wrote

Can't choose just one, but contenders for me include:

Wouldn't it be Nice from the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds

Alone Again Or from Love's Forever Changes

Radio Free Europe from REM's Murmur

Spirit of Radio from Rush's Permanent Waves

Alison from Slowdive's Souvlaki

Love Goes On from the Go-Betweens' 16 Lovers Lane

1

StarLord19991984 t1_jacx7f1 wrote

Five Years by David Bowie off the Ziggy Stardust album; it’s such an underrated track and really sets the tone for the rest of the album, which is a masterpiece.

1

horsethecam t1_jacxlhm wrote

  1. Take a Bow - Muse - Black Holes and Revelations

  2. Intro - Rancid - Life Won’t Wait

1

Apnea53 t1_jad9flx wrote

Aqualung was the first thing that popped into my head.

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Kivijatti666 t1_jadg3rh wrote

Prison Song on SOADs Toxicity. Gets me every time

1