Great starts to albums

[Dillinger4]

What albums grab you by the balls and say "I fucking rule" immediately, within the first ten seconds? Doesn't have to be agressive, but something that immediately makes you feel the next 30 to 80 minutes are going to be great.

I'll start off with "Only Shallow" from My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless". The cascading drum punches stutter into the wall of guitars and they've got you straight away.

I agree with spookyfrank, there really isn't much topping that.

 

[danny la rouge]

yeah, but the first ten seconds are just Steve muttering about something or other,

Virgin trains?

 

[kained&able]

smells like teen spirit was a spectacular way to open an album!

so was rage against the machine bomb track followed by killing the name of. Lovely agsty angry music!

welcome to the jungle was ace too.

dave

 

[rekil]

Big Black - The Power Of Independent Trucking. Scratchy nasty riffs and proper pummelling drums.

The Triffids - Seabirds. Flawless tune which sets the tone for one of the most underrated albums ever.

 

[stupid dogbot]

yeah, but the first ten seconds are just Steve muttering about something or other, not the actual track itself

Part of the track anyway, though. No division on there, it's just a lead-in mumble...

 

[D'wards]

Quiz time - same artist, two different great opening lines to albums - who can tell me who the artist is and what the albums are without googling?

"In 1984 i was hospitilised for approaching perfection"

"When God was young, he made the sun and the wind. And since then, it's been a slow education"

 

[fieryjack]

Slayer's "Reign in Blood" staples its manifesto fairly emphatically to your forehead via "Angel of Death".

 

[stupid dogbot]

Mush, by Leatherface. The start of I Want the Moon. That guitar...

 

[danny la rouge]

Quiz time - same artist, two different great opening lines to albums - who can tell me who the artist is and what the albums are without googling?

"In 1984 i was hospitilised for approaching perfection"

"When God was young, he made the sun and the wind. And since then, it's been a slow education"

Silver Jews?

 

[D'wards]

Silver Jews?

Correctamundo

 

[ethel]

Silver Jews?

definitely. not enough of a geek to tell you the albums though. the first song is random rules. i think.

 

[Roadkill]

Dylan - Blood on the Tracks. The first verses of 'Tangled Up In Blue' are wonderful.

 

[stavros]

Pleased to see I'm among friends; "Appetite For Destruction", "Liquid Swords" and "1000 Hurts" were next in my mind to suggest. Also, "Straight Outta Compton":

"You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge...."

 

[D'wards]

definitely. not enough of a geek to tell you the albums though. the first song is random rules. i think.

Double correct - from American Water - such a good album

 

[stavros]

Girls Aloud's "Sound Of The Underground", with a Dick Dale surf guitar introducing a subtely-pop jittery drum loop. And the debut single from a TV-manufactured pop band.

 

[jms]

Low

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Silver Jews?

The first track on Tanglewood Numbers is an absolute corker, and has one of my favourite rhyming tracks ever

Have you heard the news?
Adam and Eve were Jews!

 

[asbestos]

Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material

(that's just S'ses).

 

[isitme]

london england, consider yourself...WARNED!!

 

[Boycey]

led zep 1

 

[g force]

How about Shellac's 1000 Hurts?

Prayer to God is amongst my favourite opening tracks ever.

Ooohhh...yeah good call

 

[Red Horse]

GZA's Liquid Swords

Seconded. That intro is wicked, sample from Shogun Assassin, which is a turd film

 

[Red Horse]

The start of Ghostface Killah's 'Ironman' is Sample from The Education of Sonny Carson:

'What you doing on our turf punk?
I got a message for Smokey
Give me the message
You Smokey man?
I said give me the fucking message.....
I'll put trademarks around your fucking eyes'

 

[Meltingpot]

I can think of three from the '70's;

1 / The bass intro to "War Pigs," which kicks off "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath, if there's anyone who doesn't know)

2 / Likewise, the intro to Deep Purple's "Fireball" (with Paicey's awesome drumming)

3 / The opening riff for "Breadfan," which opens Budgie's "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend."

Slayer's "Angel of Death" probably belongs here too though I only know the live version and haven't heard "Reign in Blood."

On a gentler note, Elton John's "Funeral For A Friend," which opens "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

 

[jms]

pet sounds



dingy dingy dingy dingy dingy dingy dingy BOOM WOULDNT IT BE NICE IF WE WERE OLDER, THEN WE WOULDNT HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG!

 

[Metal Malcolm]

Therapy? - 'Knives' off of Troublegum.

DANANANA

my girlfriend says

DANANANA

That I need help

DANANANA

My Boyfriend says

DANANANA

I'd be better off dead

MASSIVE RIFF

 

[Meltingpot]

Don't know about "great," but certainly dramatic - the start of Pantera's album "Great Southern Trendkill."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Southern_Trendkill



Likewise, Judas Priest's "Ram It Down", where Rob shows off his pipes to good effect;

 

[machine cat]

london england, consider yourself...WARNED!!

yup.

i don't know why that album is rated tbh. there's about three decent tracks on the whole thing

 

[Infidel Castro]

The Stone Roses has a brilliant first 3 songs
As much as I hate Bono, I have to say that Joshua Tree has a great opening few songs too

Definitely agree on the Stone Roses intro. The build up is lovely and tingly. Man, to think that the music would have been heavier if they'd had their own way in production. Thank fuck they never!

The intro to The Holy Bible by the Manics is class as well, setting up a scorcher.

Carter USM, The Love Album also has a great little opening. Very uproarious.

 

[Infidel Castro]

There's not much topping that is there?

Most Super Furry Animals have killer openings, particularly Guerilla where the Mr Scruff-esque opener gradually builds up before going all funny then exploding into the mighty riff of 'Do or Die'.

Oh, and 'Searching for the Young Soul Rebels' by Dexy's:

"Jimmy!"
"Yeah!"
"Now!"
"Yeah!"
"And for god's sake burn it down..."
*greatest horn line ever*

Do Or Die is in one my Desert Island Discs. Blows me away.