I don't think I have talked about music since I started this here blog thing. So, here's my first go at it. I have had this conversation with a few people before, but I wanted to get some more opinion on this.
These days, it seems like the album is dead. However, in the past most of us who attached ourselves to any musical act would snap up their albums as soon as they came out. To my mind, listening to a new album (or older album for the first time) is one of the simple pleasures of life. Especially when the first track is great. That is what I want to discuss: first tracks on albums.
Here are a few I like to start out with (this will also provide a glimpse into my taste in music):
"Bone Machine" by the Pixies, off the album Surfer Rosa. It basically tells you what the album is going to be in the first few measures. A steady buildup, then the song. Really great track.
"Red Rain" by Peter Gabriel, off the album So: This song has such a big sound, it is almost anthemic.
"Waiting Room" by Fugazi, off the self-titled EP, also the opening track off 13 Songs: As a buddy of mine says, this song announces that Fugazi is going to throw down, and not waste any time doing so. This song serves as a cure for me for times that bad songs get stuck in my head.
I know I am missing a lot of great ones, so I open the floor. If I come up with others, I will post them in the comments.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Too many to name, youngblood. But here are a few that come to mind, off the top of my head.
"Thunder Road," Springsteen, from Born to Run.
"Like A Rolling Stone," Dylan, from Highway 61 Revisited.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," Michael Jackson, from Thriller.
"I Feel the Earth Move," Carole King, from Tapestry.
"Second Hand News," Fleetwood Mac, from Rumours.
"And It Stoned Me," Van Morrison, from Moondance.
"Taxman," Beatles, Revolver.
"I've Just Seen a Face," Beatles, Rubber Soul.
"What's Going On," Marvin Gaye, What's Going On.
And there's many, many more.
Another one that I think you thought of at one point, Mark: "Baba O'Riley," The Who, from Who's Next.
I forgot that "Second Hand News" was the first track on Rumours. That is a great first song!
Another one I thought of, with the caveat that it is hip-hop, so for many it's automatically excluded: "Excursions" by A Tribe Called Quest, off the album The Low End Theory.
Post a Comment