Best Opening Song
 

To kind of copy off of This thread, what is your favorite opening song on an album?

Mine would have to be Jahya by Skinny Puppy. It is such an intense intro. I actually recently saw a preview for a show that pretty much copied it, can't think of what is was off-hand though.

For me.. it's Astronomy Domine from Pink Floyd's Piper At The Gates of Dawn


R.I.P. Syd

deleted because i got drunk confused.

I'm sure we're all partial to ours due to sentimental reasons. For me, this opening track is on an album I consider a rock masterpiece. It was the most played album of my high-school days:

Smashing Pumpkins, "Cherub Rock," opening track of Siamese Dream.
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I can only describe this song as "burning."

Even though I'm not a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan, I do like this song a lot. Mostly because of how they seem to have incorporated what I hear as a pop melody into a hard rock song. It's really cool.

I'm having a hard time coming up with some examples of my own...

I know the first time I heard Brothers Gonna Work It Out on Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet it was pretty exhilarating.

I love Sleeping Lessons from The Shins' Wincing the Night Away.

Airbag from Radiohead's OK Computer was a very welcome introduction to a long-awaited album.

Big In Japan off of Tom Waits' Mule Variations was fun and sets you up nice for the rest of the album.

That's about it...I'm sure there's other, better choices that I'm just not thinking of right now.

Opening songs?
 

Hai there. I iz n00b.

That being said... here's my list. Just, offhand, like in the next 5 minutes.

"Good Times, Bad Times", Led Zeppelin

Seriously - can anyone even question THAT one?

"Supervixen", Garbage

Okay, THAT one is questionable. But probably not for my contemporaries.

"Twice As Hard", The Black Crowes

"Bulldozers and Dirt", Drive-By Truckers




Shit, when I think about it, there will probably be five or ten more pages on this topic.

I mean, DAMN - hell-LO?!?! Cowboy Junkies, "Mining For Gold"? Fucking CLASSIC!!!

"Kill the Poor" off of "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" by Dead Kennedys.


It punched me in the face and got me hyped for the life changing experience that was the first time I listened to "Fresh Fruit..."

"Hobophobic" off of "Heavy Petting Zoo" by NOFX.


Awesome short song that sets the tone for the rest of a great album.

"T.S.R. (This Shit Rules)" off of "As the Eternal Cowboy" by Against Me!


A more recent band I've really enjoyed. This song said to me, "Grab your balls, we're at our peak here.", and the album delivered.