The Importance of Being an Album Opener

I don’t like singling out tracks from their albums, but when you whack on a record for the first time, full of speculation, doubt, fear, excitement and nervous anticipation, the first track is the make or break when it comes to a first listen. As with everything list-worthy, there’s criteria. For me, an introduction should be either a massive and loud number or something that sounds enticing and embraces the sense that this album is going to be rather special, musical and inspiring. Without further ado, my top 30 album openers:

1. ‘Seven Nation Army‘ from ‘Elephant‘ by The White Stripes
2. ‘Brianstorm‘ from ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare‘ by Arctic Monkeys
   
3. ‘The Obvious Child‘ from ‘Rhythm of the Saints‘ by Paul Simon
   
4. ‘The Cave‘ from ‘Sigh No More’ by Mumford & Sons
   
5. ‘Mr. Self Destruct‘ from ‘The Downward Spiral‘ by Nine Inch Nails
   
6. ‘Great DJ‘ from ‘We Started Nothing‘ by ‘The Ting Tings’
   
7. ‘By the Way‘ from ‘By the Way‘ by Red Hot Chili Peppers
   
8. ‘See the Sun‘ from ‘Konk‘ by The Kooks
   
9. ‘Disorder’ from ‘Unknown Pleasures‘ by Joy Division
   
10. ‘Elephant Song‘ from ‘Music for the People‘ by The Enemy
    
11. ‘Where the Streets Have No Name‘ from ‘The Joshua Tree‘ by U2
    
12. ‘American Idiot‘ from ‘America Idiot‘ by Green Day
    
13. ‘Jenny Was a Friend of Mine‘ from ‘Hot Fuss‘ by The Killers
    
14. ‘Tamacun’ from ‘Rodrigo y Gabriela‘ by Rodrigo y Gabriela
    
15. ‘New Born‘ from ‘Origin of Symmetry‘ by Muse
    
16. ‘Testify‘ from ‘The Battle of Los Angeles‘ by Rage Against the Machine
    
17. ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ from ‘Urban Hymns‘ by The Verve
    
18. ‘Underdog‘ from ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum‘ by Kasabian
    
19. ‘Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors‘ from ‘An End Has a Start‘ by Editors
    
20. ‘Mylo Xyloto/Hurts Like Heaven‘ from ‘Mylo Xyloto‘ by Coldplay
    
21. ‘Invaders Must Die‘ from ‘Invaders Must Die’ by The Prodigy
    
22. ‘Drive My Car‘ from ‘Rubber Soul‘ by ‘The Beatles
    
23. ‘The Sound of Silence’ from ‘Sounds of Silence‘ by Simon & Garfunkel
    
24. ‘Closer‘ from ‘Only by the Night’ by Kings of Leon
    
25. ‘Time to Pretend‘ from ‘Oracular Spectacular‘ by MGMT
    
26. ‘Dog Days Are Over‘ from ‘Lungs‘ by Florence + the Machine
    
27. ‘Intro‘ from ‘xx‘ by The xx
    
28. ‘Clarion Call‘ from ‘Acolytle‘ by Delphic
    
29. ‘Five Years‘ from ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust‘ by David Bowie
    
30. ‘Perth‘ from ‘Bon Iver‘ by Bon Iver
    

This list clearly isn’t definitive; it’s just a compilation of tracks that have struck me as brilliant introductions from albums that I’ve listened to. I’m hoping you’ll agree with most of them, but inevitably you won’t, thus we’d love to hear your suggestions!