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 Lists
02.06.24 Cryptocurrency's a Sham06.11.22 Sounds of Bristol
04.19.21 tinychat01.05.15 Aok's Top 10 Of 2014 ♦
11.23.14 Massive Attack Sunday Afternoon09.18.14 Live Music
08.01.14 Excellent Albums Are Classic02.12.14 Rock Anthems
02.06.14 Aok's Top 10 From 2013 ♦05.29.13 That Moment In Music ♦
05.03.13 Miss You Guys ♦04.17.13 Coachella 2013: The End Of An Era ♦
03.25.13 Melt My Soul (recs Please)01.31.13 January 2013 Tracks
12.26.12 2012 Albums12.08.12 Fresh 2012 Beats
09.06.12 Electric Zoo 2012 ♦07.10.12 Aok's Digs
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Strong Opening Tracks

Sometimes bands don't waste any time in kicking an album into high rgear. These are my rrrfavorite album openers.
1Beck
Guero

E-Pro
Instantly takes a dead vibe and brings it to life. It's incredibly layered, but
it still manages to be catchy enough so everyone can listen and enjoy.
Absolutely everything you could want from an opening track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrG6xBW5Wk (video)
2The Doors
The Doors

Break On Through
"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man
as it is, infinite." This quote by William Blake is the founding principle of the
band the Doors. This song more than any of their others is about breaking down those
doors and living on the other side -- no better introduction to these ?60s legends could quite be possible.
Simple drums and guitar, coupled with their epic keys and Morrison?s hypnotic voice all make this a gem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLAv0NklTg
3Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin

Good Times, Bad Times
The very first track on the very first album and Zeppelin already crashed
down upon us. Instantly the vibe for the album and the band is
established. Powerful, smooth and uncompromising, this may not be their
best track but it is crucial and damn good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm2-K6ttHYs
4Massive Attack
Blue Lines

Safe From Harm
The very first trip hop song ever made and with this one, Massive Attack
throws an entirely novel sound onto the world 20 years ago. Shara Nelson
sings beautifully while 3d raps 'I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin'
back at me to see me lookin' back at you.'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90X0Ub4B2E
5Massive Attack
Mezzanine

Angel
Slow and rhythmic beats, and well placed eerie chords back Horace Andy up
flawlessly. Though minimalistic at first, it slowly builds upon itself as it
envelopes you into its grasp. Let go and feel the power of Mezzanine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbe3CQamF8k (video)
6Muse
Origin of Symmetry

New Born
After a first album that was mediocre at best, virtuoso Muse descends on
us with an instant classic. Disciplined enough to let the keys mingle with
his gorgeous voice before falling back on the guitar, Matt Bellamy and co.
instantly becomes a force to be reckoned with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZjxskTrSz0
7Phish
Billy Breathes

Free
Everyone's heard of Phish, but not that many have bothered to truly
investigate these hippie jam banders. After this little peace of bliss has
taken its course on you, however, it isn't too difficult to see why these guys
are so revered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aFByioqlPE (fan made light show)
8Pink Floyd
The Dark Side of the Moon

Speak to Me / Breathe
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us...very
hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -- laughter
becomes screams and then I'm not sure I have ever felt the same release
by a plucked strings as Breathe's opening chords set in. And before On the
Run takes me on a tailspin, Breathe has me for another 3 minutes to give
peace to my world.
(For some reason I don't much care for Shine on You Crazy Diamond, but
would love some people extolling its virtues in the comments section)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1fNlMpTD3k
9Porcupine Tree
In Absentia

Blackest Eyes
Unlike most of my friends, for the most part, I don't particularly care for Prog
Rock as it always seems to be more work than its worth. However, as this
gem twists, attacks, hypnotizes and slowly reveals itself tantalizingly, I feel
it the whole way through. It might not be their best track, but for now at
least, this is the best Porcupine Tree song I've ever heard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO3GQvye2bQ
10Portishead
Dummy

Mysterons
Portishead isn't as good as Massive Attack or DJ Shadow, contrary to what
some people may tell you. However, this track is still a gem, Beth Gibbons'
voice is always stunning and like in this song, when Portishead is at their
best, they are really something special.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fBwsB6px8
11Radiohead
Hail to the Thief

2+2=5. (The Lukewarm.)
I really could put every 1st track of every Radiohead album LP (post Pablo
Honey) on here, but I went with my favorite two. Some tracks take a while
to register, but this one is instant. Like many others on here, this one
builds upon itself perfectly. Starting with almost nothing but a confused
Thom Yorke bemoaning the world's inability to function, it isn't long before
he lashes out against it. Patiently listen to this track all the way through
and you'll see why so many people swear by this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waJWRYa7weo
12Radiohead
Kid A

Everything in It's Right Place
'eiirp is pure genius. in the context of an answer to ok computer but even
standalone, you get home, it's just after sundown and thom yorke's voice
eerily creeps and matches sounds that twist you in 8 directions at once.' --
me about a month ago. And I should stop talking about it now or I?ll never
stop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onRk0sjSgFU
13Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan

Fight Like A Brave
For those worried the Chili Peppers won't be as good without John, just
throw on The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. A severely underappreciated album,
the opening track and lead single, 'Fight Like A Brave' shows a different
side of the Chili Peppers -- namely, a bunch of funky misfits who were ready
to stick it to whoever didn't care for them. With Hillel destroying the guitar and
Anthony rapping the truth, these may not be those coordinated carefully
refined 'By The Way' boys you know, but it's hard to find a problem with
that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doDBApOv2oM (video)
14Red Hot Chili Peppers
Californication

Around the World
Breaking through with their magnum opus, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, for a
majority of their fans new and old, One Hot Minute just didn't do the trick.
They responded by dropping a powerful track that tops even 'Power of
Equality.' The rest of the album may not be as good as Blood Sugar, but
the power of this track is more than enough to resonate the Chili Peppers
as they yell: "We're back."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKe-oqJVgZI
15The Shins
Oh, Inverted World

Caring is Creepy
James Mercer's voice bugged the hell out of me. Long after dropping the
Shins, a friend played me the Garden State Soundtrack and suddenly
everything clicked into place as the Shins became one of my favorite bands,
and in my opinion, the best Indie artists out there. Caring is Creepy is that
breath of fresh air that says you don't have to be a certain way, not every
rule needs to be followed and even though things aren't how you expected
them to be, we still got to be happy we're alive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKe-oqJVgZI
16Tool
Aenima

Stinkfist
"This may hurt a little but it's something to get used to." Tool uses the
disturbing imagery behind fisting to express the view that we're all living in
an overstimulated universe that's self-medicating with more stimulation
because it's all we know. Powerful as ever, this sets a remarkable tone for
the rest of Aenima.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pLGIgyfjw (video)
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