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Raff 
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Joined: July 29 2005
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 Posted: February 14 2007 at 07:26 |
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I voted for "other", which in this case means "it depends on the album". You get the slow, atmospheric intro to CTTE, followed by instrumental chaos.. the fast'n'furious aural assault of "Machine Head" or "Led Zep IV"... the soothing, acoustic melody of "Thick as a Brick".. the out-and-out bombast of ELP's debut... the 2x4 punch of ITCOTCK... Each and every one of those intros is perfect for the album to which it belongs. So, you see, there are no rules...
Edited by Ghost Rider - February 14 2007 at 07:40
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chopper
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Joined: July 13 2005
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 07:28 |
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I agree with Ghost Rider.
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andu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 27 2006
Location: Romania
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Points: 3089
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 07:39 |
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trauma0
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 11 2006
Location: Chile
Status: Offline
Points: 137
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 12:32 |
A MINI EPIC IS PERFECT 
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Kotro
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 16 2004
Location: Portugal
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Points: 2809
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 13:02 |
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All of the above, as long as it's good.
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Bigger on the inside.
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Freak
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 12 2006
Location: United States
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Points: 304
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 14:50 |
As long as it's a good song, establishes a mood, and catches your ear, I don't really care what type of song it is.
^ That was my rational answer... Here's what my heart says:
Every album should open with "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight!" Every last one! I don't care if it's Krautrock, Post-Rock, or Pop-Rock! "Dancing!" "Dancing!" "Dancing!"
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Mlaen
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: Croatia
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Points: 377
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 15:21 |
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Medium lenght intro, but not slowish for crying out loud!
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An old fart
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 15 2005
Location: Finland
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Points: 207
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 20:03 |
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I wouldn'n want to promote any formula, but personally I prefer an album to begin with a gradually building intro-type of feel, such as Shine on You Crazy Diamond fades in with keyboards (especially as the whole Wish You Were Here album and the 2nd part of the Shine on also fades out the similar way).
I am very fond with how Marillion and Genesis have started many of their albums too, in some sort of mini-epic style.
On the other hand, Rush has some great fast and/or effective openers as well: Bastille Day, The Spirit of Radio, Subdivisions, Distant Early Warning, Big Money...
So no rule on how to start as long as the first song is one of the best on that particular album. The last song should also be chosen carefully, in order to leave the listener with a feeling of musical fulfilment.
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"Make tea, not love"
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Equality 7-2521
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 11 2005
Location: Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 15783
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 20:48 |
 soundsweird wrote:
How ridiculous to think that there's just one good way to open an album...... |
Saved me some typing
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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cuncuna
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 29 2005
Location: Chile
Status: Offline
Points: 4318
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 20:56 |
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I think I'll pass. I like things to be diverse, and I enjoy all the options. But... give me the beginning of Henry cow's "In praise of learning" any day...
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ĦBeware of the Bee!
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Nash
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 30 2007
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 529
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Posted: February 14 2007 at 21:06 |
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the option I like the most is the mini epic
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The Whistler
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 30 2006
Location: LA, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 7113
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 04:06 |
An interesting question. The album opener is, of course, the most important piece on the album (except for maybe the closer). And of course, it varies from album to album, etc., etc.
Of course, I hate vauge, universalist answers like that, so I'll say that, from a pure theatrical point of view, a short, fast intro will probably get the audience's attention best.
Uh, y fast, I mean of course a fast rocker or such, as opposed to a song that lasts the standard pop 2 minute formula.
Edited by The Whistler - February 15 2007 at 04:08
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"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
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Atavachron
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Joined: September 30 2006
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Points: 64460
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 04:14 |
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Every great record has a perfect beginning, and it's up to the musicians to find it.
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The Whistler
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 30 2006
Location: LA, CA
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Points: 7113
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 04:17 |
Atavachron wrote:
Every great record has a perfect beginning, and it's up to the musicians to find it. |
There's that vauge, universalist attitude again...
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"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
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Atavachron
Special Collaborator
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Joined: September 30 2006
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Points: 64460
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 04:27 |
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Hey, all the other good answers had been taken...
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 7659
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 05:10 |
The great thing about prog is its variety, I am still blown away by album beginnings like:
- the mindblowing Mellotron work on Karelia (album Vemod by Anekdoten)
- the spectacular synthesizer sound on 2112 (albums 2112 by Rush)
- the compelling Mellotron/Hammond chords during Watcher Of The Skies (album Live
by Genesis)
- the spacey keyboards on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (album Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd)
- the words by Fish on the titletrack of Marillion their debut LP A Script For A Jester 's
Tear
- the warm classical guitar on the titletrack of Farewell To Kings by Rush
.... to name a few ..
Edited by erik neuteboom - February 15 2007 at 05:12
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Melomaniac
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 07 2006
Location: Canada
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Points: 4088
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Posted: February 15 2007 at 11:07 |
Voted 'other' too, and totally agree with Raffaella that it depends on the album.
I believe the beginning to an album is important, but not as important (to these ears anyway) as the running order of songs on an album. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the order of songs on an album can make the difference between a great (balanced) album and a not so great album, even though the songs are the same.
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"One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio
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prog4evr
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 22 2005
Location: Wuhan, China
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Points: 1455
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Posted: February 16 2007 at 05:37 |
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The mini-epics at the beginning. Besides Musical Box, the mini-epic suite of songs at the beginning of Marillion, Clutching at Straws: a "mini" masterpiece...
Edited by prog4evr - February 16 2007 at 05:37
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BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
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Points: 10261
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Posted: February 16 2007 at 06:21 |
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 BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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Album Beginnings
Totally agree!