Best way to start an album
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=114843
Printed Date: April 26 2024 at 16:17
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Topic: Best way to start an album
Posted By: Lewian
Subject: Best way to start an album
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 18:42
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Some time ago somebody had two "side 1 track 1" polls. Here's my own. This is a topic of special interest to me. Often I like the first song of an album most, but not every song will work in the beginning. Here's a collection of some of my favourite starts. Please vote for the best way to start an album, which may or may not the song you like best. |
Replies:
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 18:45
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 18:47
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 18:55
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Sh...! I forgot to add Talk Talk - Myrrhman. Apparently I can't add an option to a poll without replacing one? Coincidentally, for mysterious reasons I also don't seem to be able to post more videos. So this poll will go ahead without Talk Talk (although that song's another pretty unique way to start an album). Maybe I do another one, chances are I find a few more that are remarkable.
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 20:06
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From your list I don't know but for me Gentle Giant wins the award for best ever openers. ------------- |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 21:13
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Moody Blues' Departure/Ride My See-Saw will never be beat. Maybe imitated, but never duplicated. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: noni
Date Posted: June 28 2018 at 21:24
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1. Find the album. 2. Play it. 3. Listen to it in great detail. 4. Hopefully enjoy it. Does this help!!
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Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 03:37
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I really like Deadwing and King of the Mountain, but my vote goes to The Cardiacs. Three years ago, I hated the band. Now - I like them more and more and that track is both brilliant and a great way to kick off an album. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 07:03
------------- Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to. http://bandcamp.com/jpillbox" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Profile |
Barbu wrote:Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 07:12
| Amon Düül II for me, but it's hard to define the "Best Way" to start an album, since the criteria is not really defined. |
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 07:49
| I don't know. I think Tarkus is one of the most epic ways to start any album. Hemispheres too |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 07:53
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Well, as always the major criterion is how you like it most. However, it could also be interesting to discuss ways of starting an album more generally, fine by me.
Not sure but maybe a) this and b) gentle introduction and build up are some major approaches that can work well. Are there more that can be described easily? |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 08:10
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The Cardiacs one is quite special; this approach is probably not used a lot. Let's start the album with a special fanfare piece that makes a mark and celebrates the start of the album - even if it's completely different from the music that comes later. (Frith's Sparrow Song is a bit like this, although more in the vein of the rest of the album.) Kate Bush's one is a very effective execution of the principle to lead the listener slowly into it, with stronger instrumentation coming in later; the singer has her more intimate moment with the listener before more is kicking in, but the main theme of the song is brought up very early on. Camberwell Now give only a few seconds time to adapt to the major adrenalin injection; not sure whether this fits the description of "striaght down - pulling you into its world", I think it does. Porcupine Tree gives some more introductory time but it's not a slow build up, rather it goes all in after some very minimal preparation; I love the moment in which this happens. I love the dark build-up of Surrounded by the Stars, like illuminating a dark room with some glimpses of light, not really showing but hinting at what will be in it. Art Zoyd's one rather puts up a massive wall of mystery, acoustic equivalent perhaps to dry ice fog at the beginning of the concert behind which the band finally appears, expect here doom will appear and you know it from the start.
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Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 08:18
Wobbler - From Silence To Somewhere doesn't waste any time getting to the ear-candy. ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 11:12
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I love that Zoyd track! ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Boojieboy
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 12:25
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LOL. I haven't heard any of those albums in the original list. Regardless, the great thing about prog is that there are no rules. I leave the album intro to each band, and what they see fit. With that, they all start out appropriate and well. Having said that, the early Moody Blues albums stand out as being especially memorable.
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 12:56
------------- Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to. http://bandcamp.com/jpillbox" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Profile |
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 13:54
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From this list: Porcupine Tree. Best song ever to start an album: 21st Century Schizoid Man. As time goes on my appreciation for every facet of this song grows and grows, and it is the perfect introduction to what the world soon came to know as King Crimson. ------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 15:35
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Zoyd ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 16:58
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You start out with a line "Really don't mind if you sit this one out", and then build from there. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: June 29 2018 at 22:54
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Best way to start album is Wigwam Losing Hold, so no vote here.
About this list I really love Surrounded by the Stars and King Of the Mountain, but I don´t think they´re best openers at all. For example In the Glassgarden in Syntelman´s March of the Roaring Seventies or Moving in Kick Inside are much better.
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Posted By: axeman
Date Posted: June 30 2018 at 10:57
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Kid Charlemagne is the actual opener to Royal Scam. Caves is the second song. ------------- -John |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: June 30 2018 at 11:10
 Considering it's probably the album I've listened to more than any other, this is a worrying sign of senility  ------------- Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to. http://bandcamp.com/jpillbox" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Profile |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 30 2018 at 18:07
Haha, taste is a mysterious thing. Actually I like these, but clearly not as much as those I've proposed. By the way, the poll is really only asking you for the best starter out of those on offer. You don't betray your other favourites if you vote here. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 01 2018 at 04:46
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Got to go with Deadwing (straight in there no messing , love it) although Blackest Eyes might be even better in that regards. btw My favourite song in the poll is King Of The Mountain. What a way to announce you are well and truly back!
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 01 2018 at 08:27
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School on Crime of the Century and Give a Litle Bit on Even In the Quitest Moment -------------  
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Posted By: Junges
Date Posted: July 01 2018 at 15:05
I had to vote for the Cardiacs. That song is a hymn.  ------------- 
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: July 01 2018 at 16:05
Good call!
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 02 2018 at 06:00
 Yes  and  no!!   |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: July 02 2018 at 07:54
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How to start an album and make your debut simultaneously: Father Cannot Yell Kobaïa Luglio, Agosto, Settembre (nero) Astronomy Domine (I know they had released some #7's) ------------- 
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 02 2018 at 08:07
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From that strange list......Deadwing.....,but of course the correct answer is 21st Century Schizoid Man. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: August 21 2018 at 18:12
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Opening up the post somewhat, some great starters that spring to mind: Watcher of the Skies - Genesis (hairs up on the back of the neck time) Tarot Woman - Rainbow Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Speed King - Deep Purple Yours is No Disgrace - Yes Red - King Crimson Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull Welcome to the Cruise - Judie Tzuke Runnin' With the Devil - Van Halen Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield Heat of the Moment - Asia Wishing Well - Free Script for a Jester's Tear - Marillion ....oh, I give up. Too many albums start superbly! If only many ended as good!  ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: August 21 2018 at 19:01
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From this list...Surrounded by the Stars is a great opener...though my fave song on the album is Green Bubble Raincoated Man... Some other great openers... ELP - s/t - The Barbarian Crimson - Lizard - Cirkus Crimson - Starless & Bible Black - The Great Deceiver Zappa - Studio Tan - The Adventures of Greggary Peccary Genesis - TotT - Dance on a Volcano Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste - Pantagruel's Nativity Black Sabbath - Paranoid - War Pigs Marillion - Clutching at Straws - Hotel Hobbies Suite (Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night) etc... ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: April 19 2020 at 00:08
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Deadwing ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |