Friday Thoughts W/ Scott Waldman: 20 Best Album Openers

Our buddy Scott Waldman is letting us into his personal list of favorite albums openers describing them how only he knows how. With his love of words and giving us a short description on why. Let us know what 20 you think are the best! So here we go, 20 best album openers!

A good first song is crucial for an album to resonate… Here are my top twenty album opening tracks in “mix tape” form:

 

1. The Beatles – “A Hard Day’s Night”

 

That chord. That song. SUCKED IN.

 

2. The Get Up Kids – “Holiday”

 

Pick scrapes get me going.

 

3. Weezer – “Tired Of Sex”

 

Bass baby, bass baby. FEEDBACK.

 

4. Boston – “More Than A Feeling”

 

One acronym with three letters: M.I.T.

 

5. Guster – “Great Escape”

 

Two guitars, two voices, & several sore fingers from hand drumming.

 

6. Finch – “New Beginnings”

 

The polar opposite of Guster and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

7. Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”

 

Mainstream America, here’s Jimmy Eat World!

 

8. Silverchair – “Across The Night”

 

The best song from the best live band I’ve ever seen.

 

9. The Who – “Overture/It’s A Boy”

 

I’ve yet to see a broadway musical that I enjoy more than “Tommy”.

 

10. IAmDynamite – “Where Will We Go”

 

The video will make you dizzy, but the harmonies will make you smile.

 

11. Sunny Day Real Estate – “Killed By An Angel”

 

Riff. Rock. 

 

12. I the Mighty – “The Dreamer”

 

I saw this band open for Armor For Sleep a few years ago and I was blown away by their musicianship.

 

13. blink-182 – “Anthem, Pt. 2”

 

The best track from their best album.

 

14. Billy Talent – “This Is How It Goes”

 

Not. For. The. Faint. Of. Heart.

 

15. Superdrag – “Keep It Close To Me”

 

The most underrated track from the most underrated band’s most underrated album.

 

16. Something Corporate – “I Want To Save You”

 

SoCo, you sure did.

 

17. Acceptance – “Take Cover”

 

I still think that this track should’ve been the single.

 

18. The Used – “Maybe Memories”

 

Scream, Dracula, Scream!

 

19. Against Me! – “New Wave”

 

Come on and wash these shores away.

 

20. Ben Folds Five – “Narcolepsy”

 

Epic album OPENER.

 

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for reading/listening to my closing song list. Xo.

-Scott Waldman

We took this list and made a Spotify playlist! Check it out below!