does what it says on the tin. the best opening tracks on any album, any genre.
my ball starts rolling with Seneca from standards by Tortoise ,
and I wanna be adored off the stone roses by, well, the Stone Roses
Bombtrack off of Rage Against The Machine’s self titled debut.
Ana Ng, the first track on “Lincoln”, by They Might Be Giants.
Bat out of hell by Meatloaf kicks of with the stunning title track.
Dance on a Volcano from A Trick of the Tail, Genesis’ first album with Phil Collins as lead singer.
Debaser, Doolittle, The Pixies.
Enough said.
Frank and Jesse James, Warren Zevon’s self-titled album.
Sgt Pepper, from the album by the Beatles.
What’s Goin’ On, same titled album, by Marvin Gaye.
Ooohhhhhh…you were so close.
Actually, it’s the opening drumbeat on Bone Machine, the first track on Surfer Rosa.
Speaking of which, why was the Pixies’ post-Surfer Rosa production all so flat and boring?
because steve albini didnt record it, gil norton did. noone gets a better sound than albini cite- in utero, shellac, wedding presents seamonsters
back to my OP,
papa wont leave you henry off henrys dream by nick cave and the bad seeds
Both Dragon Phoenix and RobuSensei have great ones there. I’ll add Thunder Road, first track off of Springsteen’s Born to Run.
Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin. Not only is it a great track, but the opening chords are an announcement that something new was in town.
21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson – same thing (though musically quite different)
Ooh, good thread. Agree with lots so far.
How about Foo Fighters This is a call off their eponymous debut? I like the Foos, but I don’t think they’ve bettered this track.
Queens of the Stone Age Feelgood hit of the Summer off Rated R.
The Pogues The Sickbed of Cuchulainn off Rum, Sodomy & the Lash.
Queen Death on two legs off A Night at the Opera.
VNV Nation - Chosen, off of “Praise the Fallen”.
Sympathy for the Devil from “Beggars Banquet” by the Rolling Stones.
Elvis Costello - “No Action”, off of This Year’s Model
Pink Floyd - “In The Flesh?”, The Wall
Odds - “Someone who’s Cool”, Nest
Get Up Kids - “Holiday”, Something to Write Home About
Blind, on the self-titled Korn.
AAAAAARE YOU READY??? 
Girls Against Boys – “Super-fire” off of House of GVSB. It starts off with a surging bass-line and a growled “Check your lifespan,” and then it explodes. Awesome.
Maybe not my favourite, but I feel that Welcome To The Working Week from Elvis Costello’s “My Aim Is True” must be mentioned in this thread. It’s so good that you’ve got to play it again as soon as you’re done, and in my case, that means lifting up a stylus and putting it back down again. Hard wok for someone of the track skipping generation.
Immigrant Song, Led Zepplin. Was that I? (roman numeral 1, not . . me)
You wanted the best and you’ve got the best. The hottest band in the world…
KISS!!
<queue Detroit Rock City guitar intro>
From Kiss Alive II.
As a TeenJoe, I wanted to be “that announcer guy” so bad. Oh, and Peter Criss
MeanJoe