It's the song that sets the tone for the album. It's the song that can change you as soon as you hit play. It's the song that the artist loves so much, they want you to hear it first. The first song on the record.
For me, this list is tough. Do I pick something personal that I like? Do I pick some of the all time greats? I did a version of this list a few days ago, and since then it has changed several times as I gave it more thought. And I fully anticipate it to change several more times in the future.
Here we go. Bad Thadd's Top 5 Side 1's Track 1's in reverse chronological order of release.
Number 1 - "Whatever Happened" The Strokes. Track 1 of Room on Fire.
I had just spent the entire summer of 2003 trying to memorize guitar lines from The Strokes debut album Is This It. And as the record companies would have had it, they rushed a sophomore release. After hearing their other single "12:51", I was compelled to buy the new record. I remember putting it in the CD player of my car, and flipping out about how good the first song sounded as I drove up Scatterfield Road.
Number 2 - "Options" Pedro the Lion. Track 1 of Control.
It was February of my freshman year of college, and I was at a concert in with my girlfriend. I heard this amazing song on the PA, and I asked who it was. My friend Nathan told me that it was Pedro the Lion and that he felt sorry that I had not heard Pedro the Lion. The next day my girlfriend dumps me, and I spend the following weeks laying on the floor of my dorm listening to the wonderfully depressing music of David Bazan.
Number 3 - "To Sheila" The Smashing Pumpkins. Track 1 of Adore.
Summer 2005. After years of growing to love The Smashing Pumpkins, I had listened to all of their major releases, except the album Adore. I had even listened to the Adore demos. I don't know how I went so long without listening to it. I wanted to listen to it, but I guess the opportunity to listen to it had never came for me. Then my friend took me down to Broad Ripple, and we went to Indy CD and Vinyl. At the back of the store, there it was. On Vinyl. Double disc. Special mono mix. Alternate album cover. I couldn't pass it up. I went home, put the needle down, and couldn't believe my ears. That experience alone makes me ashamed that music had to enter the digital era.
Number 4 - "Losing A Whole Year" Third Eye Blind. Track 1 of Third Eye Blind.
In junior high, I spent insane amounts of time listening to the radio. I could flip through radio stations like nobody's business. I could pick out hit singles before they got big. It was my thing before I took up the guitar. One time I was listening to the radio, and I heard a really good song. It knew was distinctly Third Eye Blind, but the DJ never gave the name of the song. That was the only time that I heard this great song on the radio. Years later in high school, I was looking through my friend's CD collection and I noticed a Third Eye Blind CD. I mentioned that I liked them, and she said that she never listened to them much. So she ended up giving me the CD. When I got in my car, I put in the disc, and heard the elusive song.
Number 5 - "Baba O'Riley" The Who. Track 1 of Who's Next.
This one needs no explanation. It is what it is, and it's awesome!
