July 28, 2019: Top 5 Openers

Hi Jessi,

Great topic for your solo episode! Before I forget, ever since the Yellow Ledbetter episode, I have been binging Friends on Netflix. I'm almost to the end of season 4, where Ross just flew to London to try to catch Emily and she did the same flying to New York. Anyway, I gave some thought to my favorite openers and am going to list them from least favorite to favorite.

5. Sometimes

Part of my criteria is how well does the song stand on its own. I don't think Sometimes stands alone as well as the other openers, but it's hard to ignore how unique it is and the transition into Hail, Hail is so powerful. There are a lot of other records, by other bands who have done the same, but I always think back to my favorite example on The Who's, "Quadrophenia."

4. Last Exit

I love how eerie sounding the first few seconds are before Dave A begins destroying his snare. Very strong rocker for an album, in Vitaology, that I continue to appreciate more through the years.

3. Breakerfall

The bass line that starts this song off is unique compared to the other openers. I love how fast paced this song sounds throughout it's entirety. This was the start of another new sounding era for the band and a uniquely sounding record in Binaural.

2. Go

Just like Last Exit, you start off with kind of subdued noise and then all of a sudden you are woken up by Dave A! Just an awesome, grungy sounding rocker that goes into their most consistent-collection of tracks on any of their records.

1. Brain of J

1,2,3,4...1,2,3,4

Okay, I've given Dave A some props for his punishment of his drum kit, but Jack blows me away on this song. I think it's the loudest-sounding drum part on any of their songs. I love the lyrics, Mike's solo, and the transition into Faithfull. This song and Faithfull are my favorite two tracks out of any of their records to listen to back-to-back. A big reason why Yield is my favorite album of theirs.

Forced to endure, what I could not forgive,

Chris

Comments

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