Music
Friday's Playlist: Songs Off First Albums
by Ciaran Thompson
May 7, 2010
This past week we focused on third albums that opened the floodgates for musicians, which was influenced by a piece written about bands who succeeded in passing the ‘sophomore slump.’ Today however we are going back to the very beginning and as part of the weekly playlist we give to you every Friday, songs specifically from bands/artists’ first albums have been chosen. For a few the earlier recordings sound little of who they are today and for others, they wish they still sounded as good. Regardless, these songs bring back the memories of hearing that special band or singer for the first time. With regards to Bob Dylan, The Ramones and The Kinks, I wasn’t even conceived when the songs were released, but hopefully some reading this were and they are a lucky bunch.
Broken Social Scene – Passport Radio
Before the masses flocked to 2002’s You Forgot It in People, founding Broken Social Scene members Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning put out quite possibly the soundtrack to your life with Feel Good Lost, released a year earlier. Made up of mostly instrumental tracks BSS’s debut creates as much atmosphere as their second, just in a more ambient way.
The Strokes – Take It or Leave It
Along with The White Stripes and a select few others, The Strokes were billed as saviors of rock and their throwback debut Is This It delivered on all the hype. The songs were quick, catchy, cool enough for young and old and easy to dance to.
One of the first songs Dylan ever penned, an ode to his idol at the time Woody Guthrie who actually wrote the tune, “Song to Woody” appeared on Bob’s self titled debut, released in 1962. This song was only one of two original compositions on the album, the other being “Talkin’ New York.”
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
Sprouting countless all star reviews with its Beach Boys like melodies mixed with distorted guitars and vocals, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s 1985 debut album Psychocandy, according to Allmusic “created a movement without meaning to.” This song was its third single.
This song was the first track off what people now refer to as “The Blue Album.” For anyone who bought this CD with the four gentleman standing in front of a blue screen on the cover, it introduced them to Weezer and the emotional take on alternative rock other bands would soon adopt.
The Ramones – Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
Inspired by bassist Dee Dee Ramone’s upbringing in Germany and originally titled “I’m a Nazi, Baby,” this track was the last song on the Ramones’ self titled debut released in 1976. The band changed the lyrics and title for the recorded version, but stuck to their punk ways when performing it live.
Radiohead – Anyone Can Play Guitar
Radiohead’s first album entitled Pablo Honey, released in 1993, contains the band’s most well-known hit on mainstream radio and for some, little else. However upon listening to this disc, one can’t help be interested in the material the Radiohead of today produced when they were just getting their feet wet.
After its recording in the late ’90s, Metric’s debut Grow Up and Blow Away was delayed several times and by the time their second album, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? was ready they chose to release that instead. Luckily Last Gang picked it up and released it in 2007. A bit of a different sound than Metric’s normal run of things these days, but still a great debut with a preview for what was to come.
Eventually included on The Kinks’ debut album in 1964, the track was the band’s breakthrough hit establishing them as one of the top British invasion acts. Having an incredibly heavy guitar sound for its time, the song is said to have inspired several of the heavy metal acts that were to follow in the ’70s.
Appearing on Air’s debut album Moon Safari in 1998, “Ce Matin La” (English: That Morning) is one of several classic chillout tracks that seemed to spawn a whole genre. Releasing five more albums including last year’s Love 2, this record is still considered Air’s best work.
Tags: Music, News, bob dylan, broken social scene, Radiohead, The Kinks, The Strokes, weezer
