MoJ: best BSP LP opener?

[oblomovitis]

Listening to the new album over the past few months, which I think on the whole is pretty excellent, I've been left wondering whether the title track is the best BSP opening-track yet. While Men Together Today and All In It serve as an apt presage and generally evoke the spirit of the album, it's difficult to appreciate them in isolation. (Or at least that's my experience of them.) That leaves Oily Stage and Who's In Control? The former I think is a wonderful piece, but is it a particularly great opener?; and the latter I myself can take or leave. I think MoJ is a fantastic way to commence an album: it's epic, but not in an overwhelming way, and like all great music: it's something of a tease; unsatisfying, you know, leaving one wanting more, which is surely what a first track should achieve? I don't know, just a thought...

[rover]

Well Open Season could technically be said to have two openers, what with that hidden track on the CD that you have to rewind to get to.

[gtw]

Agreed Oblomovitis. Further than that, I think the whole MoJ is by far their best calibrated, nicely balanced album to date.

[TheAlex]

MoJ is a surprisingly brilliant live opener. I'm not sure about album openers though. I'd have to go for Who's in Control?, even though it's not one of my favourite BSP songs.

[Marsh Harrier]

Cretin that I am, I've just read the thread title and wondered what the Ministry of Justice (my employer) has to do with BSP album openers........ Clunk!

[Heartland]

Can someone explain to me, technically useless, thick twat that I am, how you "rewind" to get the mysterious opener on Open Season? Thanks.

[gtw]

Stick the disc in, press play, then, when the track is just underway, press rewind... not 'previous track' but the button you would use to track back audibly a few seconds or so. Keep going till you reach the start of the track before the first one.

[Wicker Man]

...and you'll discover a foggy instrumental version of 'Leaving Here', played on the organ, which leaves Woody's thumps at the start of 'Oily Stage' sounding suddenly gargantuan - it's the only way I ever listen to the album.

'Man of Aran' is a lovely, limpid opener, too, but you can't really beat the pell-mell tumble of tunes that kick off 'Decline', can you? 'Men Together Today'/'Apologies'/'Favours...' - the most thrilling side one start-line triple-whammy since the opening trio of the Pixies 'Doolittle'.

[pomfob]

Well Open Season could technically be said to have two openers, what with that hidden track on the CD that you have to rewind to get to.

Did they do that with any of the other CDs, I wonder? Has anyone checked?

[Facts Are Right]

"the mysterious opener on Open Season"

Are there any other tracks like this?
Anyone know how to rip them? My PC can't/won't find it.

[kevo]

All In It is a damn fine opener.

[SPT]

"the mysterious opener on Open Season"

Are there any other tracks like this?
Anyone know how to rip them? My PC can't/won't find it.

I did it by hooking up a cd player to line in and using Audacity.

[Wicker Man]

All In It is a damn fine opener.

It is, an' all (though I don't think much of 'We Close Our Eyes' as a closer).
All the BSP albums start brilliantly, dammit.

[Heartland]

Ah...hmmmm...

Thanks very much GTW

Think that'll need a fair few listenings

[Facts Are Right]

Yes, MoJ is brilliant. I just don't get tired of it. But, for an opener, what about Zeus? Hugely under-rated EP AND with Bear & Retreat as well. Zeus (the BSP touring bus) is a fun track with a bit of Editors type guitar work (well early Editors anyway). "What's your maximum?" I'm not saying it's the best opener but it always brings a smile to my face.