Track One

TRACK ONE: SEPULTURA- REFUSE/RESIST

This year the Cavalera brothers went on tour to celebrate their album, Chaos A.D. This is my all time favorite Sepultura album. I love this record. It’s heavy, brutal, full of great ear candy moments, and the mix on it is superb. I honestly thought when I was a kid and even today, that if Sepultura had kept expanding upon this sound and style by adding just a tinge of melody, they’d have been global giants! But that’s a topic and subject for a whole other time. Instead lets focus on track one of Chaos A.D. and that is “Refuse/Resist.” There are so many great track one’s and this song is definitely one of them. The groove on this song is beyond awesome. Interestingly, “Refuse/Resist” was the fourth single to be released from this album. It’s still a live staple to this day, even in Sepultura now, as well as with Max and Igor when they tour. Another fun tidbit is the beginning intro features the heartbeat of Max’s then unborn son, Zyon, who now plays with Max in Soulfly. You really can’t go wrong with Chaos A.D. and to have “Refuse/Resist” kick it off?! Now that’s a banger!

Sepultura- Refuse/Resist:

TRACK ONE: SOULFLY- EYE FOR AN EYE

I’m sure for a lot of you starting the week off can be a bit of a struggle. Dragging ass is never a fun way to start the day or week off. This morning I was having one hell of a time just getting out of bed and a song popped in my head and then I put said song on and I was awake. If you haven’t heard Soulfly’s “Eye For An Eye” off of their debut self titled album, this one will surely wake you up. And as a track one, yeah this is a banger out of the gate! The first album is chock full of great songs and the rhythms are really what takes the album to different heights. Drummer Roy Mayorga and bassist Marcello Rapp, have instant musical chemistry right away. “Eye For An Eye” is one of those classic songs. Crazy too that it’s over 25 years old now! This song also features Dino Cazares of Fear Factory as well as former Fear Factory vocalist, Burton C. Bell. So start your day/week off with this hellblazer of a track one!

Soulfly- Eye For An Eye:

TRACK ONE: RADIOHEAD- PLANET TELEX

For a couple weeks now, I’ve been on a huge Radiohead kick. They are seriously one of those bands that every time you go back and listen to, there is something else to fall in love with. The other day, I was sitting around just listening to The Bends and I couldn’t help but restart the first song, “Planet Telex” at least 5 times. There is something really special about this song and how it really starts off the album. The way Radiohead has experimented over the years is astonishing in its own right. When you listen to The Bends, you can start to hear them moving in varying directions and “Planet Telex” is one of those sweet moments. The shoegaze mixed with psychedelia and alternative rock is magical! It’s one of those songs that you don’t want it to end.

Radiohead- Planet Telex:

Track One: Down- Temptation’s Wings

I thought I’d start off the new year with a great song and a killer track one to boot. I will never forget the first time I heard this song. I was 13 years old and I was chatting with one of the guys who worked at the Tower Records in my town. I recall our conversation swinging toward Pantera as I was also looking to get their live album that was out. The guy said instead of getting the 101 Proof album I should check out this other album which had Philip in it as well. The guy even went and put the CD on in the store and then a couple moments later, the CD was in my hand and in my discman back in the car on the way home. From that point on I’ve been a huge Down fan. So much so that I prefer listening to Down over Pantera. Yes it’s true but, that’s for a whole other topic for another day. The first song, “Temptation’s Wings” is one of those track one’s that the moment you first hear it, you already know you’re going to like what’s to come and the want for more just grows and grows. Interestingly, this song dates back to about 1990/1991 when Down first came to fruition. It’s got this great Sabbath meets Zeppelin vibe with a great bit of Southern Rock charm. Put it this way, I would put this song in my top 25 favorite track one’s! Looking forward to seeing Down in 2025 and having a new album out later this year. If you aren’t familiar with Down, you should rectify that and quick!

Down- Temptation’s Wings:

Down- Down I- NOLA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG82oeXCclA&list=OLAK5uy_kj_nOYGgi9xj7tZ-yxXZ6pWH90CL_sw3o

Track One: Helmet- In The Meantime

The other day Helmet announced new tour dates. That got me excited as I haven’t seen them in quite some time. Naturally, I did what I always do when I get excited about a band or music news, I put Helmet on. Meantime, their breakthrough album which features the classic “Unsung,” is one of those albums that when you put on, it fuels the day. The first track “In The Meantime” is one of those album openers that does more than sets a tone, it’s also a hard charger that has been ripped off countless times as it’s such a classic. Meantime was an album that has stood up to this day. The influence the band and album has had on music since its release is uncanny. Start your day off with this banger!

Helmet- In The Meantime:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9346rQ1d8ik%3Fsi%3DqMQ-IB1FRroNvExD

Track One: The Replacements- Hold My Life

I recently saw that The Replacements are putting out a super deluxe version of their album, Tim, and of course that peaked my interest. The new edition features a remastered version, remixed version, alternate versions/demos as well as a live album from 1986. When I went back and listened to this album, I forgot how much I enjoyed it. There really was something magical about The Replacements. The first song on Tim, “Hold My Life,” is one hell of a track one. The song captures the feelings of alienation and despair while at the same time is rather poetic in a modern sense. I highly recommend taking a listen their album Tim, it’s truly one of those albums that when you listen, you can hear the influence in so many bands. And one other fun side note, Tim was produced by none other than Tommy Erdelyi aka Tommy Ramone!

The Replacements- Hold My Life:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jmJ28Zmdi2k%3Fsi%3D8MubM7wYZJxWG5wF

Track One: Alice In Chains- Rotten Apple

One of my all time favorite albums to put on to end a night or to fall asleep to is Alice In Chains, Jar Of Flies. It’s an absolutely astonishing album or EP. No matter how many times I put it on, I always get swept away by the first song, “Rotten Apple.” I love the way it starts the record and the way it just takes over is magical. This is a great example of how the first song on your album sets up the rest. This is a perfect song. Layne’s lyrics and vocals on this song are pure, raw and honest. Not to mention the harmonies with Jerry. Plus musically, this song is just so damn good. Just as the words and melody hit you, the music pushes and pulls you along the wave. Simply put, “Rotten Apple” is one of the best track one’s of all time.

Alice In Chains- Rotten Apple:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=poo2xaEhrHE%3Fsi%3DRTF8u5irYDNmSVSJ

Track One: A Perfect Circle- The Hollow

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and we got to talking about how fast time has gone by. While in this discussion, it somehow evolved into how old certain albums are now. One of the ones that got brought up was A Perfect Circle’s debut album, Mer De Noms, which is now 23 years old. Crazy! I still remember the day it came out and spending hours upon hours listening to it. So much so that it became my go to album in the summer of 2000. Naturally, this made me go put the album on later and it’s still as good as it was the first listen through. One of the songs I’ve always loved on that album is the opening track, “The Hollow.” It’s a damn good song and one of my all time favorite track one’s. It’s got such a great impact to start the album off and all the little nuances about the song make it all the more intriguing each time you listen. Also something that many don’t know is that this is the only song on the album that Josh Fresse doesn’t play drums on. Instead Tim Alexander from Primus is the drummer on this song. Also, “The Hollow” was the third and final single released from their debut album.

A Perfect Circle- The Hollow:

Track One: Rancid- Maxwell Murder

There are some albums you never forget hearing for the first time. And when you think of those albums there are certain songs that always come to mind right away. When Rancid announced that their 10th studio album would be coming out soon, I did what I usually do when I get excited about a band I like, I went back through their catalog. Then I got to the band’s third album, …And Out Come The Wolves and all those memories of being 10/11 years old blasting the hell out of this album came back. Yes, we’ve all heard “Time Bomb” and “Ruby Soho” a ton of times but, the one that has always got me the most on the album is the first track, “Maxwell Murder.” This song has all the makings of a great track one. It’s got the great intro, killer riff and bass line, driving rhythm, and not to mention that the vocals are right on the money. Plus I’d like to give a shout out to the one and only Matt Freeman, as his bass solo on this song is absolutely killer. Also “Maxwell Murder” is all killer in only one minute and twenty-five seconds. The ability to make such an impact with barely a minute and a half is astounding. Rancid have been one of the most consistent bands since their debut album came out 30 years ago this year. I’m stoked on new Rancid this year and you should be too!

Rancid- Maxwell Murder:

Track One: Soundgarden- Rusty Cage

It was announced yesterday that the members of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell’s widow have finally settled on an agreement to allow the release of the songs that Soundgarden were working on prior to Chris’s death. There are about 7 finished songs that will see the light of day in the near future. Which is very exciting as I remember a few interviews with Chris and Kim saying the new material was a bit more in line with some of their earlier work. That being said, naturally, I do what I usually do when I hear good news about a band I like a lot and I’ve been on a Soundgarden kick now. The first album I went for was Bad Motor Finger and when “Rusty Cage” began I knew I made the right choice. What a killer song to start off an album with. It’s a song with such groove and vibe that you wouldn’t be remiss if you played it again after it ended. That’s the making a great song! Interestingly, “Rusty Cage” was the third and final single released on the record. Chris you are very missed!


Soundgarden- Rusty Cage:

Alternate Version:

Soundgarden- Rusty Cage (Live Lollapalooza 1992):