Top 10 Fuel Songs

Feature Photo: Solidore, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our top ten Fuel songs list looks at the catalog of an American band best known for its musical pursuits in the alternative rock and post-grunge genres. The band was formed in San Francisco in 1989 by guitarist Carl Bell. Joining him in the band’s original lineup were bassist Jeff Abercrombie, drummer Jody Abbott, and lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Brett Scallions. Guitarist Carl Bell is the only original member of Fuel to have featured in all incarnations of the band.

The band rose to critical acclaim in the late ‘90s with the hit “Shimmer.” Over the years, Fuel has issued six studio albums and a number of extended plays. Other reputable bands to have sprouted from San Francisco include 4 Non Blondes, Journey, Faith No More, Counting Crows, Flamin’ Groovies, and Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Fuel’s Career Beginnings

Before rising to critical acclaim in 1998, Fuel issued several self-released recordings. However, Fuel’s successful ventures can be traced back to the band’s 1996 release Porcelain which is home to hits such as “Mary Pretends,” “Hideaway,” and “Song for You.” The band would later return in 1997 with the record Hazleton, a four-track extended play that features hits such as “Jesus or a Gun” and “Bittersweet.” Eventually, the band secured a recording contract with Epic Records, (once) home to AC/DC, Bad Religion, Black Sabbath, Chevelle, and The Isley Brothers.

Fuel’s Album Releases over the Years

In 1998, Fuel issued their debut studio album Sunburn under the production of Steven Haigler. Other artists/bands who have worked with Steven Haigler as a producer/engineer include Bob Mould, Pixies, Clutch, Quicksand, and Local H. Sunburn was a mainstream success rising to position seventy-seven on the Billboard 200.

Sunburn also rose to position sixteen on the ARIA Albums Chart and position seventeen on the New Zealand Music Chart. The album earned gold certification in Australia and platinum certification in the US. “Shimmer,” “Jesus or a Gun,” “Sunburn,” and “Bittersweet” are the best Fuel songs from the album.

Fuel returned in 2000 with their sophomore studio album Something Like Human. The album was issued through Epic Records with production done by Ben Grosse. Grosse has also worked with a number of bands/artists including Breaking Benjamin, Depeche Mode, Dream Theater, and Disturbed. Something Like Human also includes contributions from keyboardist Luis Restro and David Campbell (known for his work with Evanescence, Michael Jackson, Rush, and Aaliyah among others).

The album remains Fuel’s best-selling album earning a two-time platinum. certification. Something Like Human also earned a gold certification in Canada. The album peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200 Chart, rising to the sixth and eighth spots on the Australian and New Zealand Album Charts. “Innocent,” “Bad Day,” and “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” are the most popular songs by Fuel from the album.

In 2003, Fuel returned with their third studio album Natural Selection. The album featured Michael Beinhorn in the production. Beinhorn has also worked with a number of reputable artists including Violent Femmes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Soundgarden to name a few. Natural Selection made it to the fifteenth spot on the Billboard 200.

The album also made it to the sixty-fourth spot on the ARIA Albums Chart. Despite being the highest-charting album Fuel, Natural Selection failed to impress commercially. “Falls on Me,” “Million Miles,” “Won’t Back Down,” and “Quarter” are the best Fuel songs from Natural Selection.

Angels & Devils, issued in 2007, marked the band’s fourth studio album. The album was fairly successful in the mainstream rising to position forty-two on the Billboard 200. Scott Humphrey (known for his work with Rob Zombie, The Cult, and Andrew WK) was tasked with production work on this record. Angels & Devils saw the band rely on Toryn Green (associated with Emphatic) on the lead vocals.

The album had additional personnel including Josh Freese, Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, and Matthew Nelson of the band Nelson. Angels & Devils was the last album Fuel issued through Epic Records. “Wasted Time,” “Gone,” “I Should Have Told You,” “Again,” and “Leave the Memories Alone” are the best Fuel songs from the album.

Fuel returned in 2014 with their fifth studio album Puppet Strings. The album was issued through Megaforce Records. Eddie Wohl’s prints are visible in the production of this album. Wohl has also worked with other reputable artists including Bruce Springsteen, Jakob Dylan, and Roger Daltrey among others.

Puppet Strings made it to position seventy-seven on the Billboard 200. Some of the most popular songs from Puppet Strings include “Soul to Preach To,” “Cold Summer,” “What We Can Never Have,” and “Yeah!” In 2021, Fuel issued their sixth and most recent studio album Anomaly. Anomaly was issued through Moon Chair Media with some of the best Fuel songs from the album including “Hard,” “Landslide,” and “Don’t Say I.”

Fuel’s Legacy

Over the years, Fuel has been one of the most impressive bands in the post-grunge since the late ‘90s. Fuel has extended its musical impact to alternative rock with some of its records signaling alternative metal and hard rock influences. The band’s employment of melodic guitar riffs adds quite some allure to the band’s musical quality. Here we present the all-time best Fuel songs.

#10- Million Miles

Ushering us to the ten best Fuel songs is the phenomenal hit “Million Miles.” The song is one of the three songs from the band’s third studio album Natural Selection that made it to this list. Like most of the songs from the album, “Million Miles” finds Fuel giving us a taste of its alternative metal influences albeit with heavy post-grunge sounds. The song’s atmospheric instrumentation (especially on the guitars) makes it an impressive release.

“Million Miles” achieved some mainstream success rising to position sixteen on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The song also made it to the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart peaking at position thirty-three. While we placed “Million Miles” as the third-best Fuel song from Natural Selection, it receives quite some competition from the aggressive rocker “Quarter,” which went on to be featured in a number of video games.

#9- Hard

After seven years of no new releases, Fuel returned to the music scene with its album Anomaly. “Hard” is by far the best offering by the band on this album. Like its title suggests, “Hard” finds the band exploring the hard rock sound albeit with the incorporation of some melodic influences.

With the departure of lead vocalist Brett Scallions, the band was left to seek the services of another singer, settling for John Corsale. While some might crave the rasp-tinged vocals of former vocalist Brett Scallions, Corsale gets the job done in an exquisite manner, showcasing his vocal dexterity to his new audience. “Hard” graced the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart peaking at number twenty-three.

#8- Won’t Back Down

At the eighth spot on our ten best Fuel songs list is the thunderous hit “Won’t Back Down.” The song is another impressive rocker off the band’s third studio album Natural Selection. “Won’t Back Down” finds Fuel going full throttle into alternative metal influences as exhibited by its menacing heaviness.

Initially, “Won’t Back Down” was issued as the lead single for the soundtrack of the 2003 superhero film Daredevil. Other artists who contributed songs to the soundtrack include The Calling, Nickelback, Seether, Chevelle, and Evanescence among others. “Won’t Back Down” made it to the twenty-second and thirty-seventh spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Billboard Alternative Airplay Charts.

#7- Innocent

Something Like Human is by far the best Fuel album of all time. Introducing us to the impressive quality of the album is the hit “Innocent.” The song was penned by guitarist Carl Bell and performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, a move that helped it earn even more acclaim. While “Innocent” never made it to the Billboard Hot 100 it graced the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart, peaking at the fourth spot.

“Innocent” also made it to the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart peaking at the tenth spot. The music video for “Innocent” was directed by Nigel Dick. Nigel has also directed music videos of songs by other artists including Guns ‘N Roses, Backstreet Boys, and Cher among others.

#6- Wasted Time

At the sixth spot on our ten best Fuel songs list is the impressive hit “Wasted Time.” “Wasted Time” is the most sought-after song from Fuel’s fourth studio album Angel & Devils. The song features Toryn Green on the lead vocals following the first departure of the band’s original singer Brett Scallions. “Wasted Time” finds the band balancing between post-grunge and alternative rock influences.

Despite joining Fuel in 2004, former Godsmack drummer Tommy Stewart was unable to participate in the recording of Angels & Devils. As a result, Fuel settled for the services of Josh Freese and Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe—the latter played the drums on this song. “Wasted Time” made it to the twenty-fourth spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.

#5- Bittersweet

Introducing us to the band’s musicianship on the debut studio album Sunburn is the remarkable hit “Bittersweet.” The song was issued as the second single to Sunburn. Initially, the song was issued on the band’s 1997 extended play Hazleton. “Bittersweet” was a mainstream success in the US rising to the fifteenth spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and the seventeenth spot on the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart. The song also graced the ARIA Singles Chart peaking at number seventy.

#4- Falls on Me

“Falls on Me” is the most impressive hit by Fuel off the band’s third studio album Natural Selection. The song was the second single to the album, issued after the hit “Won’t Back Down.” Unlike songs like “Quarter” and “Won’t Back Down” which showcase Fuel’s shift to alternative metal influences, “Falls on Me” retains the band’s post-grunge sound.

“Falls on Me” was penned by guitarist Carl Bell—its lyrics allude to the struggles of maintaining a monogamous relationship. The song was a mainstream success earning airplay on MTV. “Falls on Me” made it to the Billboard Hot 100 rising to a peak position of number fifty-two. The song also graced other mainstream charts within and outside the US. In Australia, the song reached position fifty-six on the ARIA Singles Chart.

#3- Bad Day

The third song on our ten best Fuel songs is the alluring hit “Bad Day.” “Bad Day” is yet another impressive hit off the band’s sophomore studio album Something Like Human. The song was penned by guitarist Carl Bell with his inspiration for the lyrics coming from watching his lover experience a bad day.

Bell revealed that they both had been having tough times trying to achieve their life goals, something that affect their relationship. “Bad Day” was a success in the US where it graced several mainstream charts. The song made it to the sixty-fourth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

#2- Shimmer

If we have to choose the one song that opened the doors of success for Fuel, then that would be “Shimmer.” “Shimmer” was issued as the lead single to the band’s debut studio album Sunburn. The song was penned by guitarist Carl Bell with its lyrics alluding to an ex-lover who got stuck in a bad marriage. “Shimmer” was Carl’s expression of the range of emotions he felt when his ex-lover reached out to tell him of her relationship anguishes.

The song was Fuel’s first song to make it to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number forty-two. “Shimmer” also made it to the ARIA Singles Chart, rising to a peak position of number sixteen. The song was later covered by Bronson Arroyo, In the Buff, and Boyce Avenue featuring Tyler Ward.

#1- Hemorrhage (In My Hands)

Number one on our best Fuel songs list is the hit “Hemorrhage (In My Hands).” The song serves as Fuel’s signature hit from the band’s sophomore studio album Something Like Human. “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” was penned by the band’s primary songwriter and guitarist Carl Bell—we have to admit that the song is quite melancholic.

The song remains Fuel’s highest-charting release to date topping the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart while gracing the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart at number two. “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” also made it to the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number thirty. Chris Daughtry of Daughtry performed this hit as a contestant during the fifth season of American Idol.