Top 10 L7 Songs

Photo: Cedar777, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 L7 Songs feature introduces us to L7, an all-female rock band renowned for its rebellious yet witty essence. Since its formation in 1985, L7 has been celebrated for its energetic live shows, which have significantly expanded its fanbase and secured its status as a global rock sensation. The band’s origins trace back to Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner, who were both active members of the Echo Park Art punk scene and connected through mutual acquaintances. Their shared musical passions led to the creation of L7. Sparks and Gardner subsequently enlisted bassist Jennifer Finch and drummer Anne Anderson, completing the lineup of a seminal punk rock act. Finch’s extensive network, which included Brett Gurewitz of Epitaph Records, was instrumental in producing the band’s initial demo. However, like many bands, L7 eventually faced a hiatus.

This hiatus commenced in 2001 when the band ceased touring and promoting its music, leading members to explore other musical endeavors. Nonetheless, in 2014, Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner, Jennifer Finch, and Demetra Plakas reunited L7 with a European tour followed by numerous performances in the United States and Canada. Both fans and critics acknowledge L7’s unique blend of subversive humor and bold feminism, which has won the band critical acclaim. The Top 10 L7 Songs are presented here, showcasing the band’s unapologetic fusion of punk rock and heavy sludge metal, all from a distinctly all-female perspective.

# 10 – Bite the Wax Tadpole

Well, why not open our L7 songs list with the first track of the band’s first album? It kind of makes sense to make sure to present an overall picture of the band’s material. It makes even more sense because this is such a cranking song that shows that this all-female band met business. The guitars sound like the Ramones on this track. And that’s a good thing. The song was released on the album L7. The album was released in 1988.

# 9 – One More Thing

This one opens with a heavy solo drum beat that is attacked by a flying guitar riff that sets the tone for a dark and dirty, captivating rock and roll ride that so clearly echoes the sound of grunge at its peak period in 1992. Jennifer Finch wrote the song. The song appeared on the band’s third album titled Bricks Are Heavy.

#8 – Stadium West

After a long layoff, the band L7 returned in 2019 with the first album in twenty years. The group had not released a new record since 1999’s Slap Happy. The 2019 Scatter the Rats album featured Jennifer Finch on bass and vocals, Suzi Gardner on guitar and vocals, Donita Sparks on vocals and guitar, and Demetra Plakas on drums and vocals. This hard driving straight ahead song was composed by Donita Sparks. As always, they weren’t messing around as they delivered a rock solid outing in which this song stood out as one of the album’s key tracks.

#7 – Cooler Than Mars

If 2019’s Scatter The Rats album didn’t prove that the band was back big time, then last year’s stand-alone single “Cooler Than Mars” should shake your tailfeather into taking notice. The song makes the point quite clear that all the rich people out there playing with their spaceships should maybe instead start looking at investing their money in taking care of the planet we live on. You know who they are talking about………

#6 – Off the Wagon

In the. number six spot on our L7 Songs list we turn to the band’s fifth studio album entitled The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum. The album was released in 1997. This is one of those great rock and roll songs with a great addicting chord progression fueled by some pretty entertaining lyrics about being a designated driver because she’s off the wagon. I love the piano comping at the end of the track that just comes out of nowhere.

#5 – Shove

The song “Shove” was released on the album Smell the Magic. It was written by Suzi Gardner and Donita Sparks. Shove would become the band’s first single release. We love that fuzz guitar opening that starts the songs off. Suzi Gardner delivers a smoking punk meets grunge lead vocal that is simply to die for.

#4 – Andres

Featured on L7’s album “Hungry for Stink,” the track “Andres” stands out as one of the band’s more personal offerings. It tells the story of a friend named Andres, whom the band members had introduced to someone else. Unfortunately, this introduction led to Andres being hurt by the person they had connected him with. In an effort to mend their relationship with Andres, the band saw no better remedy than to offer a sincere apology through their music. While the story is sort of a common one, the way the band sings about it is sort of hysterical. Boy, I woudl hate to be Andres.

#3 – Wargasm

Now, this is what you call a spectacular metal meets grunge riff. The band sounds like Soundgarden in the opening of this track. Written by Donita Sparks, “Wargasm” is an interesting view of war and all that surrounds it. The song was released on the band’s best album, Bricks Are Heavy.

#2 – Monster

In the second spot on our L7 Songs list, we present the song “Monster.” This one has a Joan Jett Runaways-style era vibe to it. We love the guitar riff that fuels the song, which also seems inspired by groups like Blue Oyster Cult and Led Zeppelin. It’s all there if you listen closely. This band was inspired by so many great rock and roll bands. “Monster,” really defines so much of why we love this great rock and roll band L7.

#1 – Pretend We’re Dead

Closing out our L7 songs list is the brilliant track “Pretend We’re Dead.” This was the band’s most famous song. It became even more famous after their performance on the television show Live The Word in 1992. The song was released on their 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy. The song made crashed the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for 20 weeks, reaching its peak at number eight. It also achieved success in the UK, climbing to #21 on the Singles Chart, and charted in both Belgium and Australia. The song’s popularity extended beyond the music charts, featuring in video games such as “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” and “Rock Band 2,” as well as being included in numerous television shows and movies.