Our top ten Rival Sons songs looks at the ten best songs of one the best rock bands currently going who were formed in Long Beach, California in 2009. They released their debut album Before The Fire in 2009. After recording a self-titled ep in 2010, they caught the attention of British label Earache Records who then signed them and released their second album Pressure and Time in 2011.
The next year, they soon got to work on their third album. Titled Head Down, it was released in 2012 and was very successful, reaching high positions in several international charts. The next year saw them embark on several exciting tours which included supporting Sammy Hagar. The next year they returned to the studio and released their critically acclaimed fourth album Great Western Valkyrie in 2014. This was followed by Hollow Bones in 2016. The next two years saw them supporting two of the greatest rock bands of all time when they supported Deep Purple in 2016 and then Black Sabbath on their final tour in 2017. Their most recent album Feral Roots was released in 2019. Here is a list of their ten best songs.
In their early days, Rival Sons album were creating during a time when they were absolutely pouring out with creativity. Pressure and Time was recorded in a mere twenty days. They have been very consistent, having released seven album in the space of ten years. In producer Dave Cobb, they have what is essentially and additional member, with him having worked on all of their albums. Here is a list of their ten best songs.
# 10 – Destination on Course
Kicking off our top ten Rival Sons songs list is track taken from the band’s fourth album Great Western Valkyrie released in 2014. This songs shows Rival Sons experimenting with their sound. The origins of this song go back years earlier when the nucleus of it was written by guitarist Scott Holiday and he felt that the time was write revisit it.
# 9 – Until The Sun Comes
This next track is taken from the band’s third album Head Down released in 2012. It got recognition for its place on the soundtrack to Sons of Anarchy. It is one of Rival Sons more accessible pop sounding songs. Although they are band who are at their best when they are doing rocking numbers, it is nice to see them doing a lighter number every now and again.
# 8 – Tell Me Something
With our next track we go all the way back to the band’s debut album Before The Fire released in 2009. The sound here is very good for a band just starting out. Although their sound now is far more refined, this early material has a rawness that gives it a certain charm. If they had of stuck with this sound, they would arguably still make for an enjoyable listen, but that is no criticism of their equally excellent newer material.
# 7 – Memphis Sun
Up next is another track taken from the first record. This is another raw track that is easily on of the bluesiest in the Rival Sons back catalogue. Singer Jay Buchanan puts in a particularly soulful vocal performance. Although it might seem a little overly retro for some people’s taste, this does matter when you consider the level of power and emotion contained here.
# 6 – Feral Roots
Ending the first half of this list we have the title track of the band’s fifth and most recent album released in 2019. This album was very critically acclaimed and was loved by many of the band’s fans. This song really shows what is great about Rival Sons when they are at the peak of their success. It is a very chilled out sounding song where all of the band sound almost effortless in how they are able to create such brilliant music.
# 5 – Electric Man
Kicking off the second half of this is a track taken from the band’s fourth album Great Western Valkyrie released in 2014. With this they still have the blues-rock sound but at the same time mix it with somewhat of a garage sound that rather reminiscent of The White Stripes. This was the first of three singles to be taken from the album.
# 4 – Torture
Next on the list is a non-album track that was featured on the band’s self-titled ep released in 2011. The album is a heavier song in the Rival Sons discography that almost borders on metal. The influence of Led Zeppelin is very evident here, particularly on the brilliant mellow mid-section which explodes once again into a rocking tune.
# 3 – Burn Down Los Angeles
At number three is the third track on this list to be taken from the first album. The song which seems to be somewhat lyrically political is structured like a protest song from the sixties. Although the band are not Rage Against The Machine-style anarchists and the song is not literally about burning down the city of Angels, it is about the power of the city and how it can often crush human beings hopes and dreams if they do make it as a success.
# 2 – Pressure and Time
Just off the top spot is the title track of the band’s second album released in 2013. This song is a great example of what makes Rival Sons what they are. The riff here is fantastic, the vocals are on fire and it generally a great piece of retro rock that still somehow manages to sound fresh. A music video was made for the song and it was also featured on a couple of movie and video games soundtracks.
# 1 – Open My Eyes
At the top of our Rival Sons songs list is this absolutely sublime track from Great Western Valkyrie. This album was very well received by critics who really felt that the band had mastered their sound with it. It was also extremely commercially successful, reaching the top forty in several countries across Europe.
Photo: Hinton1994, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Rival Sons songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to republish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
