Our top 10 The War on Drugs songs list presents the music of an American band known for its blend of indie rock, neo-psychedelia, Americana, and heartland rock influences. The Grammy Award-winning band had its formation spearheaded by rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Kurt Vile and lead vocalist/guitarist Adam Granduciel. Since its formation, The War on Drugs has issued five studio albums and two extended plays. The War on Drugs band members have cited Sonic Youth, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen to name but a few.
The War on Drugs’ Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
After three years of playing together, the band members of The War on Drugs released their debut EP Barrel of Batteries. The five-track extended play was issued for free, albeit for a limited time. Barrel of Batteries featured notable musical gems such as “Arms Like Boulders” and “Buenos Aires Beach.” While the extended play never achieved mainstream success, it paved way for the band’s debut album Wagonwheel Blues.
Wagonwheel Blues was issued in June 2008 through Secretly Canadian, a music label (once) home to Cherry Glazerr, Faye Webster, Alex Cameron, and Stella Donnelly. Like the preceding EP, this album failed to achieve either mainstream or commercial success. However, Wagonwheel Blues is home to some of the best songs by The War on Drugs including “Taking the Farm” and “A Needle in Your Eye.” Wagonwheel Blues is the only album to have featured drummer Kyle Lloyd.
Other Records by The War on Drugs
In 2010, The War on Drugs returned with their second extended play Future Weather. The eight-track EP laid the groundwork for The War on Drugs’ 2011 sophomore studio album Slave Ambient. Slave Ambient made it to the twenty-seventh spot on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart. The album also rose to the fourth spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart.
A number of songs from the extended play Future Weather including “Come to the City,” “Baby Missiles,” and “Brothers” were included in Slave Ambient. Other top musical gems by The War on Drugs from Slave Ambient include “Best Night,” “Your Love is Calling My Name,” and “Black Water Falls.” John Congleton (known for his work with Amanda Palmer, Baroness, Blondie, and Erykah Badu) is among the personnel contracted for the production and engineering of Slave Ambient.
In 2014, The War on Drugs issued its third studio album Lost in the Dream. Lost in the Dream saw The War on Drugs welcome both mainstream and commercial success. The album made it to the Billboard 200, rising to position twenty-six. Lost in the Dream also made it to the UK Albums Chart, peaking at position eighteen. “Red Eyes,” “Under the Pressure,” “An Ocean in Between the Waves,” and “Eyes to the Wind” are the most popular songs by The War on Drugs from Lost in the Dream. The album earned The War on Drugs its first gold-certified record in the UK.
The War on Drugs ushered in a new chapter of success in 2017 following the release of the band’s fourth studio album A Deeper Understanding. A Deeper Understanding was the band’s first record issued through Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Adam Granduciel with Shawn Everett (known for his work with Kacey Musgraves, Natalie Cole, Weezer, Alabama Shakes, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, and The Killers.
A Deeper Understanding is the highest-charting record by The War on Drugs reaching position ten on the Billboard 200. The album also made it to the UK Albums Chart, peaking at the third spot (also topped the Belgian Albums Chart). It is honorable to mention that the album went win the 2018 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album.
Other albums that had been nominated for the same accolade that year include Villains by Queens of the Stone Age, Emperor of Sand by Mastodon, The Stories We Tell Ourselves by Nothing More, and Hardwired…to Self-Destruct by Metallica. “Thinking of a Place,” “Nothing to Find,” “Strangest Thing,” “Holding On,” and “Pain” are some of the best songs by The War on Drugs from the album. A Deeper Understanding was a commercial success earning silver certification in the UK. The album was also gold-certified in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In 2021, The War on Drugs returned with their fifth studio album I Don’t Live Here Anymore. The album was also issued through Atlantic Records with production work done by Adam Granduciel and Shawn Everett. Mastering this record was Greg Calbi, a mastering engineer known for his prodigious work with John Mayer, Eric Carmen, John Lennon, David Bowie, and Lou Reed among others. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” “Living Proof,” “Change,” and “Harmonia’s Dream” are some of the fan-favorite tracks by The War on Drugs from the album.
The War on Drugs’ Accolades and Legacy
As earlier mentioned, the band’s effort and musicianship earned its members a Grammy Award in 2018. The War on Drugs was among the rock acts nominated in the recently concluded Grammy Awards ceremony thanks to its song “Harmonia’s Dream.” Indie rock, neo-psychedelia, heartland rock, and Americana have been at the heart of The War on Drugs’ musical pursuits throughout all of its incarnations. Here we present our ten best The War on Drugs songs of all time.
#10- Brothers
Our list of ten best songs by The War on Drugs starts off on a high note with the hit “Brothers.” The song was first featured on the band’s eight-track 2010 extended play Future Weather. “Brothers” would later be featured on The War on Drugs’ sophomore studio album Slave Ambient. Despite not featuring anywhere in this hit, Kurt Vile has praised the hit “Brothers” as one of the best songs by The War on Drugs. Ben and Alex Brewer were tasked with directing the accompanying music video to “Brothers.” The directing duo is also known for its work with The Chainsmokers, Skylar Grey, Jack Ü, and Foster the People.
#9- Harmonia’s Dream
We can’t help but love The War on Drugs’ musicianship on the hit “Harmonia’s Dream,” one of the best songs by the band off I Don’t Live Here Anymore. However, featuring this song on this list was at the expense of some fan-favorite tracks from the same album including “Change” and “Living Proof.” “Harmonia’s Dream” was penned by Adam Granduciel and keyboardist Robbie Bennett.
The song’s impressive instrumentation makes it quite an unforgettable musical gem. “Harmonia’s Dream” earned a nomination for Best Rock Song in the recently concluded Grammy Awards ceremony. However, the song lost the award to the hit “Broken Horses” by Brandi Carlile. Other songs that had been nominated for the award include “Black Summer” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Patient Number 9” by Ozzy Osbourne featuring Jeff Beck and “Blackout” by Turnstile.
#8- Baby Missiles
Coming in at the eighth spot on our ten best songs by The War on Drugs is the anthemic hit “Baby Missiles.” Initially, the song was featured on the band’s 2010 extended play Future Weather. It was later featured on The War on Drugs’ sophomore studio album Slave Ambient. “Baby Missiles” is an emblem of Adam Granduciel’s excellence in his songwriting skills. In “Baby Missiles” lead vocalist Adam Granduciel applies an elusive echo that adds glamour to his delivery. More glamour graces this incredible pick when the harmonica (still by Adam Granduciel) kicks in.
#7- I Don’t Live Here Anymore (featuring Lucius)
“I Don’t Live Here Anymore” is probably the best album title track song by The War on Drugs. The song was issued as the second single off the band’s fifth studio album. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” finds the band collaborating with the indie pop band Lucius Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of the band Lucius contribute backing vocals to Adam Granduciel’s croons.
“I Don’t Live Here Anymore” was penned by Adam with its lyrics centered around various random memories. The song echoes more of Bob Dylan’s influence on The War on Drugs’ musical pursuits. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” made it to number forty-three on the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative Songs Chart. The song’s music video was directed by Emmett Malloy, an award-winning director known for his work with Jack Johnson, Vampire Weekend, Empire of the Sun, The Kooks, and Weezer.
#6- Holding On
Number six on our ten best songs from The War on Drugs is the remarkable track “Holding On.” The song is featured on the band’s fourth studio album A Deeper Understanding. “Holding On” was fairly successful in the mainstream having entered the Billboard Rock Airplay Chart where it peaked at number thirty-four. The song also made it to position forty-four on the Canadian Rock/Alternative Chart.
“Holding On” had its music video concept birthed by actress and model Krysten Ritter (known for her role in the TV series Breaking Bad). However, the music video for this hit was directed by Brett Haley. “Holding On” is the quintessential song of The War on Drugs’ musicianship on the band’s fourth studio album A Deeper Understanding.
#5- An Ocean in Between the Waves
Lost in the Dream, the band’s third studio album is home to the fifth-best song by The War on Drugs on our list, “An Ocean in Between the Waves.” This fan-favorite track features some emotional (yet brilliant) synth tunes. Adam’s lyrical perspective on this song adds to its melancholic feel. Despite all the melancholy painted on this song, “An Ocean in Between the Waves” has turned out to be one of the most spellbinding tracks of all time by The War on Drugs.
#4- Pain
“Pain” is yet another impressive hit off the band’s fourth studio album A Deeper Understanding. The song was penned by Adam Granduciel who went ahead to reveal that “Pain” is an embittering narrative about the agony he underwent after an operation on his ruptured disc. Adam went ahead to describe the situation quoting that the excruciating pain came along with the inability to sit and do what he does best—play the guitar.
“Pain” made it to position forty-six on the Canadian Rock/Alternative Chart. The song also graced the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, peaking at number forty-nine. “Pain” was also a mainstream success in Belgium where it peaked at position twenty-four on the Ultratip Chart.
#3- Under the Pressure
“Under the Pressure” is by far the best song by The War on Drugs from the band’s third studio album Lost in the Dream. Spanning almost nine minutes, this album opener is also the longest song on Lost in the Dream. “Under the Pressure” made it to the nineteenth spot on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs Chart. The song also rose to the second spot on the Belgium Ultratip Chart.
#2- Thinking of a Place
The second pick on our ten best songs by The War on Drugs is the great hit “Thinking of a Place.” “Thinking of a Place” was the first single off the band’s Grammy Award-winning album A Deeper Understanding. The song features backing vocals by Louise Hayat and Paloma Gill of the folk-pop act The Dove & The Wolf. “Thinking of a Place” made it to the tenth spot on the UK Physical Singles Sales Chart and the eleventh spot on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales Chart.
#1- Red Eyes
Number one on our ten best songs by The War on Drugs is the alluring hit “Red Eyes.” The song is the brightest pick off the band’s third studio album Lost in the Dream. We have to admit that “Red Eyes” is quite a surprise pick for some. However, with “Red Eyes” amassing over one hundred and twenty-five million streams on Spotify (followed by “Under the Pressure” with over fifty-five million streams), the song undoubtedly deserves its spot.
“Red Eyes” was issued as the lead single to the band’s third studio album. Anthony Zagarella (Known for his work with Laser Background and Ape School) was tasked with directing the music video for this hit. “Red Eyes” made it to the forty-eighth spot on the Mexico Ingles Airplay Chart, peaking at number thirty-seven on the Belgium Ultratop Chart
Top 10 The War On Drugs Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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