Top 10 Best The Pretty Reckless Songs

It's easy to forget that before Taylor Momsen was belting out anthems of angst and fire, she was best known as a child actress who played Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That is, until The Pretty Reckless broke through in 2010 with "Make Me Wanna Die" and completely rewired her public image.

You didn't just hear that debut single. You felt it in your bones. The snarling vocals. The unapologetic grit. The brooding lyrics. It was like a Molotov cocktail tossed straight into the sanitized pop-rock landscape.

Formed in New York City, The Pretty Reckless quickly found their footing in hard rock with a mix of sultry menace, heavy riffs, and melodic hooks. Unlike many acts that fade after a fiery start, they kept turning up the voltage.

From Light Me Up through Death by Rock and Roll, and into the newer material that followed, the band has continued pushing its sound forward. Sometimes darker. Sometimes cleaner. But never so polished that the raw edge gets sanded off. They do not just lean into the chaos. They light a cigarette and dance in it.

So now the question is, which songs rise to the top of this storm? You get to decide. Scroll through the list, crank up the volume, and vote for the ones that leave the biggest crater.

The Top Ten

Make Me Wanna Die

It's a song that people can connect to, and I believe that's what makes it so fantastic. That is apart from the fantastic vocals, the catchy beats, and the touching lyrics.

This is a very good song with meaningful lyrics and great riffs that combined make you truly feel what Momsen feels when she is singing it.

Heard it first on the track list of the "KICKASS" movie and never stopped thereafter. The best rock song sung ever by a female!
Just Tonight

I can't stop listening to this song! It is amazing and has some meaningful words when you listen carefully. I just love the song in general. It's full of emotion, and you can relate to it. This song is perfect, as is the band!

So full of emotion! I really, really love it. Especially when she is singing it live - you can feel how she really means it.

Totally awesome song! I had listened to it! Truly a meaningful song that can touch the heart!
House On a Hill

This song has such a powerful message. It had me shaking when I first listened to it. It shows how the world is falling apart and how we should at least try to change what is happening now before it's too late.

God, this song should be number 1! The lyrics are so powerful and inspiring. Her voice is so emotional, and it has the power to calm me down every time I'm mad or sad. Good job, Taylor!

My favorite song. I was literally shaking the first time I listened to it. It makes me feel something that not all songs do, and for me, this one should be the first one. It is emotional and amazingly sung.
Heaven Knows

This song is the first song I've ever heard by these guys, and it's so catchy. It should be in the top 5 at least! It's awesome.

I'm 50 years old, and Pretty Reckless is an awesome band! I'd put her up there with Ozzy! Rock on, girl!

Why is this here? I love TPR, and I think this is one of their better songs. Please give it a listen! You won't regret it.
Miss Nothing

I love this song so much! It's got the strong bass, amazingly played drums, the rhythmic guitar, and don't forget the awesome lyrics made and sung by the fabulous Taylor Momsen.

I could listen to this song all day and not get tired of it. The chorus alone makes this song all worth it.

This song is so meaningful and surely should be first. Man, with this song, I feel like I am free.
Under the Water

I cannot explain how meaningful this song is to me. The essence of Taylor Momsen is to tell a tragedy and make it real. Not all the time does one find someone who can actually share agony, but she did it. In some way, you can feel that she's trying to get free from some kind of curse.

Truly beautiful! Under the Water is the reason why I'm still alive. The fact that a song with so much emotion can make someone feel understood and stop someone from ending it all is enough to call it one of the best songs by The Pretty Reckless. It's so dear to me that I even have the lyrics tattooed on my arm for all to see.
You

This song is really sad when you listen to the lyrics. When I first heard it, I didn't even give it a chance since it sounded like one of those cheesy, slow, boring songs, but it's actually really good. It feels like they're describing the way I feel.

My favorite song from The Pretty Reckless, very meaningful song. So beautiful, I listen to it at night when I'm in bed depressed, when I miss someone, or when I've had a bad day. This makes me think a lot about everything. Simply amazing as the band!

"You" is an absolute gem. It's such a surprise that such a heavy rock band would be able to put out such a sweet and beautiful ballad. Taylor's voice shines like a diamond, so smooth and so sweet. Again, this is the same woman who sang "Going to Hell" and "Why'd You Bring a Shotgun to the Party?" How does her voice sound so smooth here! This song always makes me want to cry and smile at the same time.
Zombie

I just love this song! I mean, the lyrics are so true. When I heard this song and knew the lyrics, I just loved it, and I feel so identified. (Sorry for my bad English.)

It's the perfect apocalypse song! Besides Monster though (The Automatic).

Every time I'm pissed or simply feel like a zombie, this song right here is the one I rock out to.
Going to Hell

Honestly, I think this is their best song. The lyrics, the vocals, the guitars, the riffs - everything makes this song awesome. Thank The Pretty Reckless for bringing back rock and roll!

The first song I ever heard from this band, I found them by accident. I was a fan from then on. And Taylor in that video, man, she was smoking hot!

A great rocking song from start to finish. Gets the message out from the get-go: "Father did you miss me..."
My Medicine

What? This song deserves a place in the top 10. It's the very first song I heard by The Pretty Reckless, and I've been hooked on the song since then. In fact, I'm listening to this song right now and typing along with the rhythm of this song. Laugh out loud.

This song is so damned sexy. Well, The Pretty Reckless in general is. But somebody mixed my medicine. Just listen to it.

Amazing song, great lyrics, vocals, and backup! This definitely is one of my favorite songs!

The Newcomers

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For I Am Death
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And So It Went

The Contenders

Since You're Gone

Great breakup song. Really empowering girl power!

I've been looking for a new direction anyway.
Follow Me Down

Simply amazing. Honestly, my favorite song at the moment. This deserves to be higher. It just sums up the band so well.

Just one of their best songs. I can't wait to hear their second album, Going to Hell. It will be amazing.
Goin' Down
Sweet Things

Hey there, little girl, come inside. I've got some SWEET THINGS.
The drums and the guitar combined with Taylor Momsen's breathtaking vocals make this their best song. I understand why it's not in the top ten, though. A lot of people haven't listened to Going to Hell yet.
Why'd You Bring a Shotgun to the Party

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe this is so far down. It deserves at least to be in the top 5.

Definitely deserves to be higher on this list!
Light Me Up

One of my favorite songs from them. It's a song about being yourself, accepting who you are, and the way you are. I just love it!
Kill Me

This is such an amazing song. The instrumental and Taylor's voice are just completely and utterly orgasmic, to be quite honest. I love it so much.
F****** Up World

People need to see the music video for this!

Many could say it is too pervy. It is. But it doesn't matter since it's so good.
Factory Girl
Nothing Left to Lose

This is no doubt the most beautiful of all their songs. I catch myself singing it under my breath, getting weird looks from everyone around me for singing so passionately while we're, like, going over homework or something in class. I know I enjoy this one more than any of the other songs, though they're really great too, especially "Under the Water," "He Loves You," and "Kill Me."
I love their music so much! Powerful lyrics (at least in the songs I like) and seriously fantastic music in all of their songs. I'd recommend this particular song to anyone, even people who usually don't listen to this type of music. That's why I think this song is best. It still has that funky beat and interesting strong lyrics, yet it's "normal" enough for anyone to enjoy it. Great song. If you haven't heard it, look it up ASAP!
Only You

This song is everything that a TPR song should be: bone-crushing intro riff, breathtaking vocals, and the emotional bridge. Strongly suggest you give this song a listen. It has a very unique electronic sound mixed in with the intro riff and can be very moving at some points in the song.

The first song I've ever listened to by Taylor. It has a nice touch of a beginner feel.
Far From Never
Absolution

One of my all-time favorite songs in general, not just by The Pretty Reckless. It's a rock masterpiece and should be #1.

Awesome. Play it over and over again. Rocks.

Why is it so low? Must be like #1 or #2 at least.
Panic

Amazing. I seriously think this song should have been on the CD. Don't get me wrong, the ones that did make the cut are also good, but this one should have at least been a bonus track or something.

Best song ever. I'm so addicted to it.

I'm so addicted to this, oh my god. I can't even... TPR is such an amazing band.
The Walls are Closing in / Hangman