Top Ten Imagine Dragons Songs
Imagine Dragons is one of my favorite bands, with their mix of stadium and indie rock and massive sound that is always anthemic. They've had a good number of mainstream hits over only three albums, including Radioactive, Believer, Demons, and It's Time, and the most Hot Rock song chart appearances of any band. While they have had some pretty mixed music(Dancing In The Dark, I'm looking at you), the majority of it is very good or has some redeemable qualities.
10- Gold
Gold is the best representation of Smoke+Mirrors- dark, anthemic, massive and slightly experimental. I would often find myself singing while walking down the street, and it easily could've gotten a higher place on this list except for its peculiar samples and overly used whammy pedal for the guitar. Another good thing is that it has an excellent video: very simple, of the band performing, and with just enough extra elements but not too many.
9- Shots
The third single for Smoke+Mirrors, this very energetic track mixes memorable lyrics with good but spotty guitar; the song conveys personal troubles that are often the themes of Imagine Dragons music without the over the top bombast and shouting of Radioactive and Rise Up but with more energy than the dragging Dream.
8- Roots
Released as a single after Smoke+Mirrors, this song quickly became a fan favorite, and for good reason. Mixing guitar, piano, and static-y drums and synths with a great song structure, this song feels very genuine in its departure from the darker style of Smoke+Mirrors.
7- Shots- Broiler Remix
This dance remix of Shots plays up Shots' good qualities- singable and anthemic lyrics, while changing a major setback, the spotty instrumentals into solid EDM keyboards that fit the song perfectly. It's just a masterful mix of meaning and feeling, well deserving of this spot.
6- Hear Me
Originally released in 2009, before It's Time and their record label deal, this song continues the style started with Curse in the Imagine Dragons EP that signaled the start or their stadium rock style that propelled them to stardom. The song starts off very well, with electronicized hip hop inspired drums and an infectious melody on the guitar. The lyrics are memorable if not a bit confusing(Reynolds asks if you can hear that he can't breathe), and the song continues to build on its excellent opening.
5- Mouth Of The River
With its great driving fuzzed out guitar through the swaggering well-written verses, chorus that mixes the new style of keyboards from Evolve with the older style of light guitar originally from Night Visions this song easily could've been the best song on Evolve. Its main trouble is that it kind of grounds out toward the end, only partially saved by the falsetto lines of "I'm going under".
4- I Bet My Life
The lead single for Smoke+Mirrors, this song was called Mumford and His 200 Gigantic Sons, a pretty apt description of Imagine Dragons taking a folksy approach to their classic gigantic drum and low volume guitar approach. The song has an excellent structure an meaningful lyrics about Dan Reynolds' issues with his parents, and a female backup vocalist that would've worked better if former keyboardist Brittany Tolman hadn't left the band.
3- Round And Round
Another crowd favorite, this song was originally included in the record label debut Continued Silence EP. This song is a masterfully crafted segue in to Indie Rock for Imagine Dragons, with an excellent riff, liberal use of a shaker, and well written lyrics that bring the song to a crescendo.
2- Whatever It Takes
The third and best single for Evolve, Whatever It Takes characterizes the style found on Evolve: semi rapping verses, anthem choruses, keyboard, and low volume guitar. The lyrics were instantly implanted in my head the first time I listened to it, and they're excellently written. The song effortlessly goes from a near whisper, to gigantic choruses that shake the rafters, and does both well.
1- Amsterdam
The fourth single for Night Visions, this song really should've broken in to the mainstream. Everything about it is excellent: the opening, the danceable guitar riff, the honest lyrics that are meaningful and well thought, and the structure. It's my all time favorite Imagine Dragons song, and displays every quality that makes them great.
10- Gold
Gold is the best representation of Smoke+Mirrors- dark, anthemic, massive and slightly experimental. I would often find myself singing while walking down the street, and it easily could've gotten a higher place on this list except for its peculiar samples and overly used whammy pedal for the guitar. Another good thing is that it has an excellent video: very simple, of the band performing, and with just enough extra elements but not too many.
9- Shots
The third single for Smoke+Mirrors, this very energetic track mixes memorable lyrics with good but spotty guitar; the song conveys personal troubles that are often the themes of Imagine Dragons music without the over the top bombast and shouting of Radioactive and Rise Up but with more energy than the dragging Dream.
8- Roots
Released as a single after Smoke+Mirrors, this song quickly became a fan favorite, and for good reason. Mixing guitar, piano, and static-y drums and synths with a great song structure, this song feels very genuine in its departure from the darker style of Smoke+Mirrors.
7- Shots- Broiler Remix
This dance remix of Shots plays up Shots' good qualities- singable and anthemic lyrics, while changing a major setback, the spotty instrumentals into solid EDM keyboards that fit the song perfectly. It's just a masterful mix of meaning and feeling, well deserving of this spot.
6- Hear Me
Originally released in 2009, before It's Time and their record label deal, this song continues the style started with Curse in the Imagine Dragons EP that signaled the start or their stadium rock style that propelled them to stardom. The song starts off very well, with electronicized hip hop inspired drums and an infectious melody on the guitar. The lyrics are memorable if not a bit confusing(Reynolds asks if you can hear that he can't breathe), and the song continues to build on its excellent opening.
5- Mouth Of The River
With its great driving fuzzed out guitar through the swaggering well-written verses, chorus that mixes the new style of keyboards from Evolve with the older style of light guitar originally from Night Visions this song easily could've been the best song on Evolve. Its main trouble is that it kind of grounds out toward the end, only partially saved by the falsetto lines of "I'm going under".
4- I Bet My Life
The lead single for Smoke+Mirrors, this song was called Mumford and His 200 Gigantic Sons, a pretty apt description of Imagine Dragons taking a folksy approach to their classic gigantic drum and low volume guitar approach. The song has an excellent structure an meaningful lyrics about Dan Reynolds' issues with his parents, and a female backup vocalist that would've worked better if former keyboardist Brittany Tolman hadn't left the band.
3- Round And Round
Another crowd favorite, this song was originally included in the record label debut Continued Silence EP. This song is a masterfully crafted segue in to Indie Rock for Imagine Dragons, with an excellent riff, liberal use of a shaker, and well written lyrics that bring the song to a crescendo.
2- Whatever It Takes
The third and best single for Evolve, Whatever It Takes characterizes the style found on Evolve: semi rapping verses, anthem choruses, keyboard, and low volume guitar. The lyrics were instantly implanted in my head the first time I listened to it, and they're excellently written. The song effortlessly goes from a near whisper, to gigantic choruses that shake the rafters, and does both well.
1- Amsterdam
The fourth single for Night Visions, this song really should've broken in to the mainstream. Everything about it is excellent: the opening, the danceable guitar riff, the honest lyrics that are meaningful and well thought, and the structure. It's my all time favorite Imagine Dragons song, and displays every quality that makes them great.
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