Bucky's Top 17 Sevendust Songs

Hi everyone,
I've been on a bit of a writing kick lately. As some of you probably already know, I started doing some freelance writing a few months back. I've written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics. Some of them have involved music and coming up with a greatest hits list of songs by different artists.

It's always hard for me to narrow down an artist's work to just ten songs, because there are so many other deserving tracks that just narrowly miss the cut. When it comes to my favorite band Sevendust, there's no way I could possibly pare my list down to just ten songs! I decide to come up with this list of 17 songs for the following reasons. Enjoy!

17. Waffle - Home. A gritty song with another positive message. It makes me think about how important it is to have something to keep me going when I'm going through a lot in life. It's also a killer track when played live!

16. Dirty - All I See Is War. Producer Elvis Baskette helped the band continue to evolve their sound, and this was the first song that most of us heard that showcases that. It's not aggressive as some of their older albums, but it still rocks hard. This tune really gets all five members of the band involved in the vocals and put all of their musical talents in the spotlight.

15. Pieces - Next. This one usually gets the people in the pit riled up at their shows. It's a fast-paced, fun song that has also been used to open their sets at different times. I love the energy that the band and their fans give off when this one's played live!

14. Hope - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow. Some people have panned this album as being Sevendust's weakest effort. I enjoyed this one just as much as all of their other albums. This song in particular really stands out for me. I love the contrast between Lajon's soulful vocals and Morgan's intense screams. They really balance each other out rather well and handle the different emotions that the song encompasses.

13. Too Close to Hate - Sevendust. This was one of the first Sevendust songs that I really started to enjoy. The dark undertone of the guitars and lyrics really kept my attention after listening to the album a few times. It's been one of my favorite tracks for well over a decade.

12.  Decay - Black Out The Sun. This album took Sevendust in a new direction musically, and it was one that a lot of us fans really enjoyed. The percussive style of the guitars meshes seamlessly with Morgan's drums. Even the lyrics have a bit of percussion to them.

11.Sickness - All I See Is War. The first song from the newest album that I was drawn to. Everything about this song is sick: the lyrics, Morgan's screams. and that incredible guitar solo during the bridge! Another subtle message about people who have done others wrong.

10. Live Again - Animosity. Another powerful song from Animosity with an inspiring message. One of only two songs on the album that I haven't heard the band play live yet. (The other is T.O.A.B.) It gives hope to people who are at their lowest point. LJ's extended vocal during the outro is amazing, too!

9. Corrected - Scorpion King soundtrack. Vinny's opening bass line is what initially drew me in to this song. It's a soundtrack song that could have easily been included on Animosity or Seasons. A rare gem that would be wonderful to hear live one of these days.

8. Driven - Alpha. Alpha is such a heavy, aggressive album and "Driven" is a prime example of that. It's been a very motivating song for me when I've been stuck in a rut. It keeps me going and moving toward my goals.

7. Shine - Animosity. I love the positive message in this song. I'm glad the guys have brought this tune back into their sets in recent years. "Trying to find myself" really has been "the hardest thing I've ever done" sometimes. Another tune that flat-out rocks from my favorite Sevendust album, and one of my favorite records of all-time.

6. Gone - Time Travelers and Bonfires. The original version on Seasons is good, but the reworked acoustic version is my TTBF jam! I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it. Lajon's vocals are crisp and I love how they mixed in some electric guitar. After I heard it for the first time, I thought to myself, now,  THAT's how you rock an acoustic song!"

5. Thank You - Kill The Flaw. I've heard this song at my last 11 Sevendust concerts in a row, and I'm perfectly fine with that. It brings me back to the Kill The Flaw listening party I attended at Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey a few years ago and the magnificent weekend I had, getting to see the guys play live three times in three days on the East Coast. It also reminds me of all the great family members and friends that I'm very fortunate to have in my life.

4. Face to Face - Seasons. A great "fuck you" song that's a big middle finger to anyone who's ever screwed you over in life. Lots of anger in this song, and Morgan's lyrics are brutal. I usually sing along to his lyrics alone when I'm rockin' out to this song in my car. The "swing batta batta swing" lyrics also remind me of all the times I've talked baseball with Morgan after shows. It's a perfect track for those days when you're pissed off by what someone did to you, no matter if it was today or ten years ago. It's no wonder that Sevendust usually ends their encore with this one. It epitomizes the pent-up feelings that a lot of us have had at one time or another.

3. Angel's Son - Animosity. The song was written as a loving tribute for their fellow musician Lynn Strait from the band Snot, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident several years ago. The song took on new meaning for me at my first Sevendust show. That was the night that LJ's brother lost his life. The guys continued on with an abbreviated but powerful set that included this song. Since then, this has been my go-to song every time I hear of a friend or family member who has passed away. I can't help but get goosebumps when Clint sings "I know you never said goodbye, I had so much left to say" during his second chorus. An inspiring song that gives me hope and strength every time I hear it.

2. Denial - Home. This is unquestionably one of the best metal drum songs ever! Morgan kills it on the kit, which is why I was upset when I saw that the official music video for this track cuts his spectacular solo. The lyrics "the more you spit out your mouth, the less I believe" also remind me of certain people that I no longer associate with. A very heavy song that should be in any Sevendust playlist.

1. Black - Sevendust. This is the first song off of Sevendust's self-titled 1997 debut, and was also the very first song that I heard them play live back in 2002. The band sometimes leads off their sets with this tune, and it's very easy to see why. The iconic guitar riff and rhythms throughout keep me banging my head along with every note. The lyrics "I'm minding my own business, I ain't doin' nothing wrong" are also how I try to live my life.

These are my top 17 Sevendust songs right now. The first four are set in stone, but the rest vary depending on the day and the kind of mood I'm in. I could have easily listed another 20-30 songs or more, but I wanted to keep this list relatively short, because I didn't want to bore you guys. I may do a top list of Sevendust moments, but that'll have to wait until after my next Sevendust concerts this spring. May is shaping up to be a busy month!

That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!