The Dear Hunter - Top 100 songs ranked
The result of the first Discography run contest, here is my complete ranking of the top 100 songs of The Dear Hunter. |
| 100 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
The Thief
Some very interesting instrumentation here. The more you listen, the more you hear in it. Some are hits, some are misses for me. |
| 99 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Smiling Swine
This song is a lot of fun, but also kinda corny and was never one of my favorites |
| 98 |  | The Dear Hunter
Red
I Couldn't Do It Alone
This could've been a song written by Queens of the Stone Age. This song is not really my jam tbh |
| 97 |  | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
This Vicious Place |
| 96 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Melpomene
A little average for TDH |
| 95 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
He Said He Had A Story
The first song that shows cracks in this album. The momentum gets lost a little and it feels like Casey felt a little out of inspiration. On it's own it is a pretty good song I guess, but after such a stellar first half, this comes out a little meh. |
| 94 |  | The Dear Hunter
Blue
What You Said |
| 93 | | The Dear Hunter
Red
Deny it All
I am not really a fan of the grunge aestatics on Red and it makes it one of my least favorite EP's of The Color Spectrum |
| 92 |  | The Dear Hunter
Black
This Body
The buildup is fantastic, but the chorus kinda ruins it from getting a much higher score |
| 91 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
The Kiss of Life |
| 90 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Cascade
A good song on its own, but not my favorite from Act V. There are quite a couple of better songs on here. |
| 89 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
The Poison Woman
Good jazzy song, but not one of the better ones from this album. It misses a certain manace in the music that's so clear in the lyrics. |
| 88 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Flame (is Gone)
Act V turns remarkably darker from this point onward. It keeps the second half of the album interesting, although the individual songs are not on par with the rest for me. I like the happy go-lucky TDH a little better I guess. That outro could come straight out of a dramatic western movie. |
| 87 | | The Dear Hunter
Red
A Curse of Cynicism |
| 86 | | The Dear Hunter
Black
Take More Than You Need
Apart from the directionless solo, this song is quite neat all around. |
| 85 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Shouting at the Rain |
| 84 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Shame
Nice middle of the pack song. Quality stuff, but not very memorable compared to a lot of others, and that's quite okey. Can't all be The Old Haunt ey guys.. |
| 83 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Regress
Another great intro. The theme is very dark and so are the lyrics, it's the start of spiral out of control for the protagonist and it's a very fitting start to the final chapter. |
| 82 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
Life and Death
Not as good a closer as VVV or Ouroboros, but still a satisfying close after a mostly lackluster second half. |
| 81 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
Writing on a Wall
Might be the best intro-song of the Act series. A lot of foreshadowing going on lyricly. |
| 80 |  | The Dear Hunter
Orange
Stuck on a Wire, Out on the Fence
This is fine. Nothing more, nothing less. Pure finecut blues-rock |
| 79 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Sweet Naivete
Nice ballad that I thought was going more places than its actually going |
| 78 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Bring You Down
My first contact with Migrant. Somehow I've never listened to this album before. But it's a great start! |
| 77 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
At the end of the Earth
When surrounded by such amazing songs like The Old Haunt/Waves/Remembered/NOTT this falls a little flat in comparison. It doesn't stem the flow of the album though, which is a big plus. |
| 76 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Black Sandy Beaches
Its really cool to have the 'ending credits' of Act II be from a persona outside of the story who finds these letters on the beach that tell a broken lovestory. |
| 75 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
The Church and the Dime
You think you'll get a balad, but no you don't, not in the classic sense of the word anyway. Vey rough song where you clearly hear Casey's post-hardcore/emo background |
| 74 |  | The Dear Hunter
Indigo
Therma
A short but sweet song that is just good from start to finish. |
| 73 | | The Dear Hunter
Blue
The Collapse of the Great Tide Cliffs |
| 72 |  | The Dear Hunter
Yellow
The Dead Don't Starve |
| 71 | | The Dear Hunter
Black
Never Forgive, Never Forget |
| 70 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Wait
Just good, but nothing special compared to the other jewels on this record. |
| 69 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Is There Anybody Here?
Not my favorite, but the guitar solo alone brings this up at least half a point. |
| 68 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act I: The Lake South, the River North
His Hands Matched His Tongue |
| 67 |  | The Dear Hunter
White
Lost But Not All Gone
The end of the road. And a very fitting end it is. White is pretty big sounding overall and this surely didn't change from that formula. |
| 66 |  | The Dear Hunter
Violet
Mr. Malum |
| 65 |  | The Dear Hunter
Green
Crow and Cackle |
| 64 | | The Dear Hunter
Yellow
A Sua Voz |
| 63 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Let Go
A welcome change of pace this far into the album. Great uptempo song |
| 62 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
If All Goes Well |
| 61 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Rebirth
Listen to 'Writing on the Wall' and then this, the comparisons are remarkable. Again a intro song that sets the stage really well. Everytime I hear this I get all the good vibes, for I love this record to death. |
| 60 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Dear Ms. Leading
I like the concept of this song, it being letters written to and from. A nice up-tempo song and a welcome chance of pace to keep the second half of Act II interesting. |
| 59 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
The Procession
Way better opening statement than the one from Act I. Great song, nice and rough around the edges |
| 58 | | The Dear Hunter
Act I: The Lake South, the River North
The Inquiry of Ms. Terri |
| 57 | | The Dear Hunter
White
No God
It really feels like the end of the color journey doesn't it. The song almost feels like the ending credits to a long journey. |
| 56 | | The Dear Hunter
Blue
Trapdoor |
| 55 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Bitter Suite I and II
So many themes in this song that are hints to things yet to come. Very musical-like song. Great stuff |
| 54 | | The Dear Hunter
Orange
But There's Wolves?
Another nice and groovy rocktrack from Orange. Great EP all in all |
| 53 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
An Escape
I'm baffled by how consistent TDH is. |
| 52 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Blood
My least favorite from Act V. That's what I thought. For the longest time it didn't grab me at all. But now, doing this run it clicks. It's the dramatic climax for the protagonist after such a long journey and music does reflect it quite perfectly. |
| 51 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Vital Vessals Vindicate
Everytime I hear this song it makes me want to dive straight into the next album. It's a great closer that sets the stage perfectly for Act III. A lot of themes from the first two acts come back in this which is great for the attentative listener. That final piano melody that gets replayed at the end of Act V (and someplace else but can't remember where) is a stroke of genius. |
| 50 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Where the Road Parts
Such a bluesy intro solo. Very emotional and angry song that resonates quite well with me. It's a bit formless maybe, but it grips me. |
| 49 | | The Dear Hunter
Indigo
What Time Taught Us
So different from the rest that they've done. Closest that comes to this is The Moon/Awake in its dark electronic elements. |
| 48 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Girl
One of the better songs from Migrate. The female vocals are a welcome addition and this rocks |
| 47 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
The Oracles on the Delphi Express
I normally really dislike tempo buildups/buildoffs but here it really works to give that sense of a train picking up speed. The choirs are really well done and the song itself has a nice country/americana vibe to it that I really like. |
| 46 | | The Dear Hunter
White
Fall and Flee
I'm near the end of my journey while writing this, white being the last of the EP's and after this I'm done. It's come to mind more than before how rediculessly consistent the quality of TDH's music is. The fact that they managed to write so few downright 'bad' songs in a collected 115 songs is something very few bands can boast. |
| 45 | | The Dear Hunter
Green
The Inheritance
Gorgeous little song that gets better with repeated listens. Fits the Green theme so well. |
| 44 | | The Dear Hunter
Violet
Too Late
The placing right behind Lillian makes an unfair rating an easy pitfall, but don't disregard this song. |
| 43 | | The Dear Hunter
Indigo
Progress
The start of this feels like a synthwave song is coming on. It really stays more as a ambient piece, but such a imaginative and cinematic one at that |
| 42 | | The Dear Hunter
Green
The Canopy
Just a good time at a summer campfire |
| 41 | | The Dear Hunter
Yellow
She's Always Singing
This really gives me a 60's pop vibe and that was probably the idea. Goes to show how incredibly versatile this band really is. |
| 40 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The March
A great song, but just a little bit overrated imo. It's easy to love it because of the bridge harking back to The Old Haunt. The rest of the song is certainly good, but not as good as some others on this same album. Credited though, the bridge and outro certainly kicks the verdict up a notch. |
| 39 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Bitter Suite VI |
| 38 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
This Beautiful Life
Papadapadaaa, pa pa pah pa pah pa |
| 37 | | The Dear Hunter
Act I: The Lake South, the River North
The Pimp and the Priest
This was the first time where TDH showed their true diversity. A nice little shuffle with dark themes and interesting hooks and melodies |
| 36 | | The Dear Hunter
White
Home
A very personal piece with a gorgeous piano melody and a great soaring chorus. |
| 35 | | The Dear Hunter
Violet
Look Away
The perfect soundtrack to a ballroom murder mystery dinner party. |
| 34 | | The Dear Hunter
Indigo
Mandala
This might be the weirdest TDH song, along with 'The Thief'. |
| 33 | | The Dear Hunter
Yellow
Misplaced Devotion
Such an infection song from the second it kicks in. Pure summer brightness. |
| 32 | | The Dear Hunter
Green
Things That Hide Away
I love green. It's one of my favorite EP's of The Color Spectrum. The folksy elements are so well done that I can't help but smile every time it comes on. |
| 31 | | The Dear Hunter
Orange
Echo
Orange comes out of the gate very strong with this one. Very happy groovy tune with a lot of good nervous energy and a great guitar solo. |
| 30 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Light
Their sweetest ballad in the act series. So touching and sweet and relatable. |
| 29 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
King of Swords
The oddball on this album, but still a really fun song that's a true earworm. Holy crap! I just now notice that the guitar melody in the end the exact same is from The Most Cursed of Hands (Act V). Goes to show how much depth is in these albums when I can still find new things after listening to it literally more than 100 times. |
| 28 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
In Cauda Venenum
Fun and energetic. Great song |
| 27 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Line
This song moves me. Nuf said. |
| 26 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Bitter suite IV and V
Another amazing addition to Act IV. Each Act seems to have one song above others that's very musical inspired, and for Act IV this is it. Great orchestration throughout and a nice catchy chorus. |
| 25 | | The Dear Hunter
Blue
Tripping in Triplets
If you are in the mood for a lazy, melancholic song that almost falls apart but keeps it all slowly together, this is your jam. I was super in the mood for it when it came by and love it! |
| 24 | | The Dear Hunter
Migrant
Whisper
Yes, yes yes! This is really great. I was a little afraid that Migrant couldn't be of the same quality as the act series or the Color Spectrum, but this song already proves me wrong. |
| 23 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
Saved
Such a sweet, beautiful ballad. Sadly, after this and a fantastic first half, Act III really goes downhill for me. This should've been a long EP until this song and it would have been 4.5/5 worthy. |
| 22 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Red Hands
The centrepoint of Act II and the emotional climax in many ways. It shows in the way Casey delivers the vocals and the bittersweet, almost melancholical melodies. |
| 21 | | The Dear Hunter
Black
Filth and Squalor
Such a strong statement that TDH can make incredible songs outside of their canon story. |
| 20 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Gloria
Damn Act V just keeps on giving doesn't it. I think Act IV might have higher highs, but god if Act V doesn't win in consistency. So many great and memorable songs here. |
| 19 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Moon / Awake
There is so much to love in this song. The dark electronics, the catchy chorus, the epic buildup in the bridge. The foreshadowing of the melody that's going to end it all in the last song is like giving the answer to the riddle without knowing there's a riddle yet, which I find amazing. |
| 18 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Ouroboros
Such a fantastic ending to a fantastic record. It's a firm statement on its own, but also sets the stage for Act V perfectly. |
| 17 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
What it Means to be Alone
One of my favorites, the sweeping beauty. The chorus is so moving and sweet. Love it |
| 16 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Mr. Usher
TDH going full on Sinatra. I love this style of music to begin with, and everything they do here is infused with shiploads of fun. |
| 15 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
The Squeaky Wheel
Ah, this one is so much fun. Happy go lucky and really inspired melodies and flow. 'Someone who could lift you when your LOOWWWWW' |
| 14 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Haves Have Naught
Perhaps their most musical influenced song, complete with duet style vocal counterpoints near the end building to a climax. Might not be an obvious choice, but I love this song. |
| 13 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Remembered
My favorite TDH ballad so far as I remember at the time of writing. So sweet and almost disney-like in all the right ways. Love it |
| 12 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
The Tank
That intro is so manacing and perfectly captures how its gotta be being a soldier in WWI seeing a tank for the first time. Song is groovy, angry and sad at the same time. What an amazing song! |
| 11 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Revival
CATCHY…. SO FRICKING CATCHY!!! Sing with me 'HEYYY… IT'S A CRY YOU CAN'T CONTAIN!' |
| 10 | | The Dear Hunter
Act I: The Lake South, the River North
1878
The Pinnacle of Act I. I love this piece |
| 9 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Waves
God what a beauty eh guys. This is how you do pop/indie songs right. |
| 8 | | The Dear Hunter
Violet
Lillian
By far the best song from the entire Color Spectrum series and the only non act song in my top 10. I'm not gonna explain why its amazing, just listen to it, you'll know. |
| 7 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
The Lake and the River
Owh how I love that intro melody (comes back in Act IV right before waves). This song is amazing, so beautiful and lush yet dark at the same time. YOU'LL BELIEEEVE.. WHAT YOU'RE MEANT TO BELIEEEVE |
| 6 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Fire (Remains)
Quite a bit better than The Flame (is Gone) which is its companion. A song that's easy to overlook with all the amazing songs on Act V, but this one is a dark beauty on its own that gets better with every listen. Its also a song that gets better in context. I have no idea how someone would rate this who doesn't know the story or the music of TDH. |
| 5 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
A Beginning
The emotional conclusion to a fantastic ride. This song gives me shivers every single time. The first time I heard the ending it genuinely moved me on a deeply personal level. The death of the main character and his moving (or back, however you want to put it) to his home at the river and the lake is beautifully poetic in its own right, but pair it with the themes from the earlier acts and it gets deeply satisfying and bittersweet, almost heartbreaking. |
| 4 | | The Dear Hunter
Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
The Most Cursed of Hands / Who Am I?
Ah damn the second that guitar starts you know shit's gonna go down. It builds so slowly until it goes all out in a bonanza of outlaw-country rock goodness with juice for days. |
| 3 | | The Dear Hunter
Act III: Life and Death
Mustard Gas
Maybe the most epic TDH song and one of my absolute favorites. From the very first second it comes in guns blazing. The themes that get re-used also adds another layer to the whole thing. |
| 2 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
The Old Haunt
My first contact with TDH, and first loves die hard. The Old Haunt delivers on every level. Close to perfect song and that buildup near the end still gives me shivers. |
| 1 | | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
A Night on the Town
Is this the pinnacle of what The Dear Hunter is capable of? Maybe, but they are so incredibly consistent that I think they might even top this in the future. As it stands it's clearly one of the high watermarks of their carreer. Jazz, rock, uptempo, soaring, slow, emotional, recurring themes from all the other albums, this has it all and more. |
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