When legendary…emo (?) / pop-punk (??) / grunge (???) / whatever-the-fuck band Balance And Composure announced their disbanding and played their at-the-time final shows back in 2019, I was left completely heartbroken. Balance And Composure is my favorite band ever, and were a staple of my youth, so hearing that we would never again hear new music from the band was an incredibly difficult pill to swallow. The band has so many unique aspects that make them special, from their signature ambient, reverb-y lead guitars, to singer Jon Simmons’ distinct melancholic vocal delivery, to their incredibly raw lyricism. I’ve found something to love in every single one of their releases, and still listen to each of them regularly today.
So then, you can imagine my shock and excitement upon hearing about their 2023 reunion, which came alongside the premiere of two brand new songs with the Too Quick To Forgive EP. These songs were absolutely fantastic, and set the standard for what this new era of Balance and Composure would sound like. And now, with the release of their brand new 2024 LP With You In Spirit, it all still feels like a wild fever dream that the band is even back in the first place. With the new album just days away, now feels like a better time than any to count down my top 25 Balance And Composure songs of all time. Let’s do it.
25. Rope
From Balance And Composure / Tigers Jaw Split (2010)
Kicking off the list with a banger. I like to view Balance’s batch of songs on their 2010 split with Tiger Jaw as ‘Separation before it was Separation’, and I feel Rope is a solid representation of that notion. It’s a showing of the band at their most angst-ridden, with distorted grunge grooves and melodic yells. This song in particular is a wondrous tug-of-war between over-the-top, fuzz-laden riff barrages, and wavy, spacious plucks, making for a dynamic experience that lingers for just the correct amount of time. It’s not the best song on this project (I’ll get into that one later), but it’s a kickass groove that doesn’t always get the love it deserves.
24. Keepsake
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
Spoiler alert: you’re going to see a lot of Balance And Composure’s masterpiece of a sophomore album The Things We Think We’re Missing on this list. Man, there’s just something psychedelic about the guitar work on Keepsake’s chorus that I really adore. The reverb-soaked leads make it feel as if you’re listening to the band perform in a massive cave, while vocalist Jon Simmons’ gloomy vocal delivery barrages the hillside with rain just outside. On any other album, this might be my favorite song, but this is The Things We Think We’re Missing we’re talking about here; there is still much to discuss.
23. Afterparty
From Light We Made (2016)
The tone of Afterparty is one of urgency, anxiousness, and gloom, with its The Cure-esque guitars and longing vocal melodies painting a bleak portrait of sorrow. For such a fast-paced a song, there really is just something so somber about it. Nonetheless, Afterparty is a catchy jam that burrows deep into your brain like a worm. This is actually one that I wasn’t totally in love with when it initially dropped as a single, however, it has grown on me a ton, and now stands as one of my most listened to songs from the band’s third LP Light We Made.
22. I Tore You Apart In My Head
From Separation (2011)
You probably expected this to be higher up on the list, didn’t you? Wrong! Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t the best song from Balance And Composure’s debut LP Separation, but that isn’t to say it’s not a god damn classic. This is the song that gets the crowds moving at shows, with its massive scream-along chorus and angsty lyricism. I mean, “fuck what you told me, it all leads to smoking alone in my room in the end”? Come on! It’s not just the choruses, though; the guitars on those verses are downright breathtaking, and the song’s finale section is sonically stunning as well. It’s a beloved song for a reason, and it still holds up extremely well thirteen years later.
21. With You In Spirit
From With You In Spirit (2024)
If you would have asked me two years ago if we’d ever be listening to a new Balance And Composure record again, I would have said the odds weren’t in our favor… and yet, here we are. With You In Spirit stands as some of the band’s best work, as if they never even left at all. 37 minutes of gloomy melancholy perfectly culminates into the album’s titular track, With You In Spirit. It’s an excellent cut of Balance Beef™, showcasing buzzing bass grooves, mournful, plucky guitars, and a dejected vocal delivery, topped with a wonderfully catchy chorus that will have you coming back over and over for more.
20. You Can’t Fix Me
From Split (2013)
Man, there is just something about the production on You Can’t Fix Me that’s so full of grit and rawness. The song’s chorus in particular is spectacular, being more subdued and gloomy on its first occurrence, and then more energetic and rock-y throughout the remainder of the song’s run time. It’s a beautifully written cut with some of Jon Simmons’ best vocal melodies, but that being said, it would be much higher up if the bridge section didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. It’s a fine bridge, but it just feels a bit out of place here. Regardless, this song rocks.
19. Savior Mode
From Too Quick To Forgive (2023)
There is just nothing that can encapsulate the ecstasy of going on social media and seeing that your favorite band of all time has been resurrected from the dead, but this song does a pretty damn good job. I will admit, when I learned that Balance was back with new music, I was apprehensive. “What if it sucks?” I asked myself, before hitting play on Savior Mode. Luckily, this song put those fears to bed fast. I mean, the guitar leads on the song’s verses are so god damn catchy that I still find myself humming them, even a year later. The song also features some truly heartbreaking lyricism, depicting a very personal situation that vocalist Jon Simmons experienced with his estranged father. This cut was a swift kick in the ass to anyone who doubted the band’s return, and very easily stands as one of their better songs.
18. Echo
From Separation (2011)
Echo is a sonic downpour, with vibrant imagery of fog rolling off of the soaked pavement, and a thick blanket of clouds blocking the sun from illuminating the landscape. The wistful, doom-and-gloom guitar strums and down-trotted singing brings the song to a deeper level of sadness, encapsulated with lines like “the world that I know never had a care for me.” This cut in particular is a true vocal highlight of Balance and Composure’s catalog, both in songwriting and performance. The clicky, rhythmic drums and subtle piano only intensify the atmosphere brought forward by Echo, bringing the song to a magnificent level of greatness.
17. Call It Losing Touch
From Light We Made (2016)
I often go back and forth as to whether this or another yet-unmentioned song is the best song from the band’s third full length album, but for now, I’m happy where Call It Losing Touch has landed on this list. The main guitar riff on this thing is so ‘80s, and I absolutely adore it. The song’s chorus is also a highlight moment for this entire record, transitioning the song from booming, bombastic drums to more subtle electronic touches, as well as wonderfully catchy vocals. Will Yip’s production work is especially of note on this track, with every instrument sitting perfectly within the mix.
16. Ain’t It Sweet
From With You In Spirit (2024)
Despite its entrancing, reserved vocal passages, Ain’t It Sweet is certainly one of the heavier songs of the modern era of Balance And Composure, almost sounding like something that would easily fit in on 2013’s The Things We Think We’re Missing. While I do wish that vocalist Jon Simmons would have reprised the raspy yells of old B&C with this cut, the song remains a fantastic showing of energetic, punk-y grunge, with its tidal wave chorus and gargantuan bridge finale, which features one of Simmons’ coolest melodies to date.
15. Any Means
From With You In Spirit (2024)
Any Means sees the return of the signature ‘raininess’ that was a staple of Balance And Composure’s younger records, with its staccato acoustic plucks, somber vocal melodies, and spacious, reverb-y chorus. The latter is the true highlight of the song, hitting the tear ducts like a sonic freight train. There is an intrinsic nostalgic sense of longing that blankets the instrumental of Any Means, instantly making it one of the most noteworthy post-hiatus songs from the band.
14. Patience
From Separation (2011)
Man, it hurts not having this song higher, given just how much I listen to it on a regular basis, but that just goes to show the level of what’s to come. Patience is an explosion of emotional catharsis, with distorted, heavy guitars and slick bass grooves. This song is also an example of the ‘Separation formula’ done masterfully, with the song structure being typical of this album in being back and forth between explosive heaviness and deep, layered clean sections. I really do wish that I could put it higher…maybe this time I’ve really lost my mind.
13. Postcard
From Light We Made (2016)
Yeah, that’s right. Postcard is the best song off of Light We Made, and one of Balance And Composure’s best songs ever. There actually was a time that I even cited this as my personal favorite B&C song, but after years worth of repeat listens, I’ve burnt myself out on it just a tad. Regardless, the instrumental arrangement on this thing is just…masterpiece level good. The electronic drums were a brilliant choice for this song, blending seamlessly with the cut’s poppier tone. Postcard proves that there can be perfection in simplicity; there’s a lot of repeated parts here and basic melodies, but it just works. It’s unbelievably catchy, and in that, is also unbelievably memorable. And yet somehow, it still doesn’t even crack my top 10.
12. Closer To God
From With You In Spirit (2024)
From the moment you hear that seductive, shoegaze-y intro guitar lick, you’ll be hooked. If I could use one word to encapsulate this song, it would be ‘impactful’. There’s so many huge moments all over this track, whether it be the way verse kicks in from the intro, or the explosive, cathartic chorus, or the biting, anti-religion lyrical snaps. It’s a song that I can easily relate to, having grown up in religion myself, only to fall out of it during my teenage years. It’s hard not to feel the bitter, resentful jealousy of those who find solace in a god, and Closer To God perfectly captures those emotions.
11. Burdens
From Balance And Composure / Tigers Jaw Split (2010)
Burdens is straight-up so unbelievably fantastic that it’s truly difficult to conceive that it was among Balance And Composure’s earliest material. The band doesn’t have a lot of ‘angry’ songs, but this one certainly fits the bill; intertwining chunky, distorted power chords with an almost bluegrass-esque recurring lead riff. It’s a mixture that doesn’t sound like it would work on paper, but somehow, it just does. This all culminates into a gargantuan build up and payoff finale, with the auditory atmosphere of being lit on fire. “You’ve destroyed so many lives and now it’s your turn” is such a bitter and resentful lyric that perfectly encapsulates the tone of this kickass song.
10. Believe The Hype
From With You In Spirit (2024)
Oh, I believe the hype alright. It’s just…an instant classic for Balance. Believe The Hype has just about everything you could want out of a Balance and Composure song. The song flows between watery, shoegaze verses, a grand chorus with deliciously roomy leads, and one of the best bridge finales the band has ever written. Seriously, that bridge; my god. The booming war drums interlaced with somber leads and fuzz-filled, gritty bass, all highlighted by the return of yell-style singing, it’s just perfection. You heard that right, Believe The Hype is a perfect song.
9. Quake
From Separation (2011)
You wanna talk big choruses? Quake has one of the biggest, with steamrolling guitars marrying perfectly with Jon Simmons’ over the top screamed delivery. The guitar work on this track is especially of note, featuring one of the band’s most iconic guitar riffs to date. The lyricism on this song is poetic masterclass as well; the chorus says it all—“Take a look at what’s beneath your feet / Flowers that once made you smile have turned to stone / And now they’re grinding down your teeth.” Beautiful. This track is only my second favorite from the band’s debut album (we’ll talk about my top pick shortly), but it is my favorite heavier song from the album, quite easily.
8. Enemy
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
Funny story about this song—for years, and I mean years, I had no idea that the final bridge section of Enemy even existed. I had stupidly thought that the song ended with a fade out of that last guitar riff. So then, years later when I finally managed to listen to the song in full, Enemy was elevated even further on my list, and it was almost like rediscovering the song all over again. This track is a melancholic rainstorm in auditory format, leaving you feeling like you just want to go sit outside in the pouring rain and wallow in your sadness. The chorus is gorgeously bleak and chock full of a beautiful, lingering ambience that keeps you coming back for more cry sessions. If there was any way to perfectly send off a masterpiece of an album, Balance and Composure managed to hit the nail on the head as best as they could with Enemy.
7. Parachutes
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
Now that we’ve discussed how The Things We Think We’re Missing ends, let’s now touch on how it begins, with the fiery, gnarled yell-fest that is Parachutes. If you hear the notes of the intro guitar riff start playing in a live setting, just know you’re in for it, and you should likely seek safety. There’s not a lot of songs in the emo / alt-rock / pop-punk / whatever-the-hell genre that I’d classify as a ‘certified ass beater’, but this is certainly one example I can think of. On top of the ferocious energy that Parachutes brings forth, it’s especially highlighted by what is undoubtedly one of the biggest scream-along choruses the band has ever conceived. If you’ve seen live videos, you know the gist; everyone is yelling “I saw you inside of a dream” at the top of their lungs. To wrap this up in a neat little bow, Parachutes just fuckin’ rips.
6. Stonehands
From Separation (2011)
Stonehands is the uncontended best song off of Balance And Composure’s 2011 debut LP Separation. The band doesn’t have many ballads under their belt, but when they do make a ballad, it’s almost always god damn masterclass. Stonehands is one of the best examples, with soft, reverberating plucks and spacious, resonant tom drum booms serving as mere backing atmosphere for Jon Simmons’ magnificent vocal & lyrical performance. This song is absolutely stunning, knowing just when to pull back, and just when to explode into that rainy, distorted atmosphere that we all know and love. “I know you’ve got hands of stone / Crush everything I’ve ever known” is a line that has stuck with me through adulthood, remaining one of my favorite lyrics to this day. I hate to keep using the ‘M’ line, but this song is just an absolute masterpiece.
5. Lost Your Name
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
How do you follow a ferocious, roaring opening track like Parachutes? Well, you do the same thing, but better, of course! Lost Your Name is just a ball of explosive electricity, surging and gushing with every stroke of the strings and every tear of the vocal chords. The song is easily the most fun in a live setting out of their entire catalogue, and it’s not even close. If the incendiary intro section wasn’t great enough, the finale is the same thing but with even more buildup and hype. This isn’t to mention the song’s more somber mid-section, which is just as fantastic and serves as the perfect transition between over-the-top heavy sections. Lost Your Name is the ultimate crowd mover, rendering your motor control functions completely useless, forcing you to move your feet.
4. Last To Know
From Too Quick To Forgive (2023)
Man, what a comeback this band had. Once any apprehensions regarding the dissolution of the hiatus period of Balance And Composure had been clearly dealt with with Savior Mode, the band then hits you with one of the best songs of their entire career, with the sorrowful, mournful beast of a ballad that is Last To Know. It’s quite easily the band’s best ballad ever, even topping the classic Stonehands. This lumbering giant stands at six-and-a-half minutes long, an unusual length for a Balance And Composure song; and yet, not a single second of that run time is wasted. By the time you know it, you’ve become so entranced with the plucky acoustic guitars, layered, pitch-shifted vocals, and explosive guitar solo finale, that the song is over, and you didn’t even realize it. Last To Know completely floored me upon release, and continues to floor me with each and every listen hereafter. There’s a reason why ‘Last To Know’ was my favorite song of 2023.
3. Tiny Raindrop
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
There’s not much about Tiny Raindrop that hasn’t been said already. It’s Balance And Composure’s most streamed song, which usually doesn’t mean much, but in this case, it’s for good reason. Will Yip’s roomy, ambient mix on the band’s 2013 sophomore LP is most clearly highlighted with this song in particular, with every strum of the guitar feeling like another wave of rainwater drowning you in an open, thunderstorm atmosphere. Tiny Raindrop is another case of the excellence of simplicity as well, with the majority of the song featuring the same vocal melody throughout. And yet, it’s incredibly impactful and earworm-y. It’s hard to put into words the enigma that is Tiny Raindrop; I mean, I love it so much that I have a tattoo planned that will feature lyrics from this cut. I just adore it.
2. Lead Foot
From With You In Spirit (2024)
Yeah…this song is just that good. I’ve had some time to sit with Lead Foot, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s an all-time great Balance and Composure track. Never in my life have I ever heard a song that matches its lyrical concept with its instrumentation so well; the song feels like a lonely drive in the night air, being endlessly entranced by the passing of the dull gray asphalt. The way the reverb-soaked acoustic guitars intertwine so perfectly with the melancholic leads, the way Simmons’ solemn singing embraces the rhythmic drum passages, the way the lyrics cut down to the motherfucking bone; everything about this song is complete and utter perfection. If I had any note of criticism in the slightest, I want this song to be longer. I can’t get enough! And yet, Lead Foot falls just short of my favorite Balance And Composure song of all time…
1. Reflection
From The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013)
I mean, what other song would it be? Reflection features my single favorite guitar riff ever written in its intro, which is quickly followed up by a barrage of grunge-y, distorted rhythm & bass guitars, all highlighted by Jon Simmons’ unique, masterclass vocal melodies. Every single god damn second of this song is nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. When I’m asked the question “what’s your favorite song?” Reflection is pretty much always my go-to answer, as it’s a song I’ve adored since my high school years upon its release, and it’s a song I still adore just as much today. So then, to summarize, it’s my personal favorite song, which is on my personal favorite album, which also features my personal favorite guitar riff; Reflection has to land at my number one spot, nothing else even compares.
Balance And Composure’s new album ‘With You In Spirit’ is out now on Memory Music.
Words by Hunter Hewgley
