Top Ten Foster The People Songs

Foster the People are an American alternative and indie pop band that are mostly known for their one huge hit "Pumped Up Kicks", something that's become a meme at this point. That song is an excellent commentary about some of the things wrong with American society and holds up today 7 years later. Unfortunately, Foster the People haven't really held up and that remains their sole hit. Over the summer of this year their 2017 single "Sit Next Yo Me" did reach no. 42 in America but it isn't really a true hit and likely won't make the year end Top 100. I enjoy both of these songs but neither make my Top 10 as I get so much more out of some of these other songs.

10

SHC | 2017 - Sacred Hearts Club

The production on this song is en point, its smooth and catchy indie pop not dissimilar from the material on their first album. It'd be a great bridge for fans of their older material to getting into Sacred Hearts Club.

9

Are You What You Want To Be?| 2014 - Supermodel

This is psychedelic meets pop in the best way with a huge chorus and weird but interesting verses. It's not something you can forget after hearing it.

8

III | 2017 - Sacred Hearts Club

The closing song on Sacred Hearts Club, this one has a pretty slow build and some beautiful electronic elements in the last third of the song where it climaxes in a downtempo, positive and perfect way. It definitely grows with repeated listens.

7

Life on the Nickel | 2011 - Torches

This is a fan favourite and for good reason. It has possibly the best beat of any Foster the People song as well as containing some of their most socially conscious lyrics. In fact, it's an almost perfect followup to "Pumped Up Kicks". What surprises me is that it was never released as a single.

6

Nevermind | 2014 - Supermodel

An underappreciated psychedelic ballad with an outstanding apex moment before the final chorus. It's long and takes a while to build but when those guitars really kick in it becomes something truly special.

5

A Beginner's Guide To Destroying The Moon | 2014 - Supermodel

Don't let the long title put you off, this is a great rock tune. The quiet refrain "staring at the moon, wondering why the bottom fell out..." is juxtaposed by the loud verses and chorus with those driving guitars amd frankly jarring melodies. I'd love to see the band do more like this.

4

Miss You | 2011 - Torches

The instrument moments here are fantastic. The drums and synths all climax in the last half of the song in a spectacular way. I'd say this is probably one of their most underrated songs but it shouldn't be.

3

Pay The Man | 2017 - Sacred Hearts Club

First appearing on their "III" EP, this song is a great dive into hip hop, a prime example of how to fuse your own sound with what's trendy without losing your typical flare. The lyrics are almost certainly the centerpiece and for good reason, as Mark Foster's bars and flows are masterful.

2

Best Friend | 2014 - Supermodel

A song that can take on so many meanings, something so wonderfully poppy with its horns and chorus and yet so alternative with its instrumentation and clever lyrics. Really this song can fit so many occasions. It's something worth putting on a couple of playlists, whether that's Indie Anthems or Best Pop.

1

Houdini | 2011 - Torches

The beat, the lyrics, the chorus, the production. Everything just sounds so good. The chords that come in and out, the little flourishes and electronic elements; all of the song is excellent. It's melodies and progressions are perfect resulting in possibly one of the best flows in a song I've ever heard. It has an undeniable beat that really acts as the backbone for the song for everything else to build upon, vocals included. Finally, those synthesizers in the post chorus are like the icing on the cake and those retro sounding effects are like toppings. If you've only heard "Pumped Up Kicks", you're missing out on what this band can really offer.

Honourable Mentions:

Helena Beat
Pumped Up Kicks
I Would Do Anything For You
Warrant
Ask Yourself
Pseudologia Fantastica
The Truth
Fire Escape
Sit Next To Me
Static Space Lover
Lotus Eater
Loyal Like Sid & Nancy


I hope you enjoyed this List-style post, it took longer to do but it was more interesting and fun. Feel free to suggets bands I should make a Top Ten for in the future.