Thirty Seconds to Mars is an American rock band that has been around since the late 1990s. Its main members are Jared Leto and Shannon Leto. However, there have been other band members at various times. Thirty Seconds to Mars have released five studio albums so far. Some have been undisputed hits. On the other hand, others met with more mixed receptions. Either way, Thirty Seconds to Mars remains vital as it continues to evolve.
Here is our take on the ten best Thirty Seconds to Mars songs ever released:
10. Love is madness
“Love Is Madness” comes from Thirty Seconds to Mars’ fifth studio album, America. It features vocals from Halsey, who has collaborated with a wide range of artists. As far as subject matter goes, “Love Is Madness” is darker than you might expect based on the name.
It’s not about the overwhelming power of emotion. Instead, it’s about getting into a relationship even if the viewpoint character realizes it won’t go well. Either way, Leto and Halsey’s vocals blend together surprisingly well.
9. City of Angels
Those interested should have no problem guessing that “City of Angels” is about Thirty Seconds to Mars’ experience with Los Angeles. He stands out because his point of view character seems more positive than not. After all, he considers it his home, not least because he managed to achieve his dream in Los Angeles.
8. A Beautiful Lie
“A Beautiful Life” was the title track of the band’s second studio album. However, it was the fourth single rather than the first single, meaning it played less of a role in propelling the band into the mainstream than its predecessors. Still, “A Beautiful Lie” more than earned its position on this list by being one of the most representative songs on the release.
7. Closer to the Edge
Thirty Seconds to Mars is famous for experimenting with new sounds. Here, “Closer to the Edge” has a distinct pop influence while remaining a great example of progressive rock. It stopped at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100, but fared better in several other countries. For example, the song made the Top 20 in Australia, Austria and Finland. Likewise, he narrowly missed out on that honor peaking at 21st in Belgium and New Zealand.
6. Up in the air
“Up In the Air” is often remembered because it was created from the International Space Station. Curiously, the electronically influenced song has little to do with space. Instead, he’s much more concerned with relationship dynamics. There is a sexual element. However, the themes of control running through the lyrics are even more evident. No wonder more than one listener said the song gave them food for thought.
5. Kings and Queens
This song was released on the band’s third studio album titled This Is War. It’s a progressive rock song that drew heavily on adult contemporary music from the 1980s. It’s fitting because it’s a triumphant song about what humans can achieve. Even so, it’s far from purely optimistic, as shown by what appears to be the suggestion that we’re caught between our best and our worst.
4. Attack
“Attack” is just as energetic as one would expect. The funny thing is that Thirty Seconds to Mars hasn’t always been convinced of its potential. As a result, they nearly left it on the floor of the editing room. Fortunately, record producer Josh Abraham convinced the band that the song had potential, transforming the way they handled this particular piece of music.
Subsequently, “Attack” became the lead single from A Beautiful Lie, the studio album that put the band on the map. It’s not quite the breakthrough song, but it’s no exaggeration to say that it paved the way for its more popular successors.
3. Since yesterday
For example, “From Yesterday” was the third single from A Beautiful Lie. It has the honor of being the band’s first single to top the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, which is now the Billboard Alternative Airplay. Its sound might sound a little dated as it was released in the mid-2000s. Despite this, its impact cannot be denied.
2. This is war
“This Is War” was the title track from the studio album of the same name. Like much of Thirty Seconds to Mars’ musical output, its lyrics are highly interpretable. For example, some people think of it as urging listeners to trust each other.
Simultaneously, others think the lyrics say people will create a better world by looking beyond trivial concerns. Either way, “This Is War” is experimental yet still enjoyable, which is a delicate balance that not every artist can strike. Here, Thirty Seconds to Mars did it convincingly.
1. Murder
Unsurprisingly, “The Kill” tops this list. For those who don’t know, it was the second single from A Beautiful Lie. As such, “The Kill” was responsible for continuing the momentum created by “Attack”, which it did so well that it led directly to “From Yesterday”.
This song never made it to the top of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. Yet he beat his successor in one respect by staying on the roster for an astonishing 52 weeks. Something speaks to his strong appeal for his time.
Interested people might want to check out this song by watching its music video. Thirty Second to Mars is famous for its offerings in this regard. The music video for “The Kill” is widely considered exceptional even in this context, so much Kerrang! named it the greatest rock music video made so far in 2009.
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