Black Rebel Motorcycle Club had the misfortune, early in the group’s career, of being forcibly attached to a number of genres. None of the comparisons stuck. Yet, even unhyped, the band’s fans remained loyal. When the dust settled, a fairer way to label Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was simply as one of the greatest alternative rock bands ever.

BRMC carved its own way. The trio, certainly, molded its shoegaze and Velvet Underground early obsessions into a darkly psychedelic sound that, in turn, has been greatly imitated by others. The band’s discography is a treasure of great tunes.

I’ve just settled on the very best. Here are the top 10 songs by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Top 10 Greatest Songs by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

10. “Red Eyes and Tears”

The NME and other trendy music mags had a new batch of heroes by the early 2000s. Most of them wore skinny jeans. All of them paid some kind of tribute to the past.

And the vast majority of them wrote pop songs with guitars. It’s no wonder that The Strokes, The Killers, Kings of Leon, or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs registered such big hits.

Early Black Rebel Motorcycle Club worked with trance-like music. Sure, there were choruses. And the lyrics weren’t entirely impenetrable. In fact, it resonated enough with listeners that the group was also hyped up and featured in magazines.

But “Red Eyes and Tears” showed that the band preferred mantra-like songs to quick hooks, mood pieces to hits. All these years later, it feels like a wise choice!

9. “Conscience Killer”

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club survived the group’s early hype. They then survived mean, unwarranted reviews. And, finally, they lived through the obliteration of the early 2000s rock scene.

By 2010, alone, but in safety, the group was free to do whatever it wanted. That’s why it retreated into an ever murkier, darker place.

You can hear in slow, dirge-like numbers, or even when Robert Levon Been and Peter Hayes rock out and sing about restless sinners. With its gospel-like backing vocals and powerful chorus, “Conscience Killer” is one of the best songs off of 2010’s “The Devil’s Tattoo.”

8. “Spook”

The early passing of Been’s father and collaborator, Michael, leader of the band The Call, is part of BRMC’s legend. You can find traces of it in nearly all of the band’s post-2013 material.

Those absent are invisible players in the band’s music. The “Wrong Creatures” album felt like another failed attempt at making peace with the world. And, “Spook” is the search for truth in between every song being played on the radio. It’s about peace that will never arrive.

7. “Weapon of Choice”

“Baby 81” was meant to be an angry, rocking affair. It was also designed to sound modern and stylish. The group succeeded in both these missions.

It’s no wonder that songs like “Weapon of Choice” have been chosen for many game soundtracks. BRMC songs provide the perfect dynamics for them.

This 2007 release did not capture the attention of the mainstream establishment as it should have. Still, years later, it’s one of a slim collection of songs that still stand up.

6. “Love Burns”

The members of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club must’ve possessed great record collections growing up. Heavily inspired by the darker, more misanthropic entries in that assemblage, they set out creating a modern classic with 2001’s “BRMC.”

“Love Burns” is a memorable jingle. But its melodies are covered in layers of noise, just like the shoegaze and psychedelic bands that inspired the band.

In 2001, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was one of the most talked-about bands in cool, in-the-know circles. Its musicians were some of the most stylish on the scene. And while “Love Burns” was great, things only got more interesting once the noise from the music industry died down.

5. “Ain’t no Easy Way”

The musicians of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club never played by the rules. They heroically dared to take on their record labels. And they were brave in confronting their own audiences.

For the excellent “Howl,” the band shocked fans by turning itself into an acoustic-based unit. The treatment worked excellently for the songs.

“Ain’t No Easy,” a harmonica-driven number with a shuffling groove, was the single. It was a surprising success. And it endeared the band to those who like their rock music delivered with a bit of risk-taking.

4. “Berlin”

The capital of Germany is the mythical land where experimental artists and alternative lifestyle enthusiasts all eventually end up. It feels like the perfect place for a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club holiday.

Their excellent single from “Baby 81” is also the sound of confusion ending on a promise. The intro and verses for “Berlin” are the sound of people searching for the brink. But the chorus is a promise to remember the revolution.

3. “Spread Your Love”

Been, Hayes and drummer Nick Jago could’ve easily been millionaires. All they needed to do was write singles. “Spread Your Love” showed they knew their way around a catchy tune.

The darkly lit classic rock of “Spread Your Love” earned the group many fans, such as Noel Gallagher of Oasis.

But BRMC’s musicians were on a journey. And, not knowing the destination was vital for it. “Spread Your Love” is a highlight. But it’s not territory that was ever investigated by the band again.

2. “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo”

Good things happen to good people and to bands. They also happen to bands who refuse to give up. “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” turned BRMC, once more, into a trendy band. The song was a hit and was featured in many movies and game soundtracks.

What was the secret? Consistency. Aldo, the band brought on Leah Shapiro on drums. They provided her with complete freedom.

They took inspiration from the father of horror, Edgar Allan Poe, for “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo.” And the group worked within its strengths. This is a mysterious, hypnotic song and one of the band’s best.

1. “Whatever Happened to My Rock ‘N” Roll (Punk Song)”

The BRMC trio was in it for the kicks. But those weren’t exactly the same thrills as their contemporaries. The Strokes may have wanted to be adored. Interpol loved the fashion. BRMC wanted a piece of whatever darkness and grime that came with being in a rock band. And they decided to share that with fans.

“Whatever Happened to My Rock ‘N’ Roll” is a song about the dark soul of rock music. It’s a call to rebellion. And, even in 2001, it must’ve sounded like the values of a lost time. This is one of the best songs in alternative rock’s history.