Taylor Momsen’s transformation from teen star to rock frontwoman is one of the most compelling evolutions in modern music. With The Pretty Reckless, she shed the remnants of her early fame and embraced a sound that’s equal parts raw and electrifying — a mix of smoky vocals, thunderous riffs and lyrical defiance.
Across four albums, her voice has become both weapon and confession: raging, sultry and unflinchingly honest. From anthems of rebellion to moments of aching vulnerability, the band’s catalog traces a journey of survival and self-creation.
Make Me Wanna Die
The song that started it all, a stormy declaration of intent. Make Me Wanna Die introduced The Pretty Reckless as more than a celebrity vanity project; it was a warning shot. Momsen’s vocals smolder with danger and desperation, channeling heartbreak into pure catharsis. It’s dark, dramatic, and utterly unforgettable, the moment she proved she belonged on rock’s main stage.
Heaven Knows
Anthemic and defiant, Heaven Knows became a defining hit for the band. Its stomping rhythm and gospel-infused backing vocals turn rebellion into a singalong, with Momsen commanding the chaos like a preacher at a rock revival. It’s a song that captures the band’s rare ability to sound both raw and grandiose, equal parts grit and glamour.
Going to Hell
As the title track of their second album, Going to Hell cemented Momsen’s reputation as a fearless frontwoman. With snarling guitars and provocative lyrics, she embraces sin and salvation in the same breath. The track is a fierce statement of identity: unapologetic, seductive, and bursting with fire-and-brimstone energy.
Just Tonight
Beneath its polished surface lies one of The Pretty Reckless’s most vulnerable moments. Just Tonight trades aggression for ache, with Momsen’s smoky voice unraveling over slow-burning guitars. It’s a song about emotional exhaustion and surrender, proving her power lies not only in rage but in restraint.
Take Me Down
Inspired by the myth of selling one’s soul for fame, Take Me Down plays like a modern rock fable. It’s confident, melodic, and steeped in the swagger of classic blues-rock, while Momsen’s performance drips with seductive charisma. The song bridges eras: a nod to the legends before her, and a reminder that she’s carving her own.
Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless performs during a stop of the Power Up tour. (Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Death by Rock and Roll
A thunderous tribute to both loss and survival, Death by Rock and Roll feels like a manifesto. Written after the death of the band’s producer and close friend Kato Khandwala, it’s personal yet universal, roaring with pain and purpose. Momsen’s delivery is guttural, a howl that honors grief by turning it into something defiantly alive.
My Medicine
Sultry and chaotic, My Medicine captures the band’s flirtation with danger and desire. It’s one of Momsen’s most provocative performances — playful yet menacing, seductive yet self-aware. The track embodies that intoxicating edge The Pretty Reckless thrives on: the push and pull between control and surrender.
25
A cinematic reflection on youth, fame, and mortality, 25 finds Momsen at her most introspective. Her voice soars over orchestral arrangements and haunting piano, revealing a maturity that feels almost timeless. It’s not just a rock song, it’s an elegy for innocence, wrapped in elegance and grit.
Witches Burn
One of the most underrated cuts from Death by Rock and Roll, Witches Burn channels rage into empowerment. With its swampy riff and slow, simmering intensity, it evokes the spirit of classic hard rock while feeling distinctly modern. Momsen’s vocals snarl with conviction, a spellbinding mix of fury and freedom that demands attention.
And So It Went (feat. Tom Morello)
A collaboration that merges generations of rebellion, And So It Went pairs Momsen’s commanding presence with Tom Morello’s signature guitar fury. The result is explosive, a politically charged anthem that rages against apathy. It’s the perfect closer to this list: proof that Momsen’s rock lineage is not inherited, but earned.
