Emotional and sad songs have never sounded this desperate, this angsty and truthful than from the American band, Real Friends. Since forming in 2010, Real Friends has truly written some of the most heartfelt break-up songs in the pop-punk genre. There is a lot of self-loathing, regret, self-reflection and, ultimately, acceptance in their songs. They are straight from hearts that have truly been broken a few times.

The band currently consists of Brian Blake, Kyle Fasel – bass guitar, Dave Knox – rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Dan Lambton – lead vocals (2010–present) and Eric Haines – lead guitar.
Honourable mentions:
Skin Deep; Well, I’m Sorry
5. Loose Ends
This is a typical road-trip song that has all the ingredients to turn the windows down and crank the volume up as loud as you can. The song focuses on finding yourself after a relationship has ended and tying up all the loose ends. The singer goes on a journey both physically and mentally as he tries to find himself. The most potent lyrics of this song are the following that takes a direct shot at the girl who left him alone – “I go from feeling out of place to feeling like a ghost. You miss me when I’m gone. But when I’m around it’s like I’m hidden behind the paint on the walls. The loneliness will keep me warm tonight. It’ll keep me warm seeing as you won’t.”
The lyrics are quality and, although depressing, paint an accurate picture. Lambton also builds the anger and regret in his voice as the song reaches its climax.

4. Mess
This is another fantastic new song found on their 2016 album, The Home Inside My Head. This song has a slower pace with Lambton’s verses complemented by great drumming and a lead guitar melody. The chorus once again is golden – “Last year, I was a trainwreck, now I’m just a mess,” illustrating the despair that the vocalist is in. The song has a positive tone, though, as Lambton shows his desire to change for the better in order to be happy and for no other reason. “I’ve been neglecting who I am. That’s just who I was back then. Don’t need to be perfect, just happy”, is a thought that a lot of people need to understand in order to move on from disappointments.

3. Cover You Up
I love how this song builds up with the distorted guitar and drums before the verse kicks in at break-neck speed. The track also has a great riff in the verse that pauses the consistent melody. It adds something different and keeps the song fresh. This is one of the saddest and most melancholy songs that the band has written about a break-up and the emotional baggage involved. The chorus perfectly explains this state of mind that everyone has had to cope with – “Am I trying to forget you or just cover you up? I only miss you late at night when I can’t sleep. And get way too honest, I’ve lost you, so I’ve got nothing to lose”
We sometimes cover up our feelings and only seem to be honest and true when it is too late. This would be my interpretation of this song.

2. Late Nights In My Car
This song about self-discovery and youthful innocence is number two on my list. It is a typical pop-punk number that starts off with a great guitar riff that draws the listener in before the first verse hits: “I’ve been up spending every late night in my car listening to all these sad songs. I know it sounds weird but they’re helping me move past all these things running through my head”.
The song is about self-reflection and looking at sad times, but using experiences to move on to greater things. Brian Blake does some fantastic punk drumming on this track, while Lambton hits the mark with his vocals especially in the bridge when he gives sound advice: “If you never break, you never know how.”
The song also has the tremendous pacing and singalong quality that one can expect from a pop-punk number.

1. I Don’t Love You Anymore
“I can’t believe you’ve got the nerve to say you love me. Then you left me for dead. I don’t love you anymore. I hope you’re happy since I don’t know you anymore. You were a part of me. And now you’re just nothing but a memory.”
This is how this song starts off and you can be sure to quickly start jumping to its catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics about heartbreak and love disappointments.
The song focuses on how love seems to fade after a while and how the choices people make affect those left behind after the relationship. Nothing good comes after a romantic relationship has ended. The finality of the song also brings up a lot of emotion. A song that is easy to relate to with a fantastic song structure where the lyrics and instruments work together brilliantly to great a melancholy song with an upbeat tempo. True pop-punk with a dash of emo.