Best of 2011: Songs #30-21

30. "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" - Arctic Monkeys


This song signifies exactly where the Arctic Monkeys needed to go: a darker, harder route while still maintaining their clever and youthfully rebellious streak. Alex Turner's vocals show real versatility and it's just solid rock.

29. "Bloody Poetry" - Grieves


The imagery in this song is amazing. It's uncommon for me to say this about contemporary lyrics in hip hop songs, but this is beautiful poetry.

28. "Under Cover of Darkness" - The Strokes


It's the same Strokes brand of attitude with the distorted guitar and imperfect Julian Casablancas vocals. Glorious!

27. "Dear Professor" - The Dean's List


I'm always impressed when rappers can think beyond their R&B/Hip Hop box. It's what made Chiddy Bang initially appealing when they used alternative artists like Passion Pit and MGMT, and it's what really impresses me with the Dean's List as they use a country song to inspire this "Go out and Get It" mixtape feature.

26. "Cry Baby" - Lady Linn and Her Magnificent Seven


Lady Linn hails from Belgium with a super smooth, extra classy, jazz voice. Awesome horn line backing her up.

25. "Go!" - Santigold ft. Karen O


Power women with a kick ass beat. People want their power.

24. "Up" - James Morrison ft. Jessie J


James Morrison has the ability to make any duet partner sound fantastic, but Jessie J pulls her own weight. Achingly good lyrics.

23. "Without You" - David Guetta ft. Usher


I love that the lyrical parts of this song match the dance breaks. David Guetta produces the best beat on his album by simply not going over the top.

22. "Need You Now" - Cut Copy


The beat is reminiscent of the eighties and it took me forever, but I finally realized that I hear Pulp ALL during this song. 

21. "A Long Time" - Mayer Hawthorne


Mayer Hawthorne's story about Henry Ford and Barry Goldy bringing the Motor City, his hometown, into its Golden Age only to have it fall into this slump. I mean, the 2010 census showed a 25% decrease in population in Detroit since 2000. In any case, the story isn't over, not for Detroit and not for the country. It just might take a long time to get back to where we once were.


Wooohoooo! Down to the Top 20!