Best of 2011: Songs #40-31

Picking up where we left off!

40. "You Make Me Feel..." - Cobra Starship ft. Sabi


Gabe Saporta and Cobra Starship have completed their conversion to all out attention-grabbing dance. Electrified and autotuned chords and chock-full of energy.

39. "CocknBullKid" - CocknBullKid


Anita Blay, who wrote with Plan B as a teen, offers a steady but solid track on her second album. She doesn't wish for a person to want her, she wishes for a person to want to want her. I think it's a great exercise in restraint well-done.

38. "Montreal" - Red Kite


The first and only release from the British band (though no solid plans to release an album in 2012, hence why they are included in this list), "Montreal" admittedly takes a little while to warm up, but by the time you hit the chorus, it's simply unstoppable.

37. "Kmag Yoyo" - Hayes Carll


An awesomely fun blues spoof piece about joining the army, getting "kicked out" for dealing heroin to the Taliban, taking LSD and uppers for government studies, being sent out into space for NORAD and finally getting the fuck out to join the Peace Corps. Good fun!

36. "Party Rock Anthem" - LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock


Infectious. Simply, from bottom to top including the Shuffling dance.

35. "Stronger" - Kelly Clarkson


Kelly Clarkson knows where her niche is in the music industry; she knows she can make a song about a break up and coming out a stronger, better woman. Guess what this song is about!

34. "Midnight City" - M83


M83, aka Anthony Gonzalez, creates a huge single with "Midnight City". It has this uncanny ability to change the pace of whatever you're doing. As a saxophone player, I'd like to direct your attention to near the end of the song as well...

33. "Cough Syrup" - Young the Giant


Young the Giant is an alternative band that wants to be a rock band. The guitar lines in this are melodic most of the time, but assertive when they have to be. The vocals are always genuine and you never feel overwhelmed by the drums.

32. "Up Up Up" - GIVERS


The rhythmic hook in this disgustingly happy track is everywhere. The female and male voices blend with and distinguish from each other perfectly.

31. "Dance With the Devil" - The Sounds


The Sounds were awesome in 2011, but they were the best in "Dance With the Devil". The band is tight and Maja Ivarsson is Un. Stoppable. They seriously could conquer the planet with this one.