The Top 100 Songs of 2011 -- #24: "Satellite" -- The Kills

The Kills very quietly made one of the best records of 2011 in Blood Pressures. The fact that the album was not included on very many year-end lists is puzzling -- after all, it may just be the duo's greatest release yet.

Whatever the reasons for the band's lack of notoriety in 2011, The Kills seem unfazed. There's a lot of dark, bluesy jams to love on Blood Pressures, beginning with lead single "Satellite."

With a grooving bass and drum part accentuated by one of the dirtiest guitar riffs of the year, "Satellite" features a dual vocal attack from Alison Mosshart and James Hince, though as per usual, Mosshart is the main focus here. But Hince's swagger-inducing instrumental accompaniment cannot be under-appreciated. The guitar work on the song, while not flashy, demands your attention from the very beginning.

On the chorus, Mosshart and Hince are joined by multiple voice to create a choir of "oh"s that is unsoundly intimidating atop Hince's riff. And it only seems to gain in intensity throughout the entire song.



This song is a perfect stepping-off point for new fans of The Kills, and it's easy to see why. With dreary rock riffs and sultry vocals, it's one of rock's best releases this year.