Friday, January 04, 2008

Ryan Osborne

I figure I happen across most of the music I listen to three ways: 1) whatever VH1/MTV Europe plays a lot of, which means the likes of Nicole Scherzinger (good) or RHCP (not good); 2) whatever iTunes tells me is “Just for [me]”, which means Ryan Adams’ third album of the year (fine, if not a tad inconsequential) or Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison” (thanks, I’ll buy one); or 3) whatever music my friends tell me is good music. The latter is probably why much of this list has appeared elsewhere below. I do appreciate these lists actually, and have made fresh purchases as a result. Below are songs and albums that sound nice to listen to.



Albums

1. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – Spoon / “Finer Feelings” & “Black Like Me”

Sublime music. If it was a woman, I’d be flirting with it, using all my best moves.

2. In Rainbow – Radiohead / “House of Cards”

The last 10 or so years have been rough on our relationship, but the love is back, and we are renewing our vows.

3. Challengers -- New Pornographers / “My Rights Versus Yours”

Yes, I thought this was nerdy when I first heard it, but I’m not afraid to change my mind and admit the truth of the beauty within.

4. Sky Blue Sky – Wilco / “Either Way”

Jeff Tweedy could make a fart noise with his mouth and I’d think it was the best album.

5. The Reminder – Feist / “My Moon My Man”

Something I thought was a secret find a while back, which clearly was not.

6. Raising Sand -- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss / “Please Read the Letter”

The product seems so obvious and effortless, I should have thought of combining them long ago.



Singles

1. Faithless – “Music Matters”

Also try “A Kind of Peace”, with Cat Power.

2. Gwen Stefani ft. Akon – “The Sweet Escape”

3. Kelis – “Lil Star”

4. Nelly Furtado – “Say it Right”

I must say, I have no idea what this song is about, but I’ve listened to it, quite intentionally, about 400 times.

5. T.I. – “Big S**t Poppin”

Glad to see a good scrawny rapper representing.

6. Robbie Williams – “She’s Madonna”

7. Mark Ronson – “Stop Me”

8. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – “Umbrella”

9. Bright Eyes – “Four Winds”

A reasonably accessible B.E. song, which took me a bit by surprise.

10. Ryan Adams – “Two”

11. Katherine McPhee – “Over It”

You have something to say, say it to my face.

12. Timbaland – “The Way I Are”

The way I am, Timba, the way I am.

13. Tracy Thorn – “Raise the Roof”

14. Peter Bjorn & John – “Young Folks”

15. Kelly Rowland – “Like This”

Perhaps the best former Destiny’s Chile?

16. Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry on Their Own”



Non-2007 Singles

Mass Appeal – Gang Starr

Hand on Your Heart – Jose Gonzalez

Open Your Eyes – Bobby Caldwell

One Step Up – Bruce Springsteen

Rise – Herb Alpert

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are we allowed to comment? Can you describe what "all your best moves" usually entails?

Anonymous said...

I've seen Ryan's best moves. They are fantastic. I would encourage you to put yourself in a position to be on the receiving end of these moves. Wow.

Anonymous said...

I'm dubious. I hesitate to take advice from anyone advocating someone else's moves at 4:46 in the morning. That said, I will try to reposition myself to intercept these moves as soon as possible.

Anonymous said...

Stand in line, buddy / lady. There's a whole list of folks waiting to intercept that one.