Ryan's Top 10 (Finally)

Hey, this is Ryan bringing to you what are some of my favorite songs. Unlike my counterparts at All Things Go, I tend to have a more retrospective taste in music, focusing mostly on the roots of Rock, Punk, and Hardcore, along with a little world music thrown in here and there. If it’s hard, aggressive, and fast, chances are I’ll like it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t listen to any contemporary music, though. So here is my list of top ten songs (and I made a promise to Zack to only put 1 Clash song on, but I just can’t get enough of them). 1. The Clash - Groovy Times I’ve been listening to The Clash for a few years now, and for those of you who aren’t familiar with them, they did more for music in a few years than most bands dream of doing. Here’s one of the rarer single releases that I think epitomizes the high-point in their career. 2. Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Cool’n’Out OK! I know I said that I would do only one Clash song, but I can’t pass up putting other Joe Strummer songs on my list. His post-Clash material packs a more global sound, and this up-beat track showcases some of his catchiest, funkiest riffs. 3. Toots & the Maytals - Pressure Drop There’s nothing like simple reggae, especially when it comes from one of its originators. Pure and purposeful. 4. Gang of Four - Guns before Butter Any dance-rock fans out there? Well, chances are that you’re listening to the continuation of what Gang of Four started. With emphasis on the beat, and minimalist guitar and vocals, Gang of Four were pioneers in the music industry. 5. The Kinks - You Really Got Me (Live) It may be only three or four chords, but this song never fails at getting me pumped up. For anyone who thinks that the Sex Pistols “invented” punk, listen to this. 6. Mano Negra - Mala Vida I don’t know what they’re saying, but it’s a much better alternative to reggaeton, or should I say, the one beat that is in every Latin song. 7. Graham Coxon - No Good Time This track comes right off Graham Coxon’s latest CD, Happiness in Magazine, released in 2004. For those of you who don’t know, Coxon was guitarist for band Blur (you all know the words to Song 2), and this solo work is an example of just plain good indie song writing. 8. Radio 4 - Dance to the Underground I saw this band open for Ted Leo this past summer, and I was struck by their mid-tempo, yet energetic, style of music. (Note: This is one of those bands influenced by Gang of Four). 9. Q and Not U - Wet Work Coming from the DC area, it’s hard enough getting by without this group on the scene anymore. Austin and Adrian picked their favorite Q and Not U songs, so here’s mine. 10. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Six Months in a Leaky Boat From his iTunes-only release, Sharkbite Sessions, this song compiles all of his prior writing styles into one song while still showing what he has in store for us in the future. Just great. (Zack's note: this is the original version of the song released on Ted Leo's early EP, Tell Balgeary, Bulgury Is Dead. If you want the new version, you have to download it yourself from itunes because our version is .m4p. Sorry.) Bonus Track! Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Burning Streets This is one of the best songs from Strummer’s post-mortem release, Streetcore. Just check out the whole album, I can’t put how much I love it into words. -Ryan (Zack's note: The rest of Ryan's songs will be in .mp3 format, I was just entirely too lazy to convert all of these. My bad.)