I built my boat from bamboo, but it sunk...

#17 - Alone With Everybody (Richard Ashcroft) 2000

A long time fan of The Verve, I remember the summer afternoon I bought Ashcroft's solo debut. This was before iTunes, but I had already heard "A Song For The Lovers" from a Napster download in college. The album didn't disappoint as it was one of the few albums in my collection that I liked from the very first turn.
So many good songs here, but I remember "Brave New World" stood out among the rest. The rest was history, as I played this disc all summer long in 2000.
The great thing about Ashcroft is that he just doesn't care. He already knows he's better than you, and he isn't afraid to run you over on the sidewalk, either. His music oozes sincere cockiness, but maybe that's what I love about him. That cockiness often turns to cheese (On Money To Burn he belts, "Baby you're my sweet savior, you're my one adventure. You're my one and only gift I've got, now baby it's a real adventure. I'm so glad I've met ya", and, in what is likely the only musical use of the word "conch" in On A Beach, sings "I lit my fire, blew my conch. Nobody comes. I built my boat from bamboo, but it sunk. I looked at the sky for vapor trails. Nobody comes.") on several tracks, but he's the only man in my collection that gets out of jail free. Richard is the man. He doesn't care, and neither do I. Get off our sidewalk.
Top Tracks: Brave New World, C'mon People, I Get My Beat, New York