My Top Five Albums - Cat Ryan
- Flex Admin
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Cat Ryan’s Top 5 Albums: A Masterclass in Having Good Taste
Ask Cat Ryan’s Mary-Anne Murphy about their favourite records and you get a list that tells you a lot about how they think about music - and why ‘Free From This’ sounds the way it does. There is no lazy genre allegiance here, no safe answer designed to impress. Instead, what emerges is a genuinely considered set of albums that span decades, styles and moods, connected not by genre but by a shared commitment to craft: sophisticated arrangements, sharp lyrics, songs that hold up under repeated listening.
From the melodic intelligence of Vampire Weekend to the acoustic urgency of early Bob Dylan, via Fleetwood Mac’s synth-drenched late period and the unfussy wit of Kacey Musgraves, it is the record collection of someone who came to songwriting seriously and has stayed that way. Declan McKenna’s debut rounds things out - a record that, by Murphy’s own admission, played no small part in convincing them that this was all worth doing in the first place.
PRESS PHOTOS BY ELLEN DIXON | COVER PHOTO BY MARY-ANNE MURPHY
Here, in their own words, are the five albums that shaped Cat Ryan…
Vampire weekend - Modern vampires of the city
They’re my favourite band and probably my biggest inspiration. I love the variety and the sophistication of this album both musically and lyrically.
Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the night
I love the synth-pop character of this Fleetwood Mac album. I got into it about 6 years ago during the Covid heatwave so I think I’ve got a nice memory of chilling in the sun listening to it.
Declan McKenna - What do you think about the car?
I discovered Declan at the time of his first album and went to his tour so it’s really nostalgic for my late teen years. Every song is a banger and he massively inspired my own music endeavours when I was first starting out.
Kacey Musgraves - Pageant material
Again, every song is great, and I like her witty lyricism. Defo her best album before she went more into mainstream pop.
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
When it comes to Bob Dylan, his simpler acoustic songs are the best in my opinion, especially paired with his lyrics which are timeless. He sheds a lot of light on some themes of socio-economic inequality, but seemed to leave that behind after this album. I think this one has the most character out of all.
