favourite songwriter?

[ScottWMF]

mine is probably Billy Corgan. I'm also a fan of Chris Cornell. what about you guys?

[Help!I'maRock!]

my favorite songwriter is still Lo Faber, even though he is a dork.

[stratosteve]

Shawn mullins
Colin Hay
John Hiatt

[tonru]

paul mccartney.

[Smashing]

Originally posted by ScottWMF
mine is probably Billy Corgan. I'm also a fan of Chris Cornell. what about you guys?


I second you on Billy Corgan...he's just amazing.
Also: Ben Folds, Adam Duritz and the rest of the Counting Crows, Ken Andrews of Failure and On, Trent Reznor

[Sjonesmusic]

Lennon, McCartney, Sting, James Taylor, Carly Simon,
Steven Curtis Chapman, Ginny Owens, Nicole Nordman, and I'm kinda partial to Mindy Howell... :)

[thelonius74]

Elvis Costello

McCartney/Lennon

Andy Sturmer / Roger Manning

John Prine

Johnny Cash

Butch Walker (current favorite)

Rick Nielsen

Paul Simon

U2

Jeff Lynne

[mojowilder]

Dylan
Townes Van Zandt
Steve Earle
Robert Hunter
Lucinda Williams
Hank Williams
(not necessarily in order)

[JiveJust]

Tom Waits

[Barry Jive]

Originally posted by thelonius74
Elvis Costello

McCartney/Lennon

Andy Sturmer / Roger Manning

John Prine

Johnny Cash

Butch Walker (current favorite)

Rick Nielsen

Paul Simon

U2

Jeff Lynne

excellent list. Elvis is still king :) the new album is very good. I think Randy Newman is a worthy addition.

[JimNdave]

Gino Vannelli
Patrick Simmons with Micheal McDonald ala Doobie Brothers

[PuppetMaster]

James Hetfield is definitley up there. I think he's underrated. If you read the lyrics from the first few albums as poetry, they're pretty damn good, full of great metaphors and allusions and such. Warrel Dane from Nevermore is also an awesome vocalist, as is Mikael Ackerfeldt from Opeth.

[FunkmasterWWP]

The friendly folks from Slipknot! j/k....i hate them

[bassesofalessergod]

Originally posted by FunkmasterWWP
The friendly folks from Slipknot! j/k....i hate them

get ready to completely discredit any opinion you hear from me from now on.........

I like Slipknot a lot.

[Idlewilde]

Bret Anderson.

[peer amid]

everyone mentioned above and then 2000 more....... writing is the only thing......players come and go, depending on their "mood"....writers always have a blueprint of what to play

[undone_sweater5]

Rivers Cuomo of weezer!

he writes great melodies!

[xmymaskx]

I second tom waits.

-ryan.

[crazydave]

the team from SEVENDUST ... lj, morgan, vinny, clint, john

[crazydave]

Originally posted by undone_sweater5
Rivers Cuomo of weezer!

he writes great melodies!

i hate that fool after what he said in guitar world ... he's a shmuck !

[non mushall]

Supertramp
Yes
WC Handy

[Delilah]

Robert Hunter
John Popper
Alanis Morisette
Bob Dylan

[Distorted_Halo]

Another down here for Billy Corgan, I never get tired of listening to his songs, always hear something new each time. Simply brilliant songwriter to me, I worship him:)

[tramampoline]

It's a tie between Nick Drake and Roger Waters for me

[tramampoline]

...and Billy Corgan of course. Sorry I nearly forgot

[Wes_Powell]

Russ Freeman! Well, unless instrumental stuff isn't a "song". Then, it'd probably be Paul McCartney.

-wp

[hood]

Walter hyatt
champ hood
david ball
steve runkle
and many more

[Sam Therapy]

Bowie - when he can be bothered
Tom Waits
Elvis Costello
David Byrne

[ScottWMF]

seems like I have good taste. lots of Billy Corgan votes here

[brikus]

PAUL SIMON HANDS DOWN ! ! !

[b alen]

Leonard Cohen.

[Nza]

Wow, I see lots of votes for Tom Waits, one of the best and most underappreciated songwriters ever. I, too, vote for him. After all he's "big in Japan" :)

The rest of my votes go to:

Beck Hanson (aka Beck)

the songwriting team of Trey Spruance, Trevor Dunn, and Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle)

Fela Kuti

Sylvester Stewart (aka Sly Stone)

[zendog54]

John Lennon
Steve Earle
Van Morrison
Lucinda Williams
John Fogerty
Lowell George
Jeff Tweedy
Elvis Costello
Tom Petty
Bruce Springsteen
Ryan Adams

....to name a few

[Nza]

This vote is freakily populated with whiteys, so I'm gonna drop some more awesome songwriters of other melatonin levels:

again, Sly Stone
James Brown (how could nobody have said James Brown?)
again, Fela Kuti
Isaac Hayes
D'Angelo (the second most underrated besides Tom Waits)
Robert Johnson
George Clinton

....and, if songs without words count:

Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Rahsaan Roland Kirk

(Note: I specifically discluded all hip-hop artists, as most people on this message board don't consider hip-hop music)

[fused progression]

hhhhmmmmmmm some strange ones there.
what about
PAUL WELLER
STEVE MARRIOT
PETE TOWNSHEND
JOHN ENTWISTLE
DAVE GILMORE
STEVIE NICKS
LYNDSY BUCKINGHAM
JIM MORISON
PETER GABRIAL
NEIL YOUNG
CHRIS DIFFORD
JIMMY PAGE
RICHARD ASHCROFT

I CANT BELIVE THAT NONE OF THESE HAVE COME UP BEFORE I POSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nza]

I don't know if it would be appropriate to call Jim Morrison a songwriter, as he only wrote the lyrics.

I think nobody said David Gilmore cause his songs suck (IMO). Of course, so do Roger Waters' songs (again, IMO). The only Floyd really worth listening to is the old school Syd Barrett variety.

[Brian Marshall]

Robert smith of the cure

Brian

[metallymetalguy]

ScottWMF: First thing I see is Billy Corgan... fun stuff, since I was gonna post him.

Lyrically, he's the best friend I've never met. Musically, he's just... well, Thru the Eyes of Ruby. Thats all I got to say. Here is No Why, Dross, Cupid de Locke + Gallapagos (spelling?), etc etc etc.

And *so* many songs out there...

I guess I'm 5thing him?

[Davetastic]

Jim Morrison
Pete Townshend
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Paul McCartney
Jimi Hendrix
Paul Simon
Robby Krieger
Stevie Wonder

Jim is a songwriter because not only did he write great words,but he usually made up the melody of the song

[brikus]

Originally posted by Nza
This vote is freakily populated with whiteys, so I'm gonna drop some more awesome songwriters of other melatonin levels:

again, Sly Stone
James Brown (how could nobody have said James Brown?)
again, Fela Kuti
Isaac Hayes
D'Angelo (the second most underrated besides Tom Waits)
Robert Johnson
George Clinton

....and, if songs without words count:

Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Rahsaan Roland Kirk

(Note: I specifically discluded all hip-hop artists, as most people on this message board don't consider hip-hop music)

if you're talkin' bout blacks then ya forgot Stevie Wonder...

[airgordon]

Come on, people.


BILLY JOEL.


He has the total package for a songwriter.

[jbh]

David Gilmour and Roger Waters :p
Greg Dulli
Chris Cornell
Paul Kelly - unknown in the US, but a superstar in Australia


Greg Dulli is my fav. He is from Afghan Whigs. I strongly suggest you listen intently to Gentlemen, if you have not already.
:)

[Tedddy]

I like Bob Dylan, Syd Barrett, Paul McCartney, and Ian Curtis of Joy Division.

[electricmel]

Not ONE mention of Bob Pollard - Guided By Voices????


How about Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding of XTC

I also triple the Ray Davies and Pete Townshend entries -

[Saint Frank]

Originally posted by electricmel
...How about Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding of XTC...

These guys are definitely on my list. Also, a lot of others mentioned previously and in addition:

Pursuit Of Happiness (I don't know who wrote for them but very smart lyrics)

Pete Holsapple and some Chris Stamey (dBs)

Jellyfish (again, I don't know who wrote for the band but, wow!)

Murray Attaway (Guadalcanal Diary and some solo stuff)

[Nza]

I'm gonna go WAAAAYYY out on a limb here, but, in all honesty, these guys really are one of my all-time-fav songwriting teams (and one of the most underrated):

:D Ween :D

Anybody who's ever heard such classics as...

"Freedom of 76", "Sarah", "A Tear for Eddie", or "Exactly Where I'm At"...

...as well as some of the most entertaining non-classics...

"Flies on my Dick", "She Fucks Me", "Pollo Asada", or "Poop Ship Destroyer"...

...well, if you've heard Ween, you know what I'm talking about.

[bassesofalessergod]

Originally posted by Nza
I'm gonna go WAAAAYYY out on a limb here, but, in all honesty, these guys really are one of my all-time-fav songwriting teams (and one of the most underrated):

:D Ween :D

Anybody who's ever heard such classics as...

"Freedom of 76", "Sarah", "A Tear for Eddie", or "Exactly Where I'm At"...

...as well as some of the most entertaining non-classics...

"Flies on my Dick", "She Fucks Me", "Pollo Asada", or "Poop Ship Destroyer"...

...well, if you've heard Ween, you know what I'm talking about.

Now we're cooking with gas!!!!1

Chocolate and cheese... My pick for indispensible album of the 90Ss!!!!!!

[bassesofalessergod]

the H.I.V. song by Ween is quite possibly the greatest song of this or any lifetime!

[Nza]

Originally posted by bassesofalessergod
the H.I.V. song by Ween is quite possibly the greatest song of this or any lifetime!

If you've ever experienced their live show, you will truly understand the, um, "power" of that number. Imagine thousands of screaming (drunken, possibly very high) fans swaying violently, stopping occassionally only to yell out at the top of their lungs "AIDS!"..."HIV!"...I don't really know how to explain it.

The thing that trips me out is that those guys write some really, actually amazing songs. "Sarah" off of Pure Guava is one of the sweetest songs ever. On Chocolate and Cheese, you've got "Tear for Eddie", "Baby Bitch", I second that album for most indespensible album of the 90s (as well as the best album cover EVER...this is the face I made when I first saw it... :eek: but my trowsers made this face :) ).

[Outkaster]

I have a few:

Taj Mahal
Bruce Springsteen
Isley Borthers
Bob Marley
Steel Pulse
Barrington Levy
Gregory Issacs
Glenn Fry/Don Henly

[Nza]

Wow, dude, we all forgot about Bob Marley. I feel really stupid. Thanks for pointing him out. :D

For me, it depends alot on the circumstances. Where I feel like Sly Stone and Fela Kuti wrote some of the best songs for large bands to play, on the other hand I think Cat Stevens and Nick Drake wrote great songs for solo performances.

I think that sometimes, when someone is really good at their instrument of choice, we forget that they're also amazing songwriters, two examples of this being:

Les Claypool (yeah, his voice is iffy, but his songs are great!)
Jimi Hendrix (who I think qualifies for one of the best songwriters ever..."Spanish Castle Magic", "Manic Depression", shit...)

[electricmel]

Please tell me you Ween fans have godWEENsatan and The Pod.

GWS is their 1st release (26 songs)

The Pod is #2 (literally.)

They will quickly replace Chocolate and Cheese on your indespensible lists.

I love C + C, and seen the Weeners many times, but the early stuff will blow your minds in such a way that you might not recover from it.

[Nza]

Originally posted by electricmel
Please tell me you Ween fans have godWEENsatan and The Pod.

GWS is their 1st release (26 songs)

The Pod is #2 (literally.)

They will quickly replace Chocolate and Cheese on your indespensible lists.

I love C + C, and seen the Weeners many times, but the early stuff will blow your minds in such a way that you might not recover from it.

GodWeenSatan and The Pod are probably their silliest, most entertaining albums. I personally prefer their albums with a mix of retardedness and actually good songs.

The Pod is best appreciated with a lung full of nitrous oxide ;)

"Dr. Rock" is one of the heaviest songs of this century, BTW.

[guitarist17]

NEIL DIAMOND :D :D :D LOL :p

[Outkaster]

Originally posted by Outkaster
I have a few:

Taj Mahal
Bruce Springsteen
Isley Borthers
Bob Marley
Steel Pulse
Barrington Levy
Gregory Issacs
Glenn Fry/Don Henly

I forgot one of my favorites:

Van Morrison. Some of his stuff in the 90's was real nice like Healing Game, Back on Top and Days like this.

[olesnov]

Elly K http://www.ellyk.com

She's Russian but doesn't sound it & writes stuff that's reminiscent of Billy Joel & Sting

[b alen]

Originally posted by electricmel
Not ONE mention of Bob Pollard - Guided By Voices????


How about Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding of XTC

I also triple the Ray Davies and Pete Townshend entries -

Guided by Voices is cool. I'm sure not many people, maybe none on here have heard of them, but Centro-matic is an awesome band! If you like GBV then you'll probably dig this band. Will Johnson is an amazing songwriter.

http://www.centro-matic.com

[jbh]

Glen Phillips, from Toad the Wet Sprocket. Seriously, seriously talented. Never ceased to be amazed of what this guy can do.

[The Special]

Lennon, Dylan, Aimee Mann

[peer amid]

I can't possibly narrow it down to one, or even a handfull, but some that jump out without thinking :

.
.....John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
James Taylor
Elton John/Bernie Taupin
Fagen/Becker
Joni Mitchell
Carly Simon
Benny Goodman
Myself ( flame me , i dont' care, i write great songs)

[GitBoxDre]

Haven't heard any mention of these so far...

Neil Finn
(Crowded House)

Roger Clyne
(The Refreshments/Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers)

Ani Difranco

[jbh]

I can't believe I forgot Neil Finn. I've loved Split Enz for as long as I can remember. Dig Crowded House too!! How could I miss that one?:eek:

[Punx258]

John K Samson from the weakerthans. His writing is amazing.

[blistermouth]

i think billy corgan is the best songwriter

[blistermouth]

also dave matthews is a great songwriter

[SirGarrote]

Robert Schumann is my favorite of all time...and Schubert too.

but as for people that have lived when studios have been around.....I'd say TOOL......by far......and Sting.

-G

[Forsythia]

oh i have so many!!

Billy Corgan
Ani DiFranco
Tori Amos
Thom Yorke
Jerry Cantrell
Tool (because they all write together, not just one band member does it and i like that method)
Louise Post
Nina Gordon
Juliana Hatfield
PJ Harvey
Chris Cornell

and many many more..... :D

[falseaddiction]

Billy Corgan is the best songer writer ever! Pumpkins are amazing and Zwan is sweet too. He wrote around 200 songs and he is 33 yrs old and they are all great. There is not a Pumpkins song i don't like. Billy seems to be winning so far.

[MartiNBacK]

Originally posted by ScottWMF
mine is probably Billy Corgan. I'm also a fan of Chris Cornell. what about you guys?

There is only one god of songwriting!
His name is Kai Hansen. He is god for me! he created power/speed metal and noone has written so many great songs as him!
what would the powermetalscen be like without songs like I Want Out, Future World, Ride The Sky and Rebellion In Dreamland?

[PapaTellier]

Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Billy Joel
Paul Simon
Ben Folds

[hack]

come on, it has to be Lennon and McCartney.

After that, Michael Stipe (REM), for lyrics. I don't think he has anything to do with the tunes.

[the_grouse_mouse]

The Wailers
Jimmy Cliff
Seal
Simon and Garfunkel
Robert Smith
Fred Smith - great Australian songwriter www fredsmith.com.au
+ many others

"squeek"

[campaigner]

I think I'll have to double the votes for Neil Young now.

[campaigner]

and I'll add Neil Tennant.

[ClusterOne]

Roger Waters (Greatest lyricist of all time, good in other aspects)
Nick Drake
Lennon (come on...)
Richard Ashcroft (underrated?)
Bradley Nowell of sublime
The folks behind phish, notably Trey and Page

[swingset]

Grant Lee Phillips
Steve Earle
Michael Gurley (of Dada fame)
Sting (early police era)
Ric Ocasek
Phil Lynott
Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne)
George Harrison

[fritzl]

These days I really like David Wilcox as a songwriter writer. Some of his stuff is just a bit too cuddly, but there are some really songs mixed with the fluff.

FL

[oblivionr9]

I'm not really a fan, but I think Marylin Manson is an awesom songwriter (at least when it comes to lyrics)

Also:

Richard Ashcroft (The Verve)
Neil Young
Noel Gallagher (only his early stuff though)
Curt Kobain
Max Martin (His stuff is hyper commercial and it sucks! but people seems to buy it anyway. Knowing what peope want has to be a great quality in a songwriter.

[jlindquist]

Paul Westerberg.

[Vangele]

definitively Jimi Hendrix !:D

[Jokald]

Roger Clyne of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and formerly of The Refreshments

[misterh]

I can't believe this got to page five and nobody mentioned Robbie Robertson (The Band). Heaven help us!

Gordon Lightfoot had a pretty good way with words, and let's not forget Guy Clark. Jackson Browne wrote some pretty good stuff, but he didn't actually write, he printed most of it.

[KidKline]

Lennon/McCartney
Jagger/Richards
Tyler/Perry
Adams/Vallance
Ken Block (Sister Hazel)

[mrtasty]

Right now for me, it's John Mayer, without a doubt...

[WattsUrizen]

Originally posted by SirGarrote
Robert Schumann is my favorite of all time...and Schubert too.
-G

Can't believe it took this long for someone to mention these two geniuses. Listen to Schubert's Winterreise, or his Schwanegesang (sp?). Sure all the other more modern songwriters are good, if not great. But they have nothing on Schubert: the seminal writer of the German Lieder, and the most prolific songwriter of all time.

Also of worthy note is fellow German Johannes Brahms. Gustav Mahler's massive orchestral songs are not too bad either.

Also, in reply to the Kai Hansen note. Well, certainly a pioneer. His Helloween days were certainly his best. Gamma Ray is just a tired rehash.

[Taylorbaby]

Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen ( The BOSS)
John Hiatt
Shannon Lyon

[lucasj81]

Originally posted by b alen


Guided by Voices is cool. I'm sure not many people, maybe none on here have heard of them, but Centro-matic is an awesome band! If you like GBV then you'll probably dig this band. Will Johnson is an amazing songwriter.

http://www.centro-matic.com


I have a bunch of Centromatic songs on my computer. I love that guys voice, though many people would probably consider it not that great. My favorite songwriter at the moment is probably Tim Kasher. He Sings/writes for Cursive, which I guess would be considered a "screamo" band. He also sings/writes for The Good Life, which is more indie rock sounding. They are my favorite band right now, and definitely worth checking out. You can dl some of their songs here

http://www.slamomaha.com/music/listeningRoomBand.asp?id=701

[kurdt21]

Kurt Cobain

[JohnnyB]

Steve Earle
Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love)
Bob Dylan

[JohnnyB]

Originally posted by Nza
This vote is freakily populated with whiteys, so I'm gonna drop some more awesome songwriters of other melatonin levels:

(Note: I specifically discluded all hip-hop artists, as most people on this message board don't consider hip-hop music)

Why is it OK to use a term like whitey and not to use the N-word? :confused: Oops Pandora's box came open...

Incidentally, I tend to agree with you, especially about Robert Johnson, but also how about Willie Dixon? Those two guys can be credited with giving so much inspiration as well as material to the British Blues Boom.

And as far as hip hop artists go, I'd have to say that you forgot about Dre ;) I think some of his tracks are musical enough to qualify, and frankly, the fact that the lyrics have rhythm and meter and are well thought out qualify them as songs in the "worksong" tradition. Snoop actually speak/sings some of his raps, too. I think that hip hop as a form gets a bad rap:D because middle-class America is horrified by the content of the lyrics.

[FuzzBob]

Two words: Bob Mould.

[rhs]

Steve Goodman
Robert Earl Keen
Jimmy Buffett
Jagger & Richards
The Eagles

[qyq]

to whoever said nicole nordeman, i second that
also, derek webb from caedmon's call
and of course lennon and mccartney
and dylan
there are so many others too
thom yorke
and i'm going to go out on a limb here and toss out a couple of hip-hop folks
andre and big boi from outkast
their rhymes are really intricate, and they actually have something to say on a lot of their songs
even if you don't like their music, if you read their lyrics you would probably be impressed

matt

[Riff]

Dar Williams

Her lyrics are always interesting, without being too heady...never trite

(tastes great, less filling!)

[Monkaton]

If we're sticking to primarily rock and roll generation and not going back to Gershwin, Rogers and Hart, Lerner and Lowe, Berlin, Nino Roto or others like that there then I offer the following.

He's not my favorite, but needs to be mentioned among all the others and that's Brian Wilson. I don't think I saw his name in the post.

Another great songwriter I didn't see posted is Warren Zevon. Unfortunately, I saw where he is suffering from inoperable lung cancer. He is excellent.

Others I saw that I totally agree with of course are:

John, Paul and George
Randy Newman
Ray Davies
Chuck Berry
Buddy Holly
Jagger and Richards
Pete Townsend
John Hiatt
Dylan
Robbie Robertson
Mark Knopfler - I'm not sure I saw him posted yet, but I'm sure he had to have been.
Ric Ocasik
Frank Zappa
Tom Petty
Annie Lennox
Sheryl Crowe
Carole King - Although not one of my favorites, you must include her.
Lieber and Stoller
Doc Pomus
Stevie Wonder
Beck - If he had done nothing else but "Mutations" he would have to be listed.

[HOWDJA]

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull
Kerry Livgren & Steve Walsh of Kansas
Robbie Robertson & The Band
John Fogerty of CCR
Bob Dylan
Hugh Prestwood
Eric Clapton
Rodney Crowell
Toby Keith
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues
Pete Townshend (pre-eighties)

[HOWDJA]

..............and Toy Caldwell of Marshall Tucker

[buzzcut]

but here are a few of my favorites - not necessarily in order...

Harry Chapin
John Hiatt
Steve Goodman
Billy Joel
Melissa Etheridge
Indigo Girls (Emily and Amy)
Don Henley - Great collaborator, not so great on his own.
Barenaked Ladies
Paul Simon
Jackson Browne
Bob Dylan

etc, etc, etc...

[Klarr]

Originally posted by jivejust
Tom Waits

Absolutely man! Tom Waits is my fav.

Also:
John McCrea (Cake)
Brendan from Wheatus
Ani DiFranco
They Might Be Giants
Super Furry Animals (whoever their writer is)
Dave Matthews
Trey Anastasio
Moxy Fruevous
Jars of Clay
Beck
Hoagy Carmichael
Sublime (whatever the dead dude's name was)

[MartinDude]

Lennon, david Bryne and Gordon Gano. oh yeah, Tom Thom

[Jimi Jones]

I think great songwriters of our era, meaning 20th and early 21st century will be the ones that are listened to 100+ years from now, until then all these songwriters everybody is posting is simply personal opinions,.......and mine is PRINCE.

Jimi Jones
Http://www.mp3.com/jimijones

[Danofan]

I must be in the wrong place.. I've seen mention of Dave Matthews, Billy Corgan and Hendrix, however, someone is yet to mention Elliott Smith.

[Nimbus Rodus]

Tim Hardin did some great stuff..

[Midnight Wine]

6 pages of the greatest songwriters of this or any time...and I don't think I caught a single vote for Ben Harper...he's unbelievable, and a respectable guitarist to boot....

[The Smiths]

and we've yet to see someone mention the duo of Johnny Marr and Morrissey of The Smiths...c'mon!! they're brilliant!!

my other faves:
Billy Corgan (my favourite. I see plenty of SP fans here...)
Robert Smith
Thom Yorke (has any mentioned him yet?!!)
Trent Reznor
Gavin Rossdale
Chino Moreno (White Pony only)
Richard Patrick (Filter)
Michael Stipe and Peter Buck
Brian Molko
Dave Matthews
Irving Berlin
George and Ira Gershwin

[medspec]

Ray Davies
Randy Newman
Todd Rundgren
Sarah McLachlan
Pete Townshend
John Prine
Lucinda Williams....

to name a few

[Monkaton]

Others I forgot.

Becker and Fagan - the El Supremo
Elvis Costello

[thebadger]

Tom Waits
Lennon/ McCartney
Neil Finn
Nick Drake
Bob Dylan
Glenn Richards (Augie March, Australian band)
Ray Charles
Hendrix
Roger Waters

[thebadger]

...and Bob Marley!

[one less than none]

I don’t think on the whole I’m going to mention anyone who hasn’t been mentioned so far [hell they must be good !]

Ani Difranco
Roger Waters
Tom Waits

These three in my opinion are the finest lyricists and vocalists for me. Each one of them has a fantastic way of conveying emotion and making things personal, they really ‘touch’ me.

Other people I like :

Nick Drake – such personal music, a real sense of sadness

Thom Yorke/ radiohead – again great personal music, and sometimes I have no idea what they are going on about – but it stills feels personal !!!!!

John Congleton [the paper chase] – a slight obsession with machinery but a great quirky songwriter nether the less

Bob Dylan – should be good he’s been doing it a few years :)

David Byrne – quirky, sometimes I think he has been having the same breakdown for 20 years !

Henry Rollins / Rollins Band – love the aggressiveness

Drowningman – pure aggression

I also like a fair bit of ambient and techno [future sound of London, aphx twin, orbital] but I don’t know if I would consider what they do songs. Same with other favourites of mine such as David Torn and Elliot Sharp.

Thinking about it – WHEN DOES AUDIO BECOME A SONG ?????

What I mean is that people like Bob Dylan, Ani Difranco and Nick Drake, write in very different ways to people like Congleton and Byrne. The former on their own with their instrument, while the latter use technology and session musicians.

In my opinion both approaches are valid [results justify the means], but it is a big difference I feel …………..

[thebadger]

Originally posted by one less than none


David Byrne – quirky, sometimes I think he has been having the same breakdown for 20 years !



David Byrne,forgot him, good one!

You have very similar taste to mine. I'd also put Tom Waits and Roger Waters in my top 3. Also have a soft spot for electronic stuff like aphex twin and squarepusher. And Nick Drake, what can you say....geez, you must be a long lost brother or something :) :cool:

[one less than none]

well im on almost the ecxact opposite side of the world [the uk]

damn !!!!! we would make a formidable team in a band !

australia's a bit far for me to travel to rehearsal though !

[Bartfast]

Toy Matinee

[samm!]

Ray Davies, Jon king, Andy Gill, Tom Verlaine, Johnny Marr, Richard Lloyd.

[6and8stringer]

Originally posted by Bartfast
Kevin Gilbert/Toy Matinee

AMEN.

[SolipsismX]

Trent Reznor is definitely number 1.

also:
david bowie
martin gore
thom yorke
garbage

and some more (but less consistent)
tool
billy h. (from apc)
kurt cobain

[EL84's & P90's]

Gotta go with Richard Thompson

[Heineken]

Pink floyd in their best years
The tea party(Jeff Martin)
Tool
Chuck schuldiner(Death)

many more...

[billsworld]

I didn't see Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, or Stevie Wonder on the list, but they have to go up at the top of mine, along with McCartney, Sting, and Paul Simon.

[deadringer]

PLEASE!! listen to Bruce Springsteens solo album "Nebraska" . This is a definative songwriters album. It will move you.

[Forbidden]

im surprised this guy hasn't been mentioned yet but

Jon Bon Jovi - sure writes great lyrics even if they are a bit cliche'

now my faves...........


Richie Sambora - with jon bon, simply partners in crime

Billy Joe Armstrong (green day) - everything from basketcase to good riddance, 'nuff said.

Paul Gilbert - Master of fun rock with cheesy lyrics to go, i admire him. his songs are perfection for fun rock.

then ill list the rest because they speak for themselves

John lennon
Jimi Hendrix
Elton john
GNR guys
the rolling stones' guys
and led zep guys
and queen

[buggyhair]

Originally posted by Bartfast
Toy Matinee

Kevin Gilbert is ridiculously overrated. Nobody raved about him until he died. Now he's suddenly a "genius." He was a great musician but a great songwriter? No way. One listen to "Shaming of the True" and it should be very obvious what a mediocre, unoriginal songwriter the guy was. If you like him, great, I'm not going to argue musical taste but to rank him among the all-time greats is absurd.

[Stu]

my favorite would have to be Tim (forget the last name) from the band Cursive.
if you havent heard them, then you should. the style takes a little bit of getting used to but the lyrics are always good in my opinion