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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on June 05, 2006, 03:15:00 pm

Title: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 05, 2006, 03:15:00 pm
From Paste Magazine:
 
 100 T-Bone Burnett
 99 Outkast
 98 Jay Farrar
 97 Josh Ritter
 96 Jimmy Cliff
 95 Patti Smith
 94 Sam Phillips
 93 Joseph Arthur
 92 Alejandro Escovedo
 91 Drive-By Truckers
 90 Nick Cave
 89 Victoria Williams
 88 Parliment
 87 Lyle Lovett
 86 Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
 85 David bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones)
 84 They Might Be Giants
 83 Fleetwood Mac (Buckingham, Nicks, McVie)
 82 John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
 81 The Flaming Lips
 80 Pink Floyd
 79 Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Silver Jews)
 78 Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
 77 Bruce Cockburn
 76 Will Oldham aka Bonnie "Prine" Billy
 75 Ron Sexsmith
 74 Over the Rhine
 73 Julie Miller
 72 Michael Jackson
 71 Vic Chestnut
 70 Alex Chilton (Big Star, The Box Tops)
 69 Merle Haggard
 68 Allen Toussaint
 67 Connor Oberst
 66 Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black) (Pixies, The Catholics)
 65 Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love)
 64 Andy Partridge (XTC)
 63 Richard Thompson
 62 Sting
 61 John Hiatt
 60 Jimmy Webb
 59 Jack White
 58 Sly Stone
 57 Morrissey
 56 James Brown
 55 Dolly Parton
 54 Aimee Mann
 53 James Taylor
 52 Paul Westerberg
 51 Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham
 50 Public Enemy
 49 Cat Stevens
 48 Gillian Welch / David Rawlings
 47 Sufjan Stevens
 46 David Byrne
 45 Jackson Browne
 44 Al Green
 43 Ryan Adams
 42 Loretta Lynn
 41 Ray Davies
 40 Burt Bacharach & Hal David
 39 Led Zeppelin
 38 Kris Kristofferson
 37 Smokey Robinson
 36 Beck
 35 Steve Earle
 34 John Forgarty
 33 Pete Townshend
 32 Lieber & Stoller
 31 Carole King
 30 John Prine
 29 Tom Petty
 28 Robbie Robertson
 27 Radiohead
 26 REM
 25 Chuck Berry
 24 Jeff Tweedy
 23 Elton John / Bernie Taupin
 22 Lucinda Williams
 21 Lou Reed
 20 Van Morrison
 19 Patty Griffin
 18 U2
 17 Holland - Dozier- Holland
 16 David Bowie
 15 Willie Nelson
 14 Stevie Wonder
 13 Paul Simon
 12 The Rolling Stones
 11 Randy Newman
 10 Prince
 9 Joni Mitchell
 8 Elvis Costello
 7 Brian Wilson
 6 Leonard Cohen
 5 Paul McCartney
 4 Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan
 3 Bruce Springsteen
 2 Neil Young
 1 Bob Dylan
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Big KC on June 05, 2006, 03:20:00 pm
how can they honestly come to terms with a list like that?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 05, 2006, 03:21:00 pm
I have music by 55 of them. Do I get a prize?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: chaz on June 05, 2006, 03:27:00 pm
I have music by 35.
 Good choices (even though pretty boring and obvious ones)I think for #'s 1 2 and 3, but after that it's pretty much a blur and who really cares anyway.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: beedubyah on June 05, 2006, 03:36:00 pm
Noel Gallagher? Anyone?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 05, 2006, 03:42:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by beedubyah:
  Noel Gallagher? Anyone?
there aren't enough brits on there, but at least they didn't do something stupid and put bright eyes in the top 10
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 05, 2006, 03:46:00 pm
big omissions:  any of the three singer/songwriters in teenage fanclub (it seems like they're just putting band names up there) .... and paul weller really needs to be on there somewhere, even if a lot of his solo stuff blows, the jam is just too monumental to leave off
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 05, 2006, 03:48:00 pm
Apparently, Pete Townsend is the better songwriter but Jack White is the better guitarist.
 
 Richard Thompson should be much higher on the list.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: brennser on June 05, 2006, 03:51:00 pm
no Billy Bragg??
 no Matt Johnson??
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: BookerT on June 05, 2006, 03:52:00 pm
these lists are obviously very silly, but i was very surprised that PASTE wouldn't have stephin merritt on its list. seems to be right up their alley.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Bombay Chutney on June 05, 2006, 03:56:00 pm
oops
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: snapmandonald on June 05, 2006, 03:58:00 pm
These sort of lists are generally just plain rediculous. I love Sufjan, but does he really belong up that high? I'll second the notion that all three Teenage Fanclub (Blake, Love, McGinley) are easily better than half of what is listed, and Stephen Merritt has to be on that list.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 05, 2006, 04:19:00 pm
What?  Walter Becker & Donald Fagan rate lower than Drive-By Truckers?  WTF?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 05, 2006, 04:23:00 pm
I don't have a problem with that.
 
 Even my Steely Dan (the group) loving wife said the new Fagan album sucks.
 
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by The Jesus Nut:
  What?  Walter Becker & Donald Fagan rate lower than Drive-By Truckers?  WTF?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 05, 2006, 04:28:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
 my Steely Dan (the group) loving wife said the new Fagan album sucks.
Does not.
 
 BTW, I didn't realize that your Mrs. was a "group lover".  When are we all invited?  
   <img src="http://www.emotihost.com/glass/9.gif" alt=" - " />
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: bearman🐻 on June 05, 2006, 05:25:00 pm
Bob Mould is a huge omission as well.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: you be betty on June 05, 2006, 05:33:00 pm
yeah, i got that and i think it's not a terrible list but i still think they left out plenty and were wrong in plenty of places...
 
 i don't really know why these magazines put out stuff like this in the first place.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: mrpee on June 05, 2006, 05:38:00 pm
Who's Connor Oberst?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: vansmack on June 05, 2006, 06:27:00 pm
Why do I always forget that Leonard Cohen is still alive?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 05, 2006, 07:26:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by mrpee:
  Who's Connor Oberst?
He was TV's MacGyver's second banana.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Frank Gallagher on June 06, 2006, 02:39:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by brennser:
  no Billy Bragg??
 no Matt Johnson??
Or Paul Heaton
 
 Or Mike Scott
 
 Joe Jackson....Difford and Tilbrook???
 
 Moz at 57?? Bowie 16??  :roll:  
 
  I'm going out on a limb and guessing this is a US compiled list because 8 out of the top 10 are doodles? (If  you include canucks as doodles for this list) So your saying that McCartney and Costello are the two best Brit songwriters! That's just fucking insulting
 
 Come on already.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 06, 2006, 06:58:00 am
Well most good music IS written my Americans.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Frank Gallagher on June 07, 2006, 02:13:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  Well most good music IS written my Americans.
I completely agree, but ALL GREAT music is written by Brits and Canadians.
 
 BTW.....
 
 Shane MacGowan?
 
 Morrissey and Marr?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Guiny on June 07, 2006, 09:36:00 am
Ok, I'm a fan of REM just like the next guy/girl.....But #26?  How many of their songs actually make any sense? It's just a bunch of blabboring, if that's even a word, I'm sure REM would use it though.
 
 Eminem has more song writing talent then 90% of the people/groups mentioned on that list.  But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Darth Ed on June 07, 2006, 10:11:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
  Ok, I'm a fan of REM just like the next guy/girl.....But #26?  How many of their songs actually make any sense? It's just a bunch of blabboring, if that's even a word, I'm sure REM would use it though.
I disagree strongly. R.E.M.'s lyrics are very dense and rich, and, yes, they make plenty of sense. The fact that you can't make sense of them is perhaps a comment on your limited attention span and/or intelligence. Refer to the R.E.M. Lyric Annotations FAQ (http://www.flim.com/remlafaq.html) and the Complete R.E.M. Lyrics Archive (http://www.retroweb.com/rem/lyrics/) for enlightenment.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: nkotb on June 07, 2006, 10:14:00 am
Leave Rob alone; he's gets plenty of deep lyrics:
 
 American Girls and American Guys
 We'll always stand up and salute
 We'll always recognize
 When we see Old Glory Flying
 There's a lot of men dead
 So we can sleep in peace at night
 When we lay down our head
 
 My daddy served in the army
 Where he lost his right eye
 But he flew a flag out in our yard
 Until the day that he died
 He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
 To grow up and live happy
 In the land of the free.
 
 Now this nation that I love
 Has fallen under attack
 A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in
 From somewhere in the back
 Soon as we could see clearly
 Through our big black eye
 Man, we lit up your world
 Like the 4th of July
 
 Hey Uncle Sam
 Put your name at the top of his list
 And the Statue of Liberty
 Started shakin' her fist
 And the eagle will fly
 Man, it's gonna be hell
 When you hear Mother Freedom
 Start ringin' her bell
 And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
 Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
 
 Justice will be served
 And the battle will rage
 This big dog will fight
 When you rattle his cage
 And you'll be sorry that you messed with
 The U.S. of A.
 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
 It's the American way
 
 Hey Uncle Sam
 Put your name at the top of his list
 And the Statue of Liberty
 Started shakin' her fist
 And the eagle will fly
 Man, it's gonna be hell
 When you hear Mother Freedom
 Start ringin' her bell
 And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
 Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
 
   
Quote
Originally posted by Darth Ed:
 he fact that you can't make sense of them is perhaps a comment on your limited attention span and/or intelligence.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 07, 2006, 10:16:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
 Eminem has more song writing talent then 90% of the people/groups mentioned on that list.  But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?) My name is.. {scratches} Slim Shady Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?) My name is.. {scratches} Slim Shady
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 07, 2006, 10:27:00 am
Florian Schneider & Ralf Hütter rate at least 52 spots below Pubic Enemy?  Professor Griff must be at 101.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 07, 2006, 10:33:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by ggw?:
 Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?) My name is.. {scratches} Slim Shady Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?) My name is.. {scratches} Slim Shady
he moves efficiently
 beyond security.
 great opportunity awaits.
 airport fluorescent
 creature of habit
 labored breathing and sallow skin
 recycled air
 moving sidewalks
 great opportunity blinks.
 great opportunity blinks.
 discounted.
 
 the people mover
 the people mover
 discounted.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Guiny on June 07, 2006, 10:33:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Darth Ed:
  The fact that you can't make sense of them is perhaps a comment on your limited attention span and/or intelligence. [/QB]
I really hope we meet in person someday.  I just made an opinion, something that me and a bunch of people had agreed with over the years (sorry we're not rocket scientist like you, since you obviously have to have a Harvard degree to listen to the same music as you). You should have just stopped after the first sentence.  Then I would have respected your response.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 07, 2006, 10:45:00 am
Loretta Lynn?  WTF?  It must be because of the Jack White Experience.
 
 Hey that's a good name for a band: The Jack White Experience.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: eltee on June 07, 2006, 11:26:00 am
"Yes, this was done in an effort to generate discussion/debate, and it's been fun to see that happen on a lot of different blogs. So far, I've just quieltly read. But since Stereogum is one of the few places I go to regularly, I had to chime in and give a little more context. We at Paste came up with this list by polling 50 folks--staff members, rock writers (should have thought to include you, Scott), and a handful of musicians themselves. They're all people we trust, so I'm pretty pleased with the list that we came up with, though quite a few of my favorites didn't make the list either. Here's the editorial that lead off this issue:
 
 100 Best Living Songwriters
 
 Dear Paste,
 
 Looking through the issue for which I??m currently writing this editorial, I noticed several omissions from the 100 Best Living Songwriters list. I realize I organized this feature, gathered the voters and cast a ballot myself, but apparently that wasn??t enough. I mean, how could you ignore Rodney Crowell? With songs like ??She??s Crazy for Leaving,? Crowell was the master cartographer of those dark places of loss where once lived ??love that runs through your heart with a pleasure so close to pain.? Decades after his biggest hits, he??s given us some of the best ruminations on aging ever penned.
 
 And Mike Scott? Number 30 on my list, but apparently not good enough for you. The Waterboys?? Fisherman??s Blues alone should have secured him a spot in the Top 100, but he also put out two solo albums filled with gems. And then there??s Mark Knopfler, proving himself yet again with his new duets album with Emmylou Harris (p. 22). Our readers were smart enough to put them on their list (p. 96), but he??s conspicuously absent from ours. Robert Smith, Jim James, Billy Joe Shaver, Todd Snider, David Hidalgo, Fiona Apple, Matthew Ryan, De La Soul, Taj Mahal, Ben Gibbard, Neil Finn, Jeff Mangum, The Cowboy Junkies, Rufus Wainwright, Peter Gabriel, Guy Clark, Greg Brown, Isaac Hayes??they all got the shaft.
 
 I??d consider canceling my subscription if I wasn??t the editor of this damn thing, so instead, just let me say that this was an amazing experience. The hours spent arguing the merits of Leonard Cohen versus Neil Young (an arbitrary and academic exercise, no doubt, but an always entertaining one). Dueling our managing editor, Reid Davis, in computer volume as we searched out the best R.E.M. songs (and impossibly tried to narrow it down to three). The late, late nights matching 100 different writers to 100 songwriter essays and hunting for just the right lyrics. It??s all been worth it to more fully appreciate the merits of Carole King, Chuck Berry and Jimmy Webb; to read Clyde Edgerton on John Prine, Paul Hemphill on Merle Haggard and Jack Pendarvis on Berry; and to see the parade of greats and remember the songs that have had the biggest impact on my life.
 
 I had 3,088 songs from these 100 songwriters on my iPod, and I put them all into a playlist and set it to random. One of the most striking things was how seldom I had an urge to press the skip button and how often I wanted to stop what I was doing and just listen. Much like Hollywood thrusting star-power and jaw-dropping special effects upon shallow, unbelievable scripts, the record industry has been pouring money into beautiful people with beautiful voices (or at least beautiful people with Auto-Tune) without giving them songs with any kind of lasting impact. But I??ll take a Leonard Cohen album (despite not loving either his voice or the production on most his songs) over just about anything getting Top 40 airplay today.
 
 So I know that everyone reading Paste will have his or her own opinion of who should??ve made the list and that this is just the first letter I??ll receive. I certainly hope this feature sparks much debate, but I hope even more that it leads people to check out the songs from these 100 gifted songwriters, reconnecting with old standbys and discovering many new favorites along the way.
 
 Yours Truly,
 Josh Jackson (Decatur, Ga.)
 Editor-in-Chief, Paste"
 
 (I think it's legit. Source:  http://www.stereogum.com/archives/002670.html_ (http://www.stereogum.com/archives/002670.html_)
 
 I stand by Glen Phillips over Outkast.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Bags on June 07, 2006, 11:51:00 am
I have 28 -- knew I'd do badly with a list like that.  Of course the list is shit because Joe Jackson is not even on it.  That, coupled with no Bob Mould, negates any value of the list at all to me.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 07, 2006, 12:44:00 pm
Why is it inevitable that when a list like this comes out, people must focus on a handful of omissions of their personal favorites and thus dismiss the list completely?
 
 I, for one, think it's a pretty damn good list, even if Rhett Miller didn't make it. I mean look at all the great songwriters who ARE on the list.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 07, 2006, 12:55:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  I, for one, think it's a pretty damn good list, even if Rhett Miller didn't make it. I mean look at all the great songwriters who ARE on the list.
Author/Songwriter Rhett Miller
 Five Rules of Good Composition  
 
 1. Don??t overthink your plot: ??I used to pore over every last aspect of my protagonists, but now I don??t think about it so much,? cedes professorial Old 97??s frontman Rhett Miller, who??s simultaneously releasing a short story (??Weakest Shade Of Blue,? inspired by a Pernice Brothers song) and his second solo set, The Believer, in late February. ??I had a big epiphany,? he says, ??wherein I realized that a short story is a lot like a song??you go from vignette to vignette, and each vignette is like a verse, with recurring characters that are sort of like the theme or the melody.?
 
 2. Find inspiration in the commonplace: The ??Make up your ma-ma-mind? chorus in Believer??s opening anthem ??My Valentine? had its genesis in the pre-verbal babble of Miller??s two-year-old son, Max, and the gentle ??Meteor Shower? was a collection of observations made from the singer??s rural Hudson Valley property. ??When I sit outside at night,? Miller says, ??I see shooting stars all the time??all you??ve gotta do is just look up and try not to blink for a minute.?
 
 3. There??s tragic eloquence in societal misfits: In the Old 97??s, Miller used to hotdog like a brainy brat. Now, he fires off brilliantly understated lines like ??She drove a blue car around Bloomington / She was a thin girl, but she had substance.? Whether real or imagined, his subjects, he says, ??represent that dichotomy that exists within all of us??real beauty and some really tragic stuff, too, because I never like the cut-and-dried.?
 
 4. The hero doesn??t have to save the world: While briefly attending Sarah Lawrence College, Miller constantly argued with his writing teacher over ??this feeling that in the course of a short story, the main character has to go through some life-changing event, and I just never really bought into that. People don??t really change, but maybe they grow a little bit. And that??s the thing I look for, that little bit of growth.?
 
 5. Prepare for your characters to take on a life of their own: Miller conceived ??Fireflies,? his duet with Rachael Yamagata, as a breakup postmortem. ??But oh my God, what Rachael did with that song!? he says proudly. ??I got choked up on the middle break??when she sang ??I must??ve had a reason for leaving,?? I say, ??It must??ve been me,?? and then she comes in with, ??It must??ve been me.?? The girl??s taking responsibility for the breakup??I didn??t expect that when I was writing the song. And she made the last verse so sexy, instead of feeling like the guy??s getting kissed off, you feel that maybe they??re gonna disappear together. At least for the night.?
 
 From: Paste Mag (http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=2774)
 
 Who is this chick?  Is it his wife?
 
  <img src="http://www.pastemagazine.com/images/articles/2774_image_1.jpg" alt=" - " />
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 07, 2006, 01:04:00 pm
Nah, this chick is his wife:
 
  <img src="http://www.101lifestyle.com/images/celebs/erica_iahn/erica-ihan-pics-003.jpg" alt=" - " />
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 07, 2006, 01:07:00 pm
Is tinfoil big in Paris and Milan this year?
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  Nah, this chick is his wife:
 
   <img src="http://www.101lifestyle.com/images/celebs/erica_iahn/erica-ihan-pics-003.jpg" alt=" - " />
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 07, 2006, 01:13:00 pm
i like that Conor Oberst is higher than Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 07, 2006, 01:15:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by the sonick:
  i like that Conor Oberst is higher than Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd.
I think that Pete Dougherty is even higher still.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Bags on June 07, 2006, 01:25:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ggw?:
    ;)
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: jeffnar on June 07, 2006, 01:25:00 pm
ehh, these lists are always lacking some obvious ones (s. merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, etc.). i'm just amazed at how much it's skewered to the present, and acts with a few good tunes at most (driveby truckers, jack white, beck, tweedy, ryan adams, etc.?!?!? -PLEASE!!!!) rank higher than several artists with 50-100 great tunes.
 
 baffling, silly, and at times sacriligious, but achieving its goal of spirited discussion.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 07, 2006, 01:30:00 pm
Actually, the bands you list all have more than a few good tunes. Except Jack White, of course.
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by jeffnar:
  ehh, these lists are always lacking some obvious ones (s. merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, etc.). i'm just amazed at how much it's skewered to the present, and acts with a few good tunes at most (driveby truckers, jack white, beck, tweedy, ryan adams, etc.?!?!? -PLEASE!!!!) rank higher than several artists with 50-100 great tunes.
 
 baffling, silly, and at times sacriligious, but achieving its goal of spirited discussion.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: nkotb on June 07, 2006, 01:32:00 pm
Do you think that skewering might have something to do with the list being the greatest LIVING songwriters???
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by jeffnar:
  ehh, these lists are always lacking some obvious ones (s. merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, etc.). i'm just amazed at how much it's skewered to the present, and acts with a few good tunes at most (driveby truckers, jack white, beck, tweedy, ryan adams, etc.?!?!? -PLEASE!!!!) rank higher than several artists with 50-100 great tunes.
 
 baffling, silly, and at times sacriligious, but achieving its goal of spirited discussion.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Darth Ed on June 07, 2006, 02:23:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
 You should have just stopped after the first sentence.  Then I would have respected your response.
I apologize, Rob. I should have refrained from publicly commenting on the possible implications that your low opinion of R.E.M.'s songwriting may have on your attention span and/or intelligence. It was unfair and unjust. I try to avoid flaming people, but R.E.M. is my "most favoritest" band and I overreacted. That's no excuse, however. I will try harder in the future.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Guiny on June 07, 2006, 02:31:00 pm
Actually, you can write what you want, no biggie, if those were the words that first came to your head after reading what I wrote, then so be it, no big deal.  We move on.  And for the record, I love REM, they were one of the first cd's I burned a greatest hits for when I first figured out how to do it many years ago.  I am just left in wonder sometimes of what they are trying to say, and I know I'm not the only one to have brought this up before.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: organizedconfusion on June 07, 2006, 02:32:00 pm
They got something against bob marley and the wailers? or maybe i'm just not seeing it in the top 20. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Venerable Bede on June 07, 2006, 02:35:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by organizedconfusion:
  They got something against bob marley and the wailers? or maybe i'm just not seeing it in the top 20. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
i don't think bob marley is among the living.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: nkotb on June 07, 2006, 02:35:00 pm
Do you think that omission might have something to do with the list being the greatest LIVING songwriters???
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by organizedconfusion:
  They got something against bob marley and the wailers? or maybe i'm just not seeing it in the top 20. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 07, 2006, 02:36:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by organizedconfusion:
  They got something against bob marley and the wailers? or maybe i'm just not seeing it in the top 20. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
It's "living" songwriters.  The Wailers tunes were mainly written by Marley or Tosh - both deceased.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: nkotb on June 07, 2006, 02:38:00 pm
No Bach?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: ggw on June 07, 2006, 02:40:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by nkotb:
  No Bach?
Johann or 'baz?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Guiny on June 07, 2006, 02:43:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by nkotb:
  No Bach?
Sebestian from Skidrow?
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 07, 2006, 02:47:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
    And for the record, I love REM,  
me too!!
 
 in fact, i get cranky if i dont have enough of it!  ;)
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: jeffnar on June 07, 2006, 05:34:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  Actually, the bands you list all have more than a few good tunes. Except Jack White, of course.
 
   
Quote
Originally posted by jeffnar:
  ehh, these lists are always lacking some obvious ones (s. merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, etc.). i'm just amazed at how much it's skewered to the present, and acts with a few good tunes at most (driveby truckers, jack white, beck, tweedy, ryan adams, etc.?!?!? -PLEASE!!!!) rank higher than several artists with 50-100 great tunes.
[/b]
fair enough, let's spot them all 20 GREAT songs, and give tweedy and beck a few more...stephen merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, and other notable omissions would still outrank them and replace them.
 
 as has been said, these lists are always great discussion generators. and a list like this without at least a few '90's/00's songwriters would certainly be lame and lacking. but quality and quantity surely count, so let's at least put those guys where they belong, much further down at the end of the list. tweedy at 24? beck at 36? ryan adams at 43? c'mon, that's just plain laughable looking at the 50 folks behind them and the omissions.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Frank Gallagher on June 08, 2006, 03:19:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
    But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
It most certainly is not....or music for that matter.
 
 It is a form of performance art though, so I think of it as "reverse racist ranting" or more seriously "Urban Poetry"
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 08, 2006, 06:51:00 am
Have you read Paste? They're an Americana-leaning American magazine whose focus is on CURRENT music. Need I say more?
 
 I'm sure NME's corresponding list would be much more Brit-centric, Magnet's would be more indie-centric, and Rolling Stone's version would focus much more on the past.
 
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by jeffnar:
   
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  Actually, the bands you list all have more than a few good tunes. Except Jack White, of course.
 
   
Quote
Originally posted by jeffnar:
  ehh, these lists are always lacking some obvious ones (s. merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, etc.). i'm just amazed at how much it's skewered to the present, and acts with a few good tunes at most (driveby truckers, jack white, beck, tweedy, ryan adams, etc.?!?!? -PLEASE!!!!) rank higher than several artists with 50-100 great tunes.
[/b]
fair enough, let's spot them all 20 GREAT songs, and give tweedy and beck a few more...stephen merrit, the cure, the rest of the beatles, mould, and other notable omissions would still outrank them and replace them.
 
 as has been said, these lists are always great discussion generators. and a list like this without at least a few '90's/00's songwriters would certainly be lame and lacking. but quality and quantity surely count, so let's at least put those guys where they belong, much further down at the end of the list. tweedy at 24? beck at 36? ryan adams at 43? c'mon, that's just plain laughable looking at the 50 folks behind them and the omissions. [/b]
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 08, 2006, 08:56:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
   
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
    But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
It most certainly is not....or music for that matter.[/b]
not a big suprise here, but you're (self-admittedly) completely ignorant on this topic, right? ... try not speaking of what you don't know
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 08, 2006, 09:00:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
 Rolling Stone's version would focus much more on the past.
has anyone else noticed that nary an issue goes by without rolling stone mentioning eric clapton someway or somehow (usually in the "random notes" section)
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Firebutt McGee on June 08, 2006, 10:32:00 am
Horrible.
 
 Nick Cave should be a bit higher than 90. Definitely a better songwriter than Iron & Wine.
 
 I think Tori Amos and Belle and Sebastian should've been on that list.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: jeffnar on June 08, 2006, 10:50:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Chaz Nakatestes, Breaststroking Guy:
  Have you read Paste? They're an Americana-leaning American magazine whose focus is on CURRENT music. Need I say more?
thanx, didn't know that. yes, that explains tweedy's and adam's uberstatus with these guys.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 08, 2006, 04:13:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
 he moves efficiently
 beyond security.
 great opportunity awaits.
 airport fluorescent
 creature of habit
 labored breathing and sallow skin
 recycled air
 moving sidewalks
 great opportunity blinks.
 great opportunity blinks.
 discounted.
 
 the people mover
 the people mover
 discounted.
It sounds like eighth grade Vogon poetry.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 08, 2006, 04:32:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by The Jesus Nut:
 It sounds like eighth grade Vogon poetry.
well, michael stipe is an eighth-grade Vogon student
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: on June 08, 2006, 04:33:00 pm
"Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
 Thy micturations are to me
 As plurdled gabbleblotchits
 On a lurgid bee.
 Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes
 And hooptiously drangle me
 with crinkly bindlewurdles,
 Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon
 See if I don't."
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: kosmo vinyl on June 08, 2006, 06:18:00 pm
Is the list of what the Paste Reader's Top 100 been posted anywhere?  It has some interesting alternates on it. Such as
 
 Robert Smith
 Neil Finn
 Neil Diamond
 Billy Bragg
 Damien Rice
 Trent Reznor
 PJ Harvey
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Frank Gallagher on June 09, 2006, 02:37:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
   
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
   
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
    But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
It most certainly is not....or music for that matter.[/b]
not a big suprise here, but you're (self-admittedly) completely ignorant on this topic, right? ... try not speaking of what you don't know [/b]
From the lyrical feces that is pushed through the so called maintstream I hear enough to know that it is generally nothing less than racist/sexist/self pitying..."whitey done me bad bro" hate mongering.
 
 When is this ever illusive good stuff going to make to the mainstream, because from what I hear I have no interest in exploring the genre any deeper.
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 09, 2006, 10:25:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
 I hear enough to know
my point exactly
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 09, 2006, 10:29:00 am
I thought Outkast and Common made the mainstream.
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
   
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
   
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
     
Quote
Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
    But I guess rap isn't considered song writing.
It most certainly is not....or music for that matter.[/b]
not a big suprise here, but you're (self-admittedly) completely ignorant on this topic, right? ... try not speaking of what you don't know [/b]
From the lyrical feces that is pushed through the so called maintstream I hear enough to know that it is generally nothing less than racist/sexist/self pitying..."whitey done me bad bro" hate mongering.
 
 When is this ever illusive good stuff going to make to the mainstream, because from what I hear I have no interest in exploring the genre any deeper. [/b]
Title: Re: 100 Greatest Living Songwriters
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 09, 2006, 10:35:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
  From the lyrical feces that is pushed through the so called maintstream I hear enough to know that it is generally nothing less than racist/sexist/self pitying..."whitey done me bad bro" hate mongering.
 
 When is this ever illusive good stuff going to make to the mainstream, because from what I hear I have no interest in exploring the genre any deeper.
I agree.  and the beats are lacking.  but when you listen to ANYTHING mainstream, its lame.
 
   i mean, look at rock.  if you just went with mainstream, you may find yourself listening to Coldplay, Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy.
   
   country fans would hear Sugarland and Gretchen Wilson   and punk fans would be hearing Anti-Flag and some other crap.  
 
   finding the indie rock bands and the sub-label sub-genre bands in rock can be done in any genre.