Well, because there’s that fine line between stupid and, and clever.
I’ll second Neil Peart and Nigel Tufnel. I’ll also add Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and the Bruce Dickenson / Steve Harris combo from Iron Maiden.
I’d say they all go to eleven!
NP: Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
great thread. I’m lookin up Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Todd Rundgren, Glyn Johns, Nile Rodgers, Brian May, Robbie Robertson, Phil Lynott, Nigel Tufnel, and Laurie Anderson as we speak.
Here’s my list, in order:
**
John Lennon
Brian Eno
Rodger Waters
Otis Redding
Eric Clapton
Pete Townshend
David Bowie
Thom Yorke
Jimi Hendrix
Bob Dylan
Lou Reed
David Byrne
Carlos Santana
Kurt Kobain
Paul Simon
David Crosby
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
Michael Jackson
Freddie Mercury
Dan Nakamura
Mick Jagger**
I saw the Clash documentary Westway to the World last week, and although I was always a Mick Jones fan, I have to say that Joe Strummer impressed the hell out of me. He always wrote good, smart lyrics, and had a very good stage presence, but his ability to speak so well about his experiences in the band (his perspective on punk, what the band meant, the use of so many different styles, etc.) impressed me. The only thing that might knock him off this list is that he pretty much dropped out of sight for 15 years after the Clash broke up.
I’ll back up Prince, and Nile Rodgers…
I’d add Stereolab, as a band- the songwriting is usually credited to Tim Gane & Laetitia Sadier but a lot of the unique directions their music takes seems to come from the collaboration of everyone. Sadier is an interesting lyricist- some of her English language songs are just odd (was Calleidoscopic Gaze really about nudism?), but the French lyrics are brilliant.
I’ll add the writers of the most songs to appear in the Billboard Magazine top 100 songs the last 20 years. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.
Another vote for Eno, the guy has had a pretty amazing run. His albums don’t get mainstream attention, but yet when Microsoft needed startup sounds for their Win32 operating systems, they first went to him with a long list of evocative emotional words and phrases and asked him to write a song which encompassed all the list. Then they told him that the song had to be less than three seconds long. Thus was born the Win95 startup sound.
I’ll also second Todd Rundgren. Aside from being an amazing musician in his own right, he’s an incredible producer. His production of XTC’s Skylarking resulted in it being far and away there most magnificent album. No small feat considering the quality of the stuff they had put out up to that point.
One guy who will never get his due is Scott Miller, first of Game Theory and later The Loud Family. Aside from putting out albums with insanely hook laden pop, his lyrics are some of the best there are. Interbabe Concern is probably the highpoint of his work, and if you can find it, you should get it. Sadly, you won’t and so you won’t.
Last I heard he was thinking about hanging it up with The Loud Family, cause he’s just tired of banging his head against the wall. Other musicians view him as a veritable musical god, and yet he works as a UNIX coder in the SF Bay Area to pay the bills. Sometimes there ain’t no justice.
And yes, I often confuse there, their, and they’re. So bite me.
Billy Corgan
Frank Black (Black Francis)
Bono
Aw come on, Coldie, Phil Collins certainly deserves to be on this list! Not only does he have some very very excellent work with Genesis (I’m thinking Trick of the Tail, for one), but his more recent pop stuff still manages to be exciting despite being pop. Can’t Phil and Peter be on the list.
I’ll also add Joe Jackson
Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding
Gotta put in for my idol, James Douglas Morrison, Poet.
All hail Warren Zevon.
Let me add a vote for Neil Peart, and Pete Townsend.
how could I forget Morrison! :smack:
A few off the top of mein head.
Billy Corgan
Bjork
Joan Jett
Peter Gabriel
Thom Yorke
Tanya Donelly
Bob Dylan
Ray Davies
Heh, I got there before everyone else.
Those in the know would also include (and I’d be surprised if there are many here) Richard Thompson, his style, lyrics and delivery are instantly recognisable and he’s a very good guitarist.
Billy Joel another one you all missed.
Neil Sedaka You know its him he moment he opens his mouth, and yet you also know one of his songs even if someone else performs it.
Gordon Lightfoot Been around some time, writes good stuff, is recognised as a good musician.
Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze, although the songs seem like easy going pop tunes, the lyrics are really good.
Peter Green In the 60’s even folk like Hendrix looked up to him, as a guitarist Green was peerless.
After seconding most of those mentioned, I’d like to put up for consideration…
For lyrics, Greg Graffin (of bad religion) certainly qualifies, but he is very very far from a musical genius.
Billy Bragg has written some of the best lyrics ever and puts on a great show.
Chris
i’ll second kurt cobain and raise y’all a michael stipe.
and plus:
andre 3000 (outkast)
thom yorke (radiohead)
billy bragg
michael franti (spearhead)
chuck d (public enemy)
ani difranco
what’s the big deal with john lennon being a ‘genius’? he wrote good pop songs. one included the imaginative concept that we all be nice to each other (expressed in a sickeningly sacharrine manner). he often wrote meaningless lyrics that thousands somehow call brilliant songwriting (i am the walrus?). i fail to see the genius*
*unless your’e comparing him to paul mccartney.
Jeff Lynne. Laugh if you want; it’s my understanding he’s gifted in a buncha ways