One thing that’s always made me feel separate from my generation (the generation after the so called generation X) is the lack of appreciation of the art and craft of lyrical songwriting.
The singer/songwriter schtick was very overplayed and worn out in the late 60’s- mid 70’s, and I can understand people’s aversion to that scene, however for me there is nothing like a well-crafted song that is able to touch me on levels that purely sonic-based songs can’t (at least on their own)
Some of my favorite songwriters are:
Leonard Cohen - “Hallelujah” , “Everybody Knows”, "Closing Time and so many others… this Canadian-jew is the shit!!!
Other “poet laureates” of songwriting:
Tom Waits
Neil Young
Hank Williams
Loretta Lynn
Townes Van Zandt
Jerry Jeff Walker
David Allan Coe
Billy Joe Shaver
Merle Haggard
etc etc, thats all I can think of at the given moment…
As Jizzwad said Brian Wilson, and David Bowie are two of my favorites, pretty much everyone listed here so far is great. I’d like to add Liz Fraser into the mix for the most beautiful unintelligible gibberish (sometimes) ever uttered onto vinyl.
Stephin Merritt (of Magnetic Fields fame) has done some great work. The Neutral Milk Hotel guy did a few amazing pieces too (“King of Carrot Flowers (part one)” is a seminal classic of songwriting IMO). I also echo the Matt Johnson comment.
Always been wary of singer/songwriters as the emphasis can be more on the words than the music, the latter being the most important, the former should be an accompaniment (maybe thats why I listen to ambient/instrumental stuff a lot).
But in saying that Tom Waits is a great storyteller and Jim Morrison, Mike Patton & David Bowie are dudes who could/can throw out good lyrics.
Never saw what the big deal was with Dylan and I cant stand Elton John.
I’m glad somebody finally mentioned Nick Cave, but still no love for Johnny Cash? And I’ll third Matt Johnson. Man, that guy is completely underrated. It’s time for him to do a new album.
Fuck Johnny Cash. Only rascist’s listened to him when he was alive and only posers jumped on the Cash wagon when he karked it.
Nick Cave is a classic of cause.
But still no one talking about Daniel Johnston? I mean we’ve got people talking about talentless idiots like Elton John and Bruce (I’m a Van Morrison rip off) Springsteen but NO Daniel Johnston?
Sometimes you really let Toot down.
Daniel Johnston puts everyone to shame that’s been listed so far.
