rghammo Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 What are your top ten favorite/best (is there a difference?) songwriters since 1980? I think that the 1980 distinction should mean that the output for which they are best known should be post-1980. E.g. this would rule out (imo) Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello (whose first three and probably most famous albums came out in the '70s), and Bob Dylan (who has obviously written lots of great stuff since 2000 along). We could do a separate list of greatest living or greatest ever. Jeff TweedyRyan AdamsTom WaitsJay FarrarElliott SmithPJ HarveyAlejandro EscovedoTori AmosAimee Mann Ok, I couldn't even get to 10. The hardest part was groups where the songwriting credit was shared. That throws out a lot of good ones. I know I'm forgetting a lot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesusetc84 Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 (edited) 01. Thom Yorke02. Prince03. Kurt Cobain04. Tom Waits05. Elliott Smith06. Jeff Tweedy07. P J Harvey08. Jack White09. Wayne Coyne10. Steven Malkmus People I couldn't include due to technicalities. R.E.M.- 4 songwriter unit.Sonic Youth- great music, but it's hard to call it pure songwriting. Edited September 27, 2006 by Jesusetc84 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 i'd say considering some of Waits best work is pre '80 he doesn't count... PrinceDavid Byrne (yeah they had 2 great pre '80 records, but still)Neil FinnPaul WesterbergRobert SmithElliott SmithFrank BlackIan MackayeGreg GraffinBono Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Neil Diamond belongs on the list, even though some of his greatest songs were written in the 60s and 70s. He did The Jazz Singer soundtrack in the early 80s and his 2005 work, 12 Songs, proves he's still an excellent songwriter and considered one of the all-time greats. I'll also toss a bone out there for Robert Hunter. He continued to write some amazing songs in the 80s and 90s (and currently) for the Grateful Dead, Jim Lauderdale, and a few more modern acts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 (edited) Jeff TweedyRobert PollardJack WhiteJohn Doe/Exene Cervenka (do songwriting teams count?)Kurt CobainDan John MillerFrank BlackIan MacKayeCurt KirkwoodNeko Case Edited September 27, 2006 by MrRain422 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Will OldhamGillian WelchJeff TweedyGruff Rhys ( I am not sure if I should really say the whole band, but I'll stick with him for the sake of the thread)Kurt WagnerTom Waits (although I actually prefer his pre 80's work)Jason LytlePrinceStephin Merritt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Stephin Merritt Beat me to it ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 ryan adamstweedyfrank blackgreg graffinted leowestyelliott smithm wardsteve earle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rghammo Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 Yeah, I totally forgot about all those albums Waits did pre-1980. If Costello isn't eligible, Waits wouldn't be either. I went back and forth with Frank Black and left him off because while I love the Pixies, it's not his songwriting that does it. I would also probably add Robert Smith and Thom Yorke. Does Yorke handle all the lyrics for Radiohead? If so, then definitely him just for Bends and OK Computer alone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Yorke writes most, but not all of Radiohead's lyrics. As for Costello, Waits, etc...I'd say it should be judged by the material they put out post-1980. If you were to consider EC's whole career, for example, there's no doubt he's near the top of the list. But since the question here is post-1980...well, that's a lot more debateable. He's done a lot of good stuff since 1980, but he did most of his best stuff before that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 In no particular order Jeff TweedyMichael Doughty (i'll fight you on this one if necessary)Ben FoldsRufus WainwrightPaul WesterbergPrinceEef BarzelayMichael FrantiFrank BlackAimee Mann honorable mention Tim RutiliNeko CaseJohn Flansberg and John Linnell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jahilia Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I'd add Joe Henry and Colin Meloy to the list. Am I the only one who prefers Waits' later stuff? I love everything from Raindogs to Real Gone, and with the exception of Small Change (and Nighthawks) almost never listen to his earlier records. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Greg Graffin I like Greg's songs, but I think Brett Gurewitz's are better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rghammo Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 I'd add Joe Henry and Colin Meloy to the list. Am I the only one who prefers Waits' later stuff? I love everything from Raindogs to Real Gone, and with the exception of Small Change (and Nighthawks) almost never listen to his earlier records. I prefer Waits 80s stuff, which explains why I forgot about all those earlier records. Some good albums (with some amazing songs) but nothing I like as much as the Swordfishtrobones-era albums. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I like Greg's songs, but I think Brett Gurewitz's are better.maybe so, but i think Greg has been much more prolific & consistant over the years. plus his lyrics are just great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rghammo Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 I wanted to put Sam Bean on there. I could see him being on my list with a few more albums. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rogi Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 elliott smithpaul westerbergtom waitsmark laneganjeff tweedyfrank blacksteve earlegreg dullilucinda williamspatty griffin others:joseph arthurjeff buckleynick cavetom pettyryan adamsjoe henry pj harveythom yorkeian mackayemarr/morrisseyjello biafraglenn danzigsteve harrisdave mustaine Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Jeff TweedyLucinda WilliamsDavid ByrneSuzanne VegaJonatha BrookeJay FarrarAni DifrancoBonoTom Waits... and I think a case could be made for Emmylou Harris! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
street spirit Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 in no particular order:Jeff MagnumDan BejarStephen MerrittElliott SmithMorrissey/MarrChan MarshallTweedyColin MeloyFrank BlackRobert Pollard I can't believe no one said Magnum yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jahilia Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 nick cave I completely forgot about Nick Cave. Definately in my top ten of all time list! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 jesus yeah, how the fuck did i forget Jeff Buckley & Nick Cave????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I'm struggling...my list is pretty unbalanced toward more recent years, and although I might not say that these are the definitive top 10, I'd say that each has at least one masterpiece album. Alphabetical: Sam BeamIsaac BrockVic ChesnuttTed LeoJeff MangumTim RutiliElliott SmithJeff TweedyLucinda WilliamsThom Yorke Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 um, i don't really 'get' mangum whatsoever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I can see where you're coming from. But hey, at least we both really like Ted Leo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 i might add ben nichols in there too. he's creeping up into my fave songwriters around Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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