Re: Who are the 5 greatest songwriters of all-time?

by Winkle Spinner on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 12:47

Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus.

I've also been getting into RX Bandits recently. Their songwriting is the epitome of skillful sophistication and flair, especially off their latest album. Never quite heard a band like them. Criminally underrated. As a brass geek, I love the way they voice their brass lines, with the trombone taking the lead and the sax on harmonies - could sound needlessly contrived, but it's really effective.

by JGK on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:49

PearlJ wrote:
leg glancer wrote:I love RATM but I'm not too sure about their stamina for good song writing over a long period. The first album was genius, but after that I think they just kept repeating themselves.

Sting has always struck me as being a truly great song writer. All the members from The Police are great song writers in their own right which is probably why they hated eachother to pieces (Andy Summers being especially good -- his solo material is vastly underrated).

Jon Crosby from VAST is pretty amazing, can't believe he was only 18 when he wrote his first album.

The Rolling Stones, even though I'm not really a fan. Their songs do have a lot of longevity.

Oh, and The Cure. Again, not a die-hard fan but I love the range of song styles -- From poppy and catchy to morbid and deadly serious.

I stopped reading here.

Philistine.

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:52

PeterCS wrote:Björn Volvous, Agnetha Falstart, Frida Longstokin, Benny Anderwear and perhaps Rolf Harris.

Abba and Rolf? That would be an interesting tour pair. Although Abba would need to do alot to show up RH.

by PearlJ on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:54

JGK wrote:
PearlJ wrote:
leg glancer wrote:I love RATM but I'm not too sure about their stamina for good song writing over a long period. The first album was genius, but after that I think they just kept repeating themselves.

Sting has always struck me as being a truly great song writer. All the members from The Police are great song writers in their own right which is probably why they hated eachother to pieces (Andy Summers being especially good -- his solo material is vastly underrated).

Jon Crosby from VAST is pretty amazing, can't believe he was only 18 when he wrote his first album.

The Rolling Stones, even though I'm not really a fan. Their songs do have a lot of longevity.

Oh, and The Cure. Again, not a die-hard fan but I love the range of song styles -- From poppy and catchy to morbid and deadly serious.

I stopped reading here.

Philistine.

OK, I'll admit it. I did once sing 'Roxanne' when I was drunk.

I look back on this moment with shame though.

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:56

My Personal Favourites

1. Slipknot: Corey Taylor
2. Alexisonfire and City and Colour: Dallas Green
3. Flight of the Conchords: Brett and Jermaine
4. Gregory and the Hawk: Meredith Godreau
5. Regina Spektor

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:57

My Personal Favourites

1. Slipknot and Stone Sour: Corey Taylor
2. Alexisonfire and City and Colour: Dallas Green
3. Flight of the Conchords: Brett and Jermaine
4. Gregory and the Hawk: Meredith Godreau
5. Regina Spektor

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:58

Clamson wrote:Well, i dont generally listen to many solo artists so i wont list any. But bands:

1. Dream Theater - John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess/Kevin Moore/Derek Sherinian, Mike Portnoy
2. Iron Maiden - Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, David Murray
3. Rage Against the Machine - Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk
4. Slayer - Tom Araya, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo
5. All the other metal bands I like

Epic. Bulls on Parade and Wakeup are Awesome. Their quality Live from what I've seen.

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 13:58

DJ_Smerk wrote:
Clamson wrote:Well, i dont generally listen to many solo artists so i wont list any. But bands:

1. Dream Theater - John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess/Kevin Moore/Derek Sherinian, Mike Portnoy
2. Iron Maiden - Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, David Murray
3. Rage Against the Machine - Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk
4. Slayer - Tom Araya, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo
5. All the other metal bands I like

Epic. Bulls on Parade and Wakeup are Awesome. Their quality Live from what I've seen.

by PearlJ on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:01

Welsh in spaz attack shock.

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:02

Oop's I kept pressing quote rather than edit. Funk it.

by peterg on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:13

Franz Schubert is incomparably the greatest songwriter.

by JGK on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:19

Once again the term "greatest" is being confused with "best".

Greatest surely implies popularity, longevity. Often the number of people who cover a songwriters songs is as good an indication as any.

"Best" implies a level of quality which is always subjective.

On that score - Lennon & Macartney are probably on par with Cole Porter. Dylan and others up there too of course.

by Geoffrey Trueman on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:21

lardbucket wrote:Bob Dylan, Jon Fogerty, and Neil Young.

Lol, if you'd mentioned those three to me 30 years ago I might well have gobbed on your shoe. Throw in any two of Gilmour & Waters, ELP, Wakeman and Gabriel and you've got a teenage punks worst nightmare.

30 years on and the words of a song and how it's been crafted mean very little to me. For me it's all about the overall sound and feel of a song, you either like a tune or you don't. Imo words like 'genius' are bandied about way too often. Were Lennon & McCartney better than Ray Davies? I don't think so. Iggy and Williamson were years ahead of their time. More recently Morrisey and Marr made a good team, Richard Ashcroft's had his moments, but as songwriters go Lux Interior and the lads from Half Man Half Biscuit take some beating.

by DJ_Smerk on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:23

Bill Withers.

by Paul Keating on Thu 21 Aug 2008, 14:38

Tim/Neil Finn and Paul Kelly are very underrated.