-I am listing only indie rock/rock musicians because that is what I mainly listen to, so if you have suggestions for jazz/classical/hip-hop artists who could be included, by all means mention them.
-"Most talented musician" means the best combination of songwriting, lyrics, instumental work, production work, performance, influence, etc. The most talented musician should be good at many of these.
-This poll is only about individuals, so don't list bands or duos.
-The musician should be judged on what he has done over the last 5-10 years and nothing before that.
-Try to value consistency above one particular outstanding work. Over the last ten years, has the artist consistently produced excellent music, or has he just one released one particularly good album?
-As I said before, these choices reflect mainly my taste in music, so take them with a grain of salt and just vote for who you think is most talented out of these five.
I was going to say Bjork, but then I saw that you are limiting this (quite narrowly, I may add) to American artists.
That said, I nominate another set of "B's" that should have been on your list: Beck and Dan Bejar. I never really got into Beck, but I think he deserves to be considered, in terms of talent, especially if we're going off the last 10 years. Bejar doesn't need explanation, IMO. I would also have said Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, but I guess he doesn't qualify either.
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I'm looking for Russian Militant Black Metal. Semi-good production is a plus, as are clean vocals (if kept to a minimum). Also looking for vocals in Russian. Basically like a Russian version of Absurd...
Ahh...I screwed up. I voted for Dylan, but then saw the "past 5 to 10 years" clause. If we were voting on an entire body of work, there's no contest, but Dylan's recent stuff, while good, isn't the best thing happening in music right now.
Since I'm not a fan of Sufjan Stevens, and I only mildly enjoy Andrew Bird, I think the real contest is Jack White vs. Jeff Tweedy. In the end, I'd probably go with Tweedy. Wilco's stuff is musically and lyrically more adventurous than the White Stripes.
I voted for White because everything he touches seems to turn to gold and also because he is a very skilled guitarist and producer.
Beck is a good one I didn't think of. Bjork...never really liked her much. And isn't Bejar Canadian? He's the New Pornographer's guy, right? I guess my reluctance with him is that while I love all the NP's stuff, how much of it is him and how much is the others'?
Bejar (who is Canadian, so he doesn't qualify here) does the majority of his work with Destroyer. You might have heard of them, they got some attention this year.
Originally posted by paxsoprano: I voted for White because everything he touches seems to turn to gold and also because he is a very skilled guitarist and producer.
From the list, I choose White, too. Tweedy would be my second place choice. Outside the poll, I'd pick Ryan Adams as a runner-up to White. I've enjoyed all his albums, whatever genre or style they happen to be.
I'm looking for Russian Militant Black Metal. Semi-good production is a plus, as are clean vocals (if kept to a minimum). Also looking for vocals in Russian. Basically like a Russian version of Absurd...
Outside of the poll I probably would have chosen Stephen Merritt or Jeff Mangum but inside the poll I'm going with Jeff Tweedy just because he has more experience than Sufjan Stevens who is my runner-up...
I voted Sufjan, if only for his range. If I could vote "other" I'd go with Beck. Few musicians can create an album like Mutations, much less follow it up with Midnite Vultures. And his body of work stands up with anybody's. Of course, this would be a lot easier if Thom Yorke were American....
Andrew Bird all the way. I love the others, but I've seen Bird live and he's incredibly talented. If you haven't seen him live...do yourself a favor.
I also voted for Andrew Bird - I like most of his recorded material (especially Weather Systems - "I" is one of the creepiest songs ever), but he really gets it for his live show, which is different and captivating every time.
I thought about Merrit or Mangum, but when I think of them, I always think 69 Love Songs and In the Aeroplane, two great albums but hardly consistent production.
I would still put Yorke below any of those 5. The Eraser really shows how much of Radiohead's sound is a group effort and not simply the work of one man.
Actually, Merritt made a few really good albums before 69 Love Songs, including Charm of the Highway Strip, Holiday, and Get Lost. i was a pretty good album as well, though something of a drop-off. Song-for-song though, I think those first 3 albums are as good as 69 Love Songs even if none of them equal that singular achievement.
You also have to consider his work under other names, which I admit to never having heard. He's done 2 albums under the 6ths moniker, 2 albums and 3 EPs as the Future Bible Heroes, 1 album and 1 EP as the Gothic Archies, and 2 soundtrack albums under his own name. That's hardly what I'd call inconsistent production.
Inside the poll I'd say Jeff Tweedy. Outside the poll -- and my real winner -- is Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), especially if by "most talented" you mean "best songwriter." The tandem from Calexico are pretty talented musicians, songwriters and arrangers, also, and deserve consideration.
Originally posted by philosopherEric: My take on this one is simple: if all five released a new record next week, and I could buy one, who would I buy?
The answer for me would depend on the records' Metacritic scores.
I think Patterson Hood (of the Drive-by Truckers) deserves some consideration here. Southern Rock Opera, The Dirty South, Decoration Day, and A Blessing and a Curse are all very good/great albums. He loses some points for not being the only singer/songwriter in the band, though. Within the poll I guess I'd take Tweedy.
Originally posted by philosopherEric: My take on this one is simple: if all five released a new record next week, and I could buy one, who would I buy?
The answer for me would depend on the records' Metacritic scores.
Well-played, sir. I withdraw, and tip my hat to you.
It's a better response, however, than "it depends on what Pitchfork says about each"...
Originally posted by dano: I think Patterson Hood (of the Drive-by Truckers) deserves some consideration here. Southern Rock Opera, The Dirty South, Decoration Day, and A Blessing and a Curse are all very good/great albums. He loses some points for not being the only singer/songwriter in the band, though. Within the poll I guess I'd take Tweedy.
I think the best songwriter of the DBT is Jason Isbell, at least based on his contributions to "The Dirty South" (I haven't heard the new album). Isbell's slow songs on "The Dirty South" -- "Danko/Manuel" and "Goddamn Lonely Love" -- are epic, tuneful, and touch emotional chords outside of Hood or Cooley's reach.
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