See, that's the problem with picking somebody who's a member of a band. You just don't know exactly how much of the brilliance of their songs is due to someone other than the singer or main songwriter. That's part of the reason I go with Sufjan or Merritt.

If you'd asked this question 3 years ago, however, I probably would've gone with E of the Eels. I'm really not a fan of Blinking Lights, though. Of course, if we're talking 3 years ago, then you'd have to throw Elliott Smith into the hat.

If Elliott Smith were still alive today he'd probably be in my top 3.

I picked Tweedy because each of his releases seem to get better (Kicking Television is much better than expectations) but I think that Prince has shown a decent resurgancy over the last two albums.

Out of that list, Tweedy.

If I actually had a choice...Aimee Mann.

Jack White. The End.

Jack White is a fabulous lyricist, isn't he? He has a facility for these really loaded turns of phrase and also for sound-effects like internal rhyme that no one working today that I can think of shares. He doesn't get the credit he deserves for his words.

Jack White

I picked Sufjan Stevens but that is a tough one. For one, I am biased towards Stevens because he is a classically trained musician and everything he musically does just blows me away. Although, he uses so many instruments and plays most of them; the way he utilizes them to fit his music simply amazes me. I do have to say that all of the people listed are personal favorites as well: I own all of The White Stripes albums, 3 of Andrew Bird's, 4 of Steven's, 4 of Wilco's and like 10 of Dylan's. And someone on here asked if all released an album next week, whose would we buy? Well I would buy all 5 of them. I was especially amazed with Bird as a talented and gifted musician after I noticed in the liner notes of My Morning Jacket's best album of 2005, Z, that he contributed string arrangements and whistles on a few songs.

As for the Beck suggestion, if he was on the list I would easily choose him first. He does have a great body of work, all of his albums are just so good and he is extremely talented.

I voted Jack White, and yeah, I think Beck should be on the list too (not that it would have changed my vote, but he is pretty talented and I cannot think of an album of his that I don't like).

No hip-hop on the list, but I would suggest MF DOOM. He's prolific, and has been consistently great in his production and raps.

maybe Carlos Santana. Really, who's to say? Fun tho...

CRAIG FUCKING FINN

quote:

Originally posted by PinkFlag:
CRAIG FUCKING FINN

Nice call. He gets better, as a singer, as a songwriter, and as a live performer, with each record.

Dan Bejar
Steven Drozd is up there, too

This is tough mainly because I have a hard time with the word 'muscician', but I'll put in my $.02: I'm surprised Britt Daniel hasn't been mentioned. I'd also mention Frank Black, Eric Bachmann, Jason Molina, Carl Newman (North American), Will Oldham, Kevin Barnes and Will Sheff ahead of all the guys on the initial list.

Jack White would probably be my pick for the entire world. Thom Yorke would be close, Spencer Krug. But of the last ten years, Jack White has been the most prolific, the most consistent, and the most interesting.

so many people said Jack White. good calls

some of my favorites that i find immensely talented, and who also fit the parameters sketched out at the start of this discussion thread:

jim o'rourke
tyondai braxton
david andrew sitek
zac hill

I voted for Dylan, but I would have voted for E, Jason Molina, or Will Oldham over anyone on that list. If I had to choose an absolute favorite it would have to be John Darnielle (who basically is The Mountain Goats) since he has released like 15 albums in the last 10-15 years and his songwriting has steadily progressed to greatness throughout his career.

quote:

Originally posted by DrAwesome:
I voted for Dylan, but I would have voted for E, Jason Molina, or Will Oldham over anyone on that list. If I had to choose an absolute favorite it would have to be John Darnielle (who basically is The Mountain Goats) since he has released like 15 albums in the last 10-15 years and his songwriting has steadily progressed to greatness throughout his career.

nice picks. as far as lyrics go, i don't know if you could pick anyone better than darnielle in this sort of discussion.

kind of limited choice,

from the list probably Sufjan Stevens

but I would have added included Tom Waits and Mark Lanegan to the list.

Mark Lanegan has released some amazing music in the past 5 and 10 yrs

in the past 5 yrs alone he relased Bubblegum, dueted with Isobel Campbell on Ballad of the broken Seas, played and sung on Queens of the Stone Ages Songs for the deaf.

ANd Tom Waits in the past ten years

Mule Variations
Alice
Blood Money
Real Gone
Orphans

all of which were given 4 or 5 star reviews by most music critics.