My current favourite is Chris Thile from The Punch Brothers. But lots of favourites from the past, for sure. And I'm married to a pretty good one. The guy who wrote Lassie of The Morning, and Bottle of The Best. Both songs have been recorded by several other people. My favourite of his, though, is Sandy's Leap. The one that got me to marry him, because it was so funny. I remember standing under a street lamp in Inverness, back in the 80's, and he sang it to me. I decided then and there ...this is the guy! I have to agree with @minstrel, regarding Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot. Them there Canadians, eh? Mind you, as a singer myself, I used to struggle with Stan Rogers songs. I don't know. There was nearly always some slight element in them that made me want to change certain words, because they didn't quite represent my attitude on whatever issue the song was about. Mary Ellen Carter was one of his best, though. And Northwest Passage was, to my mind, his very best. Free in the Harbour was another. And many many more. Stan Rogers had the ability to marry excellent word choices with superb melodies, and then present the song in an in-your-face manner that was most impressive. Really a great all-around musical genius, him. Where I'm from, northern Michigan, Stan Rogers was God. Actually, I read Minstrel's earlier post, and realise we have a lot in common in terms of favourite songwriters. Hmm. Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, Robbie Robertson. Pete Townsend. John Fogerty. And Archie Fisher (who actually recorded my husband's song, Lassie of the Morning.) Can I come over to your house? We can play records ALL DAY LONG! (Mind you, please don't play Leonard Cohen in my presence. Can't flipping stand him. Nice guy, but ...aargh...)
@jannert I've seen Tull perform a number of times. Anderson is always an amazing musician and performer.
How about Joseph Arthur? This should go to the second track - mostly just Joseph singing with his guitar and harmonica: Also, really like John Haughm of Agalloch. Different kind of music than a lot of what has been mentioned, but some of their songs are just beautiful. Two off The Mantle are:
Did he write the track or yell alongside it? As a singer he really has two speeds, impassioned whisper, and outraged scream.
I'm not sure but I'm guessing it's a deeper collaboration rather than some phoned-in vocals. There has been some reports that he's going to be working with RTJ on some solo material.
I don't know a thing about songwriters, I wouldn't even know one if he/she came up to me in the street, except Jim Steinman. Love his songs ... but, there are some songs out there that have a line that just makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and one of those lines is, "I'm so far away, each step that I take's on my way home." Love that line.
Yep. And most of them are of epic proportions with lines that are not easy to forget. Who else could put the line "Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are ..."? and make it into an epic story/song about a guy tormented by his past which included watching is best friend die in an accident, himself being a victim of child abuse and his sexual encounters with a woman who gave him the ride of his life and then left. Genius!
My favourite meatloaf song is For Crying Out Loud. It just says so much. It's quite emotional but my favourite part is toward the end when the drums kick it up a notch and you can really belt out the words. It's almost like he's pleading with someone, like it's his last chance to explain what someone actually means to him. Top song.
Saw most here were already mentioned, but bugger it! John Darnielle - Probably the only angst ridden lyrics I can listen to that has a recoverable beauty to make up for it. Phil Ochs - This machine kills fascists...Apparently! Bob Dylan - Obviously. Billy Joel - Goes great with a stout Tom Waits - Goes great with a whisky And my personal favourite: Shane Mcgowan - What can I say, his words smack of bliss (especially when you didn't think bliss could smack) (Also the lad who wrote 'Thousand's are Sailing' should get a lick of mention; but I don't know if he went on to do anything else; let alone knowing his name without resorting to google...It's on the tip of my tongue....)
