a blog about a lot of things

I did one of these way back in 2009 (http://randomnonsenseaboutthings.blogspot.com/2009/11/best-singer-songwiters-1970s-and.html). That was three years ago. Time flies, yeah? I thought I'd do an update/ do-ever since my tastes have changed maybe a bit. 1. Bob Dylan - USA Why: The greatest songwriter of the twentieth century. Undoubtedly. Still touring on The Neverending Tour. The writer of the anthems of the entire counterculture movement. Folk music was for a long time (and still is to a point) Bob Dylan at the top and everyone else next. Former Poet Laureate thinks they should teach Dylan lyrics in poetry classes. Academics keep nominating him for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Dylan isn't just a songwriter. He's not any one thing either. Undefinable except as the most important influence on serious lyrics being written even today. 2.  Leonard Cohen - Canada Why: It's almost a cheat to count Cohen as just a songwriter. Because he isn't. He's a ...

10. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister -1996 -Scotland Why: The Belle and Sebastian indie-pop might be something entirely new or a throwback to 80's music like The Smiths. It was different but familiar. (lack of) Romance and childhood sadness, dealt with by the characters in the form of walks of solitude and reading. It was resonant with many then;as it still is now. Example Tracks: Seeing Other People; The Boy Done Wrong Again 9. The Verve - A Northern Soul -1995 -England Why: Intense and full of songs that can only be described as anthemic. You feel the hurt, the isolation, the drug-filled recording sessions. It's said too much that artists put it all in the record, like catharsis. But The Verve let it out, and it's great to hear all that turmoil of young men feeling so very old. Example Tracks: History, On Your Own 8. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral - 1994 -USA Why: A good industrial album that sold enough to go quadruple platinum. S...

20. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin -1999-USA why: Years later and the band is still getting props for it, so much that they played it in its entirety in July. basically established that lush soundscape that you associate with The Flaming Lips now. It has the twofold effect of complex music with simple lyrics so it never tries to confuse you. It's always completely listen-able. Example Tracks : Race for the Prize, Waiting for a Superman 19. Nas -Illmatic -1994- USA why: The debut and still the best Nas album. The beats are great, yeah, but Nas has the best, most brilliant lyrics and at the time was the closest thing to poetry that you got from a rap artist. Lyrical content that depicts accurately his world while being able to see it and not get sucked in. Example Tracks: Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours 18. Massive Attack - Blue Lines -1991 -England why: The first trip hop album ever. That whole electronic, dub, hip hop and soul merging could only be good. Total soul mu...