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 ...

30. The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land -1997 -USA Why: Probably the best album from The Prodigy.Heavy use of samples, which was innovate for the time, and at that time the band were the leaders in electronic/dance music. There's enough rock in it to appeal to a mass audience (of rock listeners) and that caused enough buying to send electronica mainstream. Example Tracks: Breathe, Firestarter, Smack My Bitch Up 29. Weezer -Weezer(the blue album) -1994 -USA Why: Geek rock. The only people singing about love songs that weren't thoroughly depressing in the grunge early 90's. Not that they didn't channel that heartbreak-emo vibe, they just didn't sound like they didn't. Because they had the melodic ideal. Example Tracks: Buddy Holly,Say It Ain't So 28. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible -1994 -Wales Why: A bit of depression and anxiety, a bit of anti-right-wing totalitarianism and overall concern about the bleak state of the world. It's a work of genius ...

40. Outkast - Ms. Jackson (2000) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0v5nd1bJXM Why: Custody battle? Not the topic you'd expect for a number one hip-hop track. But it wasn't your normal hip-hop track either, (it sampled Richard Wagner). Outkast continued to clear their own spot in the hip-hop game 39. Seal - Love's Divine (2003) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anFLUNWndVg Why: The song is initially carried by piano and the haunting tones of Seal's voice. The percussion & synthesizers get involved halfway through to give serious energy. One that gives you goosebumps (or should anyway). 38. Coldplay - Yellow (2000) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zpi-iSGFaY Why: The song that made Coldplay superstars. People take it to be a happy song, which itself is a testament to the ability of the band. Because it's about unrequited love but you still get brightness and hope from it. 37. Daft Punk - One More Time (2000) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgtBlnOX6VA&ob=av2e Why: P...