Greatest Rock Composers ever
Submitted by Kahutz on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 12:04
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This article will have no obvious bias against mainstream music. This list is based on creating melodies. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer. Most do both on this list. Bob Dylan is an example of someone who is a great lyricist but many have arguably have composed better music.
Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia and/or Phil Lesh
Tom Waits
Lennon and/or McCartney
Brian May
Freddie Mercury
Pete Townshend
Andy Partridge
Elvis Costello
John Martyn
Al Stewart
Robyn Hitchcock
Kate Bush
Jagger/Richards
David Bowie
Brian Wilson
David Sylvian
Robert Fripp/Pete Sinfield
Roger Waters
Syd Barrett
Frank Zappa
Buddy Holly
Ray Davies
Roine Stolt
Neal Morse
Todd Rundgren
Bruce Springsteen
Good to see Neil Morse on here.
Might I suggest Brian Setzer, as well?
I am open to all suggestions. These are the ones who I really feel stand out for several reasons. It might be influence, chord usage, time signatures, synthezing styles, instrument combination, innovation, song form, and your music being covered by other musicians. It's only my personal favorite list.
Ok my opinion of who I think should be on the list (I shall ignore all Scaruffi-ist favourites as it's pretty obvious that you don't like the majority of them)
Tom Waits? He created atleast 3-4 masterpieces and he wasn't just a great lyricist. He created a unique style of music with wierd arrangments and instruments.
Kevin Shields? The genuis behind My Bloody Valentine. Isn't Anything and Loveless are two amazing albums. They're symphonies for guitars. The layering and effect of both works are truly outstanding.
Mark Everett? The man behind Eels. He creates deeplyh personal albums with diary-like lyrics. He is also consistently good aswell.
James Chance? Created a fuck-punk-noise hybrid. Which strangely works.
Funk-punk-noise hybrid*
I'm not ready to use obscenities quite yet on this topic.
James Chance isn't Scaruffist? :O
Well he is.... but nobody knows it....
Aha, he reminds me of Rick Astley combined with the Pop Group :)!
This is my honest opinion and I have always said Frank Zappa was a great composer really not a great melodist. I will have to give Captain Beefhart another careful listen since he was a Zappa disciple. I just can't get past his style of music.
Rock Music Greatest composers:
Frank Zappa
Mike Oldfield
Rock Music Greatest songwriters:
Lennon & McCartney
Rock Music Greatest Lyricist
Bob Dylan
Kevin Shield's: the album loveless has the best set of melody's ever