Is Rob Thomas the best songwriter of the current generation?
 

I have been listening to a lot of Matchbox 20 lately.

I'm starting to think that Rob Thomas could be the best songwriter of the modern music age.

That dude sure can write a catchy tune.

If you have the CD, you should check the liner notes and see if he indeed wrote the songs, or someone else did, or if someone co-wrote with the band.

I'll agree that Matchbox 20 has become one of the last superstar bands out there, somehow. But I'd be pretty surprised if he wrote the songs.

Depends on how you define "modern music age", but I would give the title to Elvis Costello.

I know, I know, it's very subjective. :)

edit: Stream the new album free here: http://losthighwayrecords.com/artist/releases/release.aspx?pid=1749&aid=175 :D

Best,

Damn. I was thinking Milli Vanilli.

Randy Newman!

I would classify Randy Newman and Elvis Costello as the previous generation.

Wikipedia lists Rob Thomas as the principal song writer.

Rob who? ;)

Yeah, I'm old.

Well, then, Rob Thomas doesn't have much competition. :p

I guess I am old . . .

And Big Head Todd and the Monsters is "previous generation" too? :D

Best,

I don't think there's a "best" in the current generation, but there are quite a few "great" ones.
Here's a few I would add:
Chris Martin
Jack Johnson
Damon Albarn
Thom Yorke

I agree w/ Yorke and I would put him in this generation - he'd be my pick. But then again, I thought EC was this generation, too.

The others, while I think they are talented, are no Thom Yorke . . . IMO. :)

The guy from Staind is really good. Aaron Lewis is it? Their lyrics are pretty good, well thought out, etc.

Alice in chains lyrics were brilliant in the 90s. Same for a lot of Pearl Jam.

The best all time songwriters for me will always be Iron Maiden. Don't know if they ever wrote a song that didn't tell a story.

The Trooper has maybe the coolest lyrics of all time.

he's no Nigel Tufnel and David St.Hubbins...

Trent Reznor

He's not even Derek Smalls.









Tim

Thanks. Now I can't get the bass line from Big Bottoms out of my head.

Maynard James Keenan

girls get me out of theis.. HELLHOLE!!

Trey Anastasio was a great songwriter

We came like babies
From our home across the sea to see America
And the people opened up their arms
To welcome us... to America

We came like children
From a far and distant land to see America
And the golden sun of freedom
filtered down to us, in America

And the people stood and stared
Loved us more than we had dared to, in America

Super highways here and there
Pretty womens everywhere
Brady Bunch and Smokey Bear
Buildings reaching to the sky
Afro-sheen and apple pie
PTA and FBI

Jumbo jet begins to rise
A joyful nation waves its bye-byes

Each religion, race, and creed
gets exactly what they need
God bless Johnny Appleseed

Working on a sex farm
Trying to raise some hard love
Getting out my pitch fork
Poking your hay

Scratching in your henhouse
Sniffing at your feedbag
Slipping out your back door
Leaving my spray

Sex farm woman, I'm gonna mow you down
Sex farm woman, I'll rake and hoe you down
Sex farm woman, don't you see my silo rising high?

Working on a sex farm
Hosing down your barn door
Bothering you livestock
They know what I need

Working up a hot sweat
Crouching in your pea patch
Plowing through your beanfield
Planting my seed

Sex farm woman, I'll be your hired hand
Sex farm woman, I'll let my offer stand
Sex farm woman, don't you hear my tractor rumbling by?

Working on a sex farm
Trying to raise some hard love
Getting out my pitch fork
Poking your hay

It's funny I heard another Rob Thomas song and thought - if I never hear one again that would be fine with me. I should check out Matchbox 20 but the last couple (Santana?) tunes are DOA.

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) is the best songwriter of the current generation.

+1 for Jack Johnson