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Bob Dylan.

Here's why: he gets better. Who else from his generation as a single songwriter has done this? Bowie? Too many misses and too much selling out in the 80's. Neil Young? Comes close, but there's been a few duds along the way IMO. There aren't many who compare.

As a songwriter who supposedly "peaked" in the mid-60's, he could have so easily burned out or faded but his sh*t just got better IMO.

I don't know. He's the king in my view. No one competes.

Just thought I'd share.

Any contenders I'm missing? Or are all you homos convinced that Justin Timberlake is the new Bob Dylan?

Elvis Costello.

Cant think of another writer who's has covered so many different genre's and excelled in each one.

Plus an amazing lyricist, guitarist and arranger.

Chris Cornell.

One of the most amazing voices of rock, up there with Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. He's done everything from all out metal (Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger) to his toned-down solo stuff and pulled it off successfully.

Elvis Costello.

Yes. Albeit a shorter career at this point because of age difference, without a doubt. And a fairly different style. I would say that Costello is more versatile--jazz; bluegrass;punk.

So there they are.

Any more of you homos wanna chime in? James Blunt?

Chris Cornell.

He's still in diapers, bro. But good for his genre.

The Boss has been going pretty strong for the last 30+ years. Not quite the 45ish of Dylan, but I do like a lot of his new stuff.

The Boss

NNEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Sorry.

I just have never "gotten" Bruce Springsteen. But I do appreciate some of the recent Seeger tribute stuff. But, I don't know. This is gonna sound ironic as hell coming from a Dylan fan....it's his voice. I don't like it. At all.

But I am not completely versed in his earliest stuff or the later material of the last 15 years or so. I just don't like him.

"Born to Run" is quite poiossibly one the *best* rock anthems, ever.

"Born to Run" is quite poiossibly one the *best* rock anthems, ever.

Road anthem I would argue. Or ode to the young and in love who long to hit the road. But anthem for rock? Not sure.

Great lyrics though. No arguing that.

Elvis Costello for sure. And he didn't steal/lift/re-write half his catalog, a la Dylan.

"The sun struggles up, another beautiful day,
And I felt glad in my own suspicious way."

Dylan's legendary status is a product of his times, a time that forgave a lot. He has never been capable of composing a blend of melody, harmony and lyrical insight that comes with a mile of Elvis C.

Other truly great rock-era songwriters include Joni Mitchell, Donald F. of Steely Dan and Randy Newman.

steal/lift/re-write half his catalog, a la Dylan

There was a lot of that for sure, especially early on. But the later stuff, and the most recent stuff, has some great, fresh stuff IMO.

But I love Costello. I wonder if he and Dylan have ever crossed paths? They should.

Bruce Cockburn. Nowhere near as famous, but every bit as skilled and prolific.

Bruce Cockburn.

Excellent writer and way under-recognized but not nearly as prolific.

..

Yes. Waits.

OK. I confess. I have my top 5 of all time already compiled. Part of this topic serves as bait to see if any of you "homos" will fill in the remaining 4. We've got three so far.

Dylan
Waits
Costello

Any of you "homos" gonna fill in the last 2? Hmmm? Homos?