Who are the "Genius" (Popular/RocknRoll/Modern) Musical Artists...

[Karl K]

Meaning, not Bach, Beethoven, etc. Or Louis Armstrong, Coltrane, etc.

I am talking about what's left over.

Definition of a genius? Most or all of the following:

--A genre buster.

--A genre extender:taking it places no one thought it could go.

--Vast musical range.

--Great songwriting and singing.

--A substantial body of work that does not become dated (not that the artist hasn't done period pieces, but that he/she is not stuck in a period).

--Exceptional musicianship.

--Emotional authenticity.

--Doing what you like in the form that you want such that public taste is altered irrevocably.

I'll come back with my list later.

[MLS SupaStr3]

i will say Pink Floyd. their music has evolved so much. if you listen to meddle and dark side of the moon, they have completley different sounds. dark side of the moon is also a timeless album. i love waters' lyrics too-theyre so poetic. that's my pick

i also think the beatles and elvis will probably go under this category

[655321]

Wilco...and no, I'm not kidding.

[minorthreat]

Talking Heads
The Clash
Elvis Costello
Curtis Mayfield
Fugazi
Joy Division
Leonard Cohen
The Police
Prince
Queen

[655321]

Talking Heads
The Clash
Elvis Costello
Curtis Mayfield
Fugazi
Joy Division
Leonard Cohen
The Police
Prince
Queen

I'd agree with everyone of these...

[Real Ray]

I would list:

Jimi Hendrix
James Brown
Bob Dylan

These three IMO are the dominant figures of the rock and roll era, who's genius has left the largest legacy-to the point where I think there is a bit of seperation after Dylan.

There are other who's work flows from these people-Prince being the obvious on. I just transfered the audio of the "Sign O' The Times," film to an audio cd, and at his peak, I don't think there has been a performer that is his equal in the rock & roll era: songwriting, musicanship, dancing-no one is even close really. So I would put him on my list.

The person who name is always attached to the word genius-Brian Wilson-I just have never been able to reconcile that. But I know the argument made to explain it.

The four I've listed are the only one's I can list without my bias really getting in the way. Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Ray Davies, Pete Townshend, Johnny Cash, Van Morrison, and Sly Stone are some that I would probably make cases for, but my admiration of their work might probably skews the view a bit and others my have valid points against some of these picks.

[quentinc]

-Modest Mouse (In my opinion, Issac Brock is one of the greatest songwriters of the 90's/00's)
-Wilco (Have to agree)
-Joy Division
-Pink Floyd
-U2 (I'm talking anything off of the Joshua Tree or earlier, after that they are crap).
-The Velvet Underground


I know I'm leaving some off of the list, but those are a few I can think of.

[655321]

-Modest Mouse (In my opinion, Issac Brock is one of the greatest songwriters of the 90's/00's).

Errr...it might be a bit too early to start calling them geniuses. Let's let time sort that one out.

Bob Dylan is undeniably at, or at least near, the top of the list. Prince, no argument there, either. Brian Wilson, definitely, but his work is so scattered about and done with other songwriters, producers, doctors, gurus, etc, etc, that it's really hard to know just exactly what he's done. We do know that there are at least a few albums worth of material that he has his name all over that no doubt classics and "genius".

And as for Ray Davies...well, he won't many votes from folks, but to me, he IS the greatest songwriter of the last 40-50 years.

[Nutmeg]

Curtis Mayfield
Joy Division
The Police
Prince
Queen

Yours and my list looks a lot alike. Of course I'd have to start with the Beatles, and I think Nirvana took the music world in a totally different direction, and to add to C-towner's list, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and Earth Wind & Fire were contemporaries of Mayfield whose influence is still alive and well today.

I also think REM could be in this category, as could Beck.

[quentinc]

Errr...it might be a bit too early to start calling them geniuses. Let's let time sort that one out.
They've been around longer than Wilco. By a few years too.

Joy Division put out only two albums (when Ian Curtis was still alive, Still doesn't count), and they're on the list.

Modest Mouse have the credentials to qualify, IMO. I guess to each his own.

[quentinc]

Yours and my list looks a lot alike. Of course I'd have to start with the Beatles, and I think Nirvana took the music world in a totally different direction, and to add to C-towner's list, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and Earth Wind & Fire were contemporaries of Mayfield whose influence is still alive and well today.

I also think REM could be in this category, as could Beck.

Nirvana? They are waaaaaay overrated.

[Danks81]

Ben Folds
Trey Anastasio

[655321]

They've been around longer than Wilco. By a few years too.

True...but they've yet to achieve the level of complexity and varied styles that Wilco has. Just my opinion.

Joy Division put out only two albums (when Ian Curtis was still alive, Still doesn't count), and they're on the list.

Yes, but they've more than stood the test of time in terms of influence and aging. They deserve it.

Modest Mouse have the credentials to qualify, IMO. I guess to each his own.

I promise I like them...they just sort of seem to be the odd man out on the lists so far.

[quentinc]

True...but they've yet to achieve the level of complexity and varied styles that Wilco has. Just my opinion.
Well, if you listen to Pitchfork, it's a different story;)

[655321]

Well, if you listen to Pitchfork, it's a different story;)

I don't ;)

[Lithium858]

Wow, I'm surprised no one has mention Radiohead yet. heh

[Karl K]

OK, here we go, in no particular order.

Roy Orbison
James Brown
Elvis Presley
John Lennon
Brian Wilson
Bob Dylan
Jimi Hendrix
Pete Townshend
Lou Reed
Ryan Adams
Neil Young
Tupac Shakur
Antwan Patton/Andre Benjamin
Tom Petty
Dave Grohl
Kurt Cobain
Ray Davies
Beck
Paul Simon
Smokey Robinson
Van Morrison
Ray Charles

And, yes, Ray Davies belongs on the list.

[quentinc]

Wow, I'm surprised no one has mention Radiohead yet. heh
We feel, in our deep tradition of absurd pretense, that Radiohead are too good to even be mentioned in this list. It would be preferable if the band's name were expunged from all discussion in this thread since it would be disgraceful to hear the band's name mentioned within the same vein of inferior acts such as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and Joy Division.

Thank You,
The Staff of pitchforkmedia.com (a.k.a. Radiohead Fan Club)

[MLS SupaStr3]

We feel, in our deep tradition of absurd pretense, that Radiohead are too good to even be mentioned in this list. It would be preferable if the band's name were expunged from all discussion in this thread since it would be disgraceful to hear the band's name mentioned within the same vein of inferior acts such as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and Joy Division.

Thank You,
The Staff of pitchforkmedia.com (a.k.a. Radiohead Fan Club)
i hope thats sarcastic. pink floyd (with waters or/and syd) are one of the greatest bands of the century. i do think radiohead is a great band but i think pink floyd revolutionized that sort of style that they got into.

i dont mean to nit pick (sp?) too much but i don't think modest mouse should be on this list. what timeless album have they made?

[quentinc]

i hope thats sarcastic. pink floyd (with waters or/and syd) are one of the greatest bands of the century. i do think radiohead is a great band but i think pink floyd revolutionized that sort of style that they got into.
That entire post was meant to be satirical. I can only recall three 10.0 ratings given out by Pitchfork (I'm sure there are more) and 2 of those were Radiohead.

i dont mean to nit pick (sp?) too much but i don't think modest mouse should be on this list. what timeless album have they made?

Go buy it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-8965769-3284025