Leonard CohenI recently accross a list of the “top 100 living songwriters” from Paste Magazine, the list was compiled by Robin Hilton.  So I will admit fully that I am personally more of a lyrics person than a name person.  I can tell you ever word to a song but I have absolutely no idea who sings it, who wrote it, or what band they are in.  Not to say that I don’t know any names but as a whole I come up short when it comes to “name that band.”  As I am going trough this list and I am looking at all these names and wondering if I am missing out on a bunch of great music or if I know more than I realize.   So of the top 100 I took the top 10 that I had not heard of and listened to their stuff to see what they were about.

So the wait is over, here is the top ten countdown, starting at the top:

10. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – learn more

9. Ray Davies – learn more

8. Beck Hansen – learn more

7.Steve Earle – learn more

6. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller – learn more

5. Jeff Tweedy – learn more

4. Patty Griffin – learn more

3. Holland-Dozier-Holland – learn more

2. Randy Newman – learn more

1. Leonard Cohen – learn more