Top 10 Tuesday: Greatest Living Unknown Singer/Songwriters
November 6th, 2007 | by Scott |As I have mentioned my greatest criteria of a song that I like is how it stands up lyrically. Unfortunately that litmus test is lost on much all of popular music today. While the pop charts are focused on bringing sexy back, I tend to opt for more poignant fare.
I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you my list of those great singer/songwriters who are flying under the radar. My criteria for this list is as follows:
- They must be active song-writers. (As much as I love Jordan Berlant I can’t find evidence of any new material over the past 5 years.)
- They must be somewhat under the radar (that eliminates top-notch young guys like Dennen, Ritter and Nathanson who are enjoying a great deal of critical buzz at the moment. It also eliminates the stalwart voices of the singer/songwriter crowd such as John Gorka, Todd Snider, Peter Himmelman and others.)
- They must have at least two CD’s worth of material. Anybody can churn out one stellar album but this list is more about consistency than just a greatest albums list.
Give these artists a listen. They would all appreciate people discovering their music.
10. Josh Joplin–I include Joplin because it appears that he is out touring again after being relatively quiet for the last couple of years. His songwriting is often off-beat but always compelling. To wit: Some people wish they could be like Moses/and get their information from burning bushes/Well I’ve tried but the neighbors complained/I set their lawns aflame
9. Mark Erelli–I first learned about Mark Erelli’s song-writing when Ellis Paul opted to record one of his songs (The Only Way) a few years back. His album Hope and Other Casualties stands as one of the more stellar 9/11 themed disks.
Check out this video: Tired Eyes
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8. Griffin House–This guy will probably sky-rocket up my list as I listen to him more. I downloaded his newest album off of emusic last month and loved it so much that I snatched up everything emusic has that he has recorded. His stirring anti-war tune “I Remember” may be the greatest song of 2007. You can listen to it at his Myspace page here.
7. Darden Smith–I’ve been a fan of Darden’s for years and have loved being able to watch the progression of his song-writing ability. He has a new live album on emusic that is worth picking up. Check him out here.
6. Dan Bern–The Jewish Cowboy is not Kinky. He’s Dan. You won’t find a better blend of humor, political outrage and dylan-esque vocals anywhere. He may gain a little more notoriety when the Dewey Cox movie comes out next month. He wrote the songs for it.
5. Carrie Newcomer–Carrie is one of the many artists I discovered during my single days frequenting the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Newcomer is a Quaker and her commitment to social justice and the transcendent love of God pores through in each of her songs. One of my favorite songs of Heaven, The Gathering of Spirits, is found on her Myspace page here.
The first artist in this video compilation is Newcomer:
4. Ellis Paul–The testament to how stellar these writers are is the fact that Ellis is just #4. His songs have been featured in a couple of Farrelly brothers movies as well as an episode of “Ed.” You can see the Woody Guthrie influence. Don’t ever miss him live if he comes to your area.
3. Cheryl Wheeler–She can alternate between songs that will rip your heart out and songs that will have you doubled over in laughter. Check out the following videos as proof of that. The first one is the stirring “Aces” followed by “It’s the Phone” which is one of my kids favorite songs.
2. Pierce Pettis–I’ve been a Pettis fan for going on 20 years and, although he sings too much about Alabama, he is one of my all time favorites. His best albums are available on emusic and they are full of songs of faith and longing. The first video is “Love’s Gonna Carry Me Home” and the second is a tremendous song about racism “Legacy.”
1. Michael McDermott–Was there any doubt who would be number one. The greatest songwriter of my generation is also the most unsung. I can’t emphasize how great this guy is. For fans of Michael, the last video is a better version of “American” than is on the album.
Give me your thoughts? What do you think of these artists? Who is your vote for great unsung singer-songwriters?
16 Responses to “Top 10 Tuesday: Greatest Living Unknown Singer/Songwriters”
By John on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Out of the list I’ve only heard Ellis Paul before and do think he is great. But without hearing the others I would include Susan Werner who was the headline act the first time I heard Ellis Paul. As he opened for her that time so it was a great twin bill.
By Scott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Werner is a great act for sure, especially her latest offering.
By matt elliott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Are Buddy/Julie Miller ineligible for some reason?
By Scott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
I wouldn’t define them as being under the radar personally. Buddy’s last album, if I recall, made quite a few best-of lists. Correct me if I’m wrong.
By greg on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
I ran across that “American in me” video the other day. Good stuff.
I’ve really enjoyed the Joplin stuff I got from eMusic (2 of them so far), and Erelli’s stuff I have is great, too.
I’m going to have to check out Griffin House.
By matt elliott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Okay, I’ll let you by with that. If they’d been eligible and still hadn’t made the list, I’d hadda open up a can o’ whoop-a**, you know.
By Matt W on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
I’m eternally grateful for you introducing me to the McDermott album. There was a period of time in which I listened the entire album each day at work.
I absolutely love the new Josh Ritter as well and we listen to it regularly in our house.
I’ll have to make sure and check some of these others out.
By Scott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Greg, do check out Griffin House. If nothing else get his latest.
Matt, I just read this afternoon how Buddy Miller was the leader of the house band for the Americana music awards this past week in Nashville. He’s a legend in the field.
Matt, I’m always glad to turn new people on to McD.
By jasonk on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Great list! I have a sweetly autographed Cheryl Wheeler CD in my collection. I would certainly add the lady with the best legs in folk music: Susan Werner. Vance Gilbert might be on my list, as would Lucy Kaplansky. I guess you consider David Wilcox to be “on the radar?” If not, he would be near the top for me. Of course, Ellis belongs on this list, although he is getting more and more popularity, with many songs on television and movie soundtracks. My youngest daughter heard Patty Griffin on one of her shows the other day, and she sent me a text message to tell me her music made her think of me. THAT is a powerful songwriter.
By Scott on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Lucy was on my short list although she records a great number of songs written by other people. Wilcox didn’t chart with me because there are a couple of disks that I was less fond of.
Patty Griffin is amazing. She just swept the aforementioned Americana awards. Maybe I should have put Jasonk on this list
By jasonk on Nov 7, 2007 | Reply
All right, Freeman. I can take your radical, left wing opinions, but to say that there are David Wilcox discs that you are less than fond of? That’s just too much :>)
You are right about Lucy Kaplansky. Amazing voice, great player, but she is probably one of those who, like Vance Gilbert, is a better performer than a songwriter.
I don’t qualify for that list, since I suck as a songwriter.
By Amy on Nov 8, 2007 | Reply
Have you ever heard Amy Stroup? She tops my list of under the radar singer/songwriters.
I’ve heard of your #1, but none of the others. I’ll have to check them out when I get some time.
By Happy on Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
You might want to add Grace Pettis to your list she’s doing a concert next week in Austin where she opens for someone but she did a couple of songs with her Dad Sunday and they are quite cool. I’m saying that for two reasons she’s amazing and gifted and I’m her Austin Dad. Let me see: Andy Gullahorn (Jill Phillips husband), Peter Adams (he had a hit as Eastmountainsouth), Bob Schneider (though he did date Sandy Bullock), Slaid Cleaves, Jonathan Byrd, Jimmy LaFave, etc.. I’m not giving up so easy as Matt on Buddy & Julie. And if you can list them then how about Over The Rhine who opened for Pierce in Santa Fe. Susan Werner is amazing and her last album “The Gospel Truth” would be a great teaching tool, but is highly critical of catholicism and christianity. Patty Griffin & Eliza Gilkyson are probably the Queens in waiting as soon as Joni Mitchell retires. Yeah where is David Wilcox. Saw Griffin House they opened for OTR.
By Scott on Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
I love Slaid Cleaves. Over the Rhine is amazing as wel. It was tough trying to determine who was really unsung in the industry and who was not.
So, Grace is Pierce’s daughter?
By jasonk on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Scott, you are about the reap the sweet fruits of living in Oklahoma. December 8, in OKC, Ellis Paul will be appearing at the Blue Door. It is a little hole in the wall place in a tough part of town, and some of folk music’s greatest artists are setting up there. You will really like it–it is worth the drive. It is a very small venue, and no matter where you sit, it is a good seat. Get there early, get your tickets in advance. If you hang out after the show, you’ll probably get a chance to chat with Ellis.
I will probably be in Phoenix that week, or else I would suggest we meet up and go together. If my plans change I will let you know.
By Scott on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Jason, I will have to try to do that. I’ve seen Ellis at the Bluebird, Uncle Calvin’s in Dallas and The Ark in Ann Arbor.
Let me know if your plans change.