Well, here are mine:

10.THE BEATLES
same reason for everybody else

9. BABYFACE
every major R&B artist did one of this guys songs. but his best song, he recorded himself. the song "how come, how long" w/ stevie wonder on the "unplugged" album is one of the best performance of a song on record ive ever heard.

8. COUNTING CROWS
great writing, great voice, and great delivery. their music is very consistent. Adam Duritz has a vivid imagination and a great way to paint pictures for the listener.

7. SKIP EWING
a very popular songwriter in 90's country music. he is a great storyteller. some examples are collin raye's "love me", and mark wills "wish you were here". his songs really show the importance of simple gestures.

6. RYAN ADAMS
clearly the most prolific solo artist out right now. every song is so pure.

5. EDWIN MCCAIN
another artist whose puplic image doesnt do him justice. he's only hits were simple ballads......he is so much more than that.
songs like "Sign on The Door" about a woman who he meets at a bar who has a sign on her romantic door that says "sorry, we're closed" is a great start.

4. ROB THOMAS and MATCHBOX TWENTY
i remember hearing "push" and new they would be around for awhile. if you watch the dvd, rob does "3am" with just the piano, the way he originally wrote it. its so incredible.
one of the few radio bands out there, that deserve to be out there. "Bright Lights" is probably the first real hit song they've had that really shows who these guys are.

3. GEORGE STRAIT
watch the movie "pure country" with him. the ending is how id like to approach my concerts. simple, straight-forward

2. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
im a jersey guy.
the towns in the songs....i live in.
the places....i go to.
the people....i shake hands with.
"johnny 99" from the live album his probably my personal favorite. it shows a side of him that really doesnt come out on the commercial songs.

1. GARTH BROOKS
so Whitney Houston pretty much plays herself in "the bodyguard" and music thats not different and is critically acclaimed. Eminem plays himself and does his typical music, and gets critically acclaimed.

garth goes and does a movies where the music is completely different and so the image....and succeeds. the music is solid, and the image you can barely tell its him, which means good acting. and the critics trash it........

are you kidding me.

the whole chris gaines thing, shows this guy took risks. that alone is worth praise. he has one of the best live shows, and the best about the live shows, is theres no gimmicks or big stage effects......HE'S THE SHOW. HE'S THE EFFECT. and for the most part its just him and his guitar. (the dance, unanswered prayers, if tomorrow never comes, the river, and his cover of american pie....all are a part of his show....and all are just him and his guitar.)


whats not to love about him. i could go on forever about him.

scott

"Writing gives me a shoulder to cry on, so that when Im around those who would give me their shoulder to cry on, I can use it to laugh instead"