Best new singer/songwriters of the last 20 years

[Chris P]

oh yes, I see it's said to be from '95. So Ron Sexsmith's definitely in. Listening to his first album now, it starts very well

[Chris P]

...

[Rob Hall]

Actually, now I come to think of it, there's a Charlie connection: Charlie had a hand in launching Elvis C's career, and it was praise from Elvis C (and Nick Lowe, among others) that gave Ron's career a massive boost.

[NormanD]

I didn't know there were any venues in Bromley, let alone obscure ones. Chris: "Secret heart, what are you made of, What are you so afraid of?" C'mon - all together now. It's a great pub song, especially after Rod Stewart's version. But probably only in one obscure pub in Bromley.

[Chris P]

which pub in Bromley's this then? I'm on track 2 now. Sounds great too. And track 3

[Rob Hall]

Wasn't a pub. It was some sort of leisure centre or something just off the High St, with temporary seating. I used to live in Bromley many moons ago, and I never knew the building existed, which is why I said obscure.

[Chris P]

and what happened there, or was referred to there?

[Nigel w]

Bromley Acoustic Music Club, used to be held at the Pavilion Leisure Centre. No longer exists (the club, that is, not the leisure centre).

It was run by this guy: http://hoppersongs.moonfruit.com/info/4574552202

[Rob Hall]

Yep. Looking at Google maps to get a memory fix on the location, the Pavilion Leisure Centre it was.

[Chris P]

Bromley's musical links are indeed wide
Bowie
Siouxsie Sioux
Billy Jenkins
Billy Idol
now I hear of Simon Hopper
there're many many others for sure, including several more well known ones

[Chris P]

Poly Styrene
Frampton
Topper Headon

also a Morris side, an A Crowley connection, a Monty Python connection, a Frankie Boyle connection, and someone called Pixie Lott, whose music is probably fairly unremarkable

[Rob Hall]

OK Chris. All of the following singer/songwriters have broken through in the past 20 years:

Sean Lennon
Adam Cohen
Nick Harper
Harper Simon
Jakob Dylan (pre 94 with the Wallflowers, but solo since)
Teddy Thompson
Kami Thompson
Martha Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Jeff Buckley (Grace was released in '94)
Chris Stills
Justin Townes Earle
Inara George

(There's probably more...)

Do they have a place in the pantheon or are they guilty by association?

[Chris P]

thanks Rob, there are some faves in there maybe, for some of us. How could we have not thought of or mentioned some of them so far?
The only ones from that list that I'd personally add are The Rails (James Walbourne & Kami Thompson), though I haven't got their album - in fact the live recordings eg youtube etc sound better to me.

also Nancy Kerr and Emily Portman should be mentioned
and Satomi Matsuzaki

[MartinOwen]

Back to interesting young(ish) songwriters. I like Carrie Rodriguez. She first fetched up on the Anglesey shores with Chip Taylor, and has been back about 5 times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLI75Gybea8

and talking of Chip - I love the video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amIMdUYEIJU

[NormanD]

and talking of Chip - I love the video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amIMdUYEIJU

Chip Taylor's done a few videos of this song, all as good as each other. He's also done "Fuck All The Perfect People (Part 2)" - another great song and vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xK5YHU2-jY