I'm not about to crown him the best songwriter of the last 15 years myself the guy has only put out one album and an ep to my knowledge, but i think it is unfair to ask if he writes his own songs. He had one cover on the EP and one cover on the album. If those are the only songs of his you have heard you are missing out because his stuff is very good
Good point on the one album thing. But if Jose does three great ones, he's already better than Kurt Cobain in my books. We'll have to see!
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I never said he was a bad songwriter due to his voice. My point is that singer-songwriter is about both aspects, so even if he did write better than Lennon and Morrisson combined, he still wouldn't be a great singer-songwriter because he can't sing.
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I definitely think he's right up there. His voice isn't "shot" like a lot of people think, it's just changed. He can't hit the high screechy notes anymore, but honestly, that didn't make him the best singer/songwriter, it was his particular style and most of all his lyrics. Black Hole Sun or Like A Stone anyone? I wouldn't necessarily say he is THE best of the last 15 years, but he and Ed rank pretty high. I don't know if I would even put Eddie in first place, simply because of the ridiculous amount of bias I have toward him. I would need to think a bit more before coming up with an answer to that one.
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I think his work with Audioslave has ruined his reputation a little, because Audioslave are shit.
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Obviously i love what eddie vedder has done and i think his lyrics are way better then cornell's, but my favorite of the last 15 years has to be Jeff Tweedy of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco.
Cornell is the best singer in the last 15 years. And I think Tweedy is the best songwriter of the last 15 years. Now who is the best at both? Not sure, Vedder would be incredibly tough to beat.
i´ve checked some message boards here, and is amazing how many people consider how great liricist,songwriter, vocalist is cornell and i agree with that...
songs like sunshine, slaves and bulldozers, like suicide, like suicide, sunshower, like a stone, reach down, when i´m down, sweet euphoria, 1 zero and Say hello to heaven are rock classics...
He is definately the best singer, I mean don't get me wrong, he's not my No1 but I'm not stupid enough to try and suggest that someone else in rock has a superior voice. His range alone is breathtaking not to mention the variety of styles which he can cover. However, while I really like his songwriting I wouldn't say he is the best, however I do think he is one of the top songwriters, I certainly think he can use imagery in a unique way, I mean just take a look at Euphoria Morning. It kind of irratates me that he gets so much shit, yes Audioslave is the weakest of his projects, however that does not detract from his ability. I'm certainly eager to hear how he handles this second, more acoustic influenced, solo album. Anyone else?
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All true, yes, but the early 90s are long gone and other, much better song-writers have emerged since. The question asked was whether CC was the best sing/songwriter in 15 years.
Fair point, although he was still singing amazingly well even on his solo tour circa 1999/2000. As far as vocals go, he wins hands down in my book, and like someone else said, he sounded amazing on the Swedish acoustic show he did recently. I think the new solo album is gonna be really interesting to hear, and will be the real test as to whether he can still write music that stands up against his previous records.
Chris being renowned for his high singing, the highest officially recorded note he sings is a G above male high C, both in the intro of "Cold Bitch", and during the final chorus of "Say Hello 2 Heaven." On early bootleg recordings he is heard to go as high as A above high C on one occasion.
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Jeff was an incredible singer, but the point I think people miss is that Jeff was a tenor, reaching such high notes should come far easier to singers like him. Wheras Cornell is a baritone, he can (could) go from an Eddie Vedder-esque low note one minute, to a piercing Robert Plant type note the next. This is what I really admire about Cornell, his voice is extremely versatile which he really does deserve credit for.
Cornell wrote some good songs. I really liked his stuff with soundgarden and i dug some other stuff he has done. That being said he is no where near teh best singer/songwriter in the last 15 years. not by a mile.
Obviously i love what eddie vedder has done and i think his lyrics are way better then cornell's, but my favorite of the last 15 years has to be Jeff Tweedy of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco.
Now i'm not going to say he is the best because there are some great songwriters out there, but he is problaby my favorite and I do think he is better then Cornell.... a LOT better.
If you've never taken the time to listen to Wilco your problayb like whatever he is just saying that to be hip... If i wanted to be hip I could say jeff mangum (not downing him i like his work a lot too) i would think he would be a "hip" pitchfork pick.
Tweedy's my choice for best songwriter. As far as singers, it's too hard to pinpoint a particular best, but Jeff Buckley was amazing. The thing about Cornell, even in his prime, he never sounded that good live. I've listened to bootlegs and he's never sounded anywhere close to what he put down in the studio. This, in my opinion, is the sign of an overrated singer.
Don't get me wrong, what he has down on the records is great, but if you can't sing it that way live, you are not a singer deserving of the title best singer of any generation.
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Tweedy's my choice for best songwriter. As far as singers, it's too hard to pinpoint a particular best, but Jeff Buckley was amazing. The thing about Cornell, even in his prime, he never sounded that good live. I've listened to bootlegs and he's never sounded anywhere close to what he put down in the studio. This, in my opinion, is the sign of an overrated singer.
Don't get me wrong, what he has down on the records is great, but if you can't sing it that way live, you are not a singer deserving of the title best singer of any generation.
Would a pretty much note perfect live version of Jesus Christ Pose change your mind? If so check out the first audio clip from the Paramount Theatre, he sounds pretty damn incredible. http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/songs/9608/
The thing is Cornell has never been fussed about exactly replicating all those notes live, if it happens it happens if it doesn't it doesn't. No hard rock singer is going to be able to sing perfectly every night, and while Chris does have plenty of off nights, he equally has plenty of great ones, even now with Audioslave. His real trouble is that he sets such high standards on record that it notices a lot more when he isn't reaching the notes live. A lot of other singers don't need to worry about this sort of thing, a prime example would be Dave Grohl, who in the ten or so times I've seen Foo Fighters live, very rarely replicates what he does on record, a lot of the time he shouts and screams his way through songs, but it doesn't really matter because ultimately his voice was never that striking in the first place.
Tweedy's my choice for best songwriter. As far as singers, it's too hard to pinpoint a particular best, but Jeff Buckley was amazing. The thing about Cornell, even in his prime, he never sounded that good live. I've listened to bootlegs and he's never sounded anywhere close to what he put down in the studio. This, in my opinion, is the sign of an overrated singer.
Don't get me wrong, what he has down on the records is great, but if you can't sing it that way live, you are not a singer deserving of the title best singer of any generation.
from 1994 until SG broke up Chris was hit or miss live... before that, during the solo tour, and occasionally with audioslave (almost 100% within the last half a year or so - since he quit smoking and drinking) Cornell is PERFECTION live.
No Offense, but you're fucking wrong as hell dude. Get better bootlegs. ( And ditto about not replicating the record)
You're kidding me right?
I understand if he's one of your favourites however his voice was piss poor, both his power and range was weak. As for his songwriting ability, well that's an opinion. How someone could put Cobains voice in the same list as Cornell, Vedder, Springsteen etc is beyond me.
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You're kidding me right?
I understand if he's one of your favourites however his voice was piss poor, both his power and range was weak. As for his songwriting ability, well that's an opinion. How someone could put Cobains voice in the same list as Cornell, Vedder, Springsteen etc is beyond me.
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Got to agree about his range, but in terms of the impact and the effect his songwritting and singing had well it certainly is arguable from where I see it.
As for who is the best of whenever, to me it's far too subjective a question really.
My personal faves include Cornell, Vedder, Staley, Lanegan, Cobain, Win Butler, Evan Dando, Thome Yorke, Al Rujhmenen too many to list I could go on forever.
one thing who affect all great singers baritones,tenors is when they lost any note, or his voice is going weaker with ages everybody notice that from miles away.... and that´s the cornell case, he´s not the singer from early 90´s but, he still can sing great...
i don´t know what hapenned to ex filter, army of everyone singer with his voice, he really lost it.....
the singer of alter bridge, kennedy something has a powerful baritone voice.... sometimes seems like old cornell voice....
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Good point on the one album thing. But if Jose does three great ones, he's already better than Kurt Cobain in my books. We'll have to see!
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sorry Ed.
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He's good, and a great singer, but not the best songwriter.
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i didnt need to read anything else to know that the answer is NO.
he's not.
sorry.
Cornell is the best singer in the last 15 years. And I think Tweedy is the best songwriter of the last 15 years. Now who is the best at both? Not sure, Vedder would be incredibly tough to beat.
He is definately the best singer, I mean don't get me wrong, he's not my No1 but I'm not stupid enough to try and suggest that someone else in rock has a superior voice. His range alone is breathtaking not to mention the variety of styles which he can cover. However, while I really like his songwriting I wouldn't say he is the best, however I do think he is one of the top songwriters, I certainly think he can use imagery in a unique way, I mean just take a look at Euphoria Morning. It kind of irratates me that he gets so much shit, yes Audioslave is the weakest of his projects, however that does not detract from his ability. I'm certainly eager to hear how he handles this second, more acoustic influenced, solo album. Anyone else?
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thom yorke and EV have him beat hands down!
maybe one of the top ten but not the best.
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straight from the horses mouth, he's one of the most talked about celebrities in years! and his delivery is smooth as silk!
Fair point, although he was still singing amazingly well even on his solo tour circa 1999/2000. As far as vocals go, he wins hands down in my book, and like someone else said, he sounded amazing on the Swedish acoustic show he did recently. I think the new solo album is gonna be really interesting to hear, and will be the real test as to whether he can still write music that stands up against his previous records.
I'd say that from 1990-1991 he WAS the best rock singer in history.
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Oh my, they dropped the leash.
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Chris being renowned for his high singing, the highest officially recorded note he sings is a G above male high C, both in the intro of "Cold Bitch", and during the final chorus of "Say Hello 2 Heaven." On early bootleg recordings he is heard to go as high as A above high C on one occasion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cornell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cornell
james hetfield was a good singer/songwriter in 80´s ....
noel ghallaguer is a great songwriter and a good singer too...
Ben Harper IMO
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Eddie Vedder
3. Neil Young
4. chris cornell
5.kurt cobain
Jeff was an incredible singer, but the point I think people miss is that Jeff was a tenor, reaching such high notes should come far easier to singers like him. Wheras Cornell is a baritone, he can (could) go from an Eddie Vedder-esque low note one minute, to a piercing Robert Plant type note the next. This is what I really admire about Cornell, his voice is extremely versatile which he really does deserve credit for.
Tweedy's my choice for best songwriter. As far as singers, it's too hard to pinpoint a particular best, but Jeff Buckley was amazing. The thing about Cornell, even in his prime, he never sounded that good live. I've listened to bootlegs and he's never sounded anywhere close to what he put down in the studio. This, in my opinion, is the sign of an overrated singer.
Don't get me wrong, what he has down on the records is great, but if you can't sing it that way live, you are not a singer deserving of the title best singer of any generation.
Would a pretty much note perfect live version of Jesus Christ Pose change your mind? If so check out the first audio clip from the Paramount Theatre, he sounds pretty damn incredible. http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/songs/9608/
The thing is Cornell has never been fussed about exactly replicating all those notes live, if it happens it happens if it doesn't it doesn't. No hard rock singer is going to be able to sing perfectly every night, and while Chris does have plenty of off nights, he equally has plenty of great ones, even now with Audioslave. His real trouble is that he sets such high standards on record that it notices a lot more when he isn't reaching the notes live. A lot of other singers don't need to worry about this sort of thing, a prime example would be Dave Grohl, who in the ten or so times I've seen Foo Fighters live, very rarely replicates what he does on record, a lot of the time he shouts and screams his way through songs, but it doesn't really matter because ultimately his voice was never that striking in the first place.
from 1994 until SG broke up Chris was hit or miss live... before that, during the solo tour, and occasionally with audioslave (almost 100% within the last half a year or so - since he quit smoking and drinking) Cornell is PERFECTION live.
No Offense, but you're fucking wrong as hell dude. Get better bootlegs.
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
You're kidding me right?
I understand if he's one of your favourites however his voice was piss poor, both his power and range was weak. As for his songwriting ability, well that's an opinion. How someone could put Cobains voice in the same list as Cornell, Vedder, Springsteen etc is beyond me.
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Got to agree about his range, but in terms of the impact and the effect his songwritting and singing had well it certainly is arguable from where I see it.
As for who is the best of whenever, to me it's far too subjective a question really.
My personal faves include Cornell, Vedder, Staley, Lanegan, Cobain, Win Butler, Evan Dando, Thome Yorke, Al Rujhmenen too many to list I could go on forever.
i don´t know what hapenned to ex filter, army of everyone singer with his voice, he really lost it.....
the singer of alter bridge, kennedy something has a powerful baritone voice.... sometimes seems like old cornell voice....