After some consideration, I have decided to re-do my list as follows.
In no particular order:
Kurt Cobain : Because besides being a great songwriter, he could do the absolute best anti-guitar-solos of all time (
Example)
Chris Simpson (of Mineral) : Much lesser known than Cobain, but just as good of a guitarist, if not better. He also has the most charmingly off-key singing ever.
Richard David James : Goes without saying. I believe that in three hundred years, children will be taught about Edison, Newton, Bell, RDJ,... He is quite possibly the absolute best at drum programming, ever.
Sean Booth + Rob Brown : Collectively, these two rival RDJ's beat-programming skills. I am really fascinated by how they have managed to come up with music which is as (mostly) spartan and entirely unemotional as it is while still being created by human beings.
Tim Hecker : I can't claim to be an expert in ambient/drone by any stretch of the imagination, but Hecker is my absolute favorite of the genre from what I have seen. His music is essentially a rainstorm, a blizzard, a walk in the fog, and death at the same time.
Nils Frahm : The absolute epitome of modern classical piano genius. His works, especially the record
Wintermusik, are universally beautiful. My ultimate hope is that someday I can be half the musician that he is.
edit: And, of course, the Brothers Boards.
Son House
Robert Johnson
