Modern musical genius

[bmf185]

Chris Thile. You might know him as the mandolin guy from Nickel Creek, but his solo work and recent stuff with Punch Brothers (including a 40 minute opus in four movements) is incredible. You don't have to be a fan of bluegrass/country music to enjoy or appreciate genius like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7MjZO66yyA

He's channeling some kind of mandolin god here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTFZ79jfTuc

Got any other modern geniuses?

 

[Same River New Water]

Though he's not my favourite artist, Thom Yorke (from Radiohead) is probably my nominee for leading musical inspiration of the last ten years.

 

[Sronpop]

I don't like country music that much, but to me modern musical genius may be Buckethead and Mikael Akerfeldt. I'll get back if I remember more.

Mikael Akerfeldt for sure, first thing that popped into my head after the word musical genius was Mikael Akerfeldt. I'd add Chuck Schuldiner aswell, but he is dead, so that might negate the 'modern' part.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I think that Neil Hagerty has something. I don't know how someone ordinary could come up with music like his.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B30y3t2gS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb4tPXeI06s

Also, the Silver Mt. Zion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_W7ydnPtB4

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

Matt Bellamy for me. Incredible guitarist and Pianist that writes some of the best modern rock today with Muse.

 

[Inverse Skies]

Hmmm, while I would have said most of the musical genius died out when composers such as Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert passed from the scene, if we're talking reasonably modern music only I would say Mark Knofler. He wrote every single one of Dire Straits songs and has the most unique style of playing guitar ever. He still has nothing on the old composers, but for someone new he isn't too bad.

 

[richard misiak]

Matt Bellamy for me. Incredible guitarist and Pianist that writes some of the best modern rock today with Muse.

F*** yes! exactly my sentiments

 

[Datalord]

Bo Burnham?

He's a genius:
Heres the refrain from his rap, Bo, fo' sho'

My name is Bo, fo' sho'
A born Bostonian
Aryan librarian of the Word Smith-sonian
The rap is scattered, it hides its ingenuity
I gave it this little part to give it continuity

Oh wait, heres something from his song, My whole family....

My whole family thinks im gay
i guess its always been that way.
Maybe its cause of the way i walk,
that makes them think that i like...boys

 

[Inarticulate_Underachiever]

Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree
Robert Fripp from King Crimson

Both years ahead of their time.

 

[Crimsanon]

Trent Reznor. Flame all you want, but his ability to create anything from pop to crazy minimalist metal with only a synth and imagination is second to none.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Serj Tankian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7yyJLQHVk

^It's much better if you open it in a tab; listen to the music and ignore the video, it was clearly directed by a phenomenally pretentious ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOmxedtVWeU

^This one's actually watchable if can forgive the excessive symbolism.

His music is easily some of the best I've ever heard, bar none, but his videos make me feel embarrassed for him.

 

[Nokterne]

I don't like country music that much, but to me modern musical genius may be Buckethead and Mikael Akerfeldt. I'll get back if I remember more.

Definitely Mikael Akerfeldt.

 

[dwightsteel]

I think Miley Cyrus is a modern musical genius. Hannah Montana? need I say more? Of course, the Jonas Brothers are a super close second.

 

[Cheesebob]

Thom Yorke (from Radiohead) is probably my nominee for leading musical inspiration of the last ten years.

Win!

Also Noel Gallagher, Micheal Stipe and to a lesser extent, Eminem

Noel Gallagher because his music basically defined the 90s, Micheal Stipe for R.E.M. who pioneered Alternative Rock, finally Eminem for inspiring a generation and being one of the best rappers ever

 

[CRAVE CASE 55]

Chris Cornell from Soundgarden

 

[Bucket0Bones]

Buckethead -

I didn't think it was possible to be so diverse and versatile whilst making purely instrumantal music that is that awesome.

The man deserves more recognition.

Maynard James Keenan

For being an all round awesome man in an all round awesome band called Tool

 

[timmytom1]

Serj Tankian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7yyJLQHVk

^It's much better if you open it in a tab; listen to the music and ignore the video, it was clearly directed by a phenomenally pretentious ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOmxedtVWeU

^This one's actually watchable if can forgive the excessive symbolism.

His music is easily some of the best I've ever heard, bar none, but his videos make me feel embarrassed for him.

This

 

[super_smash_jesus]

Matt Bellamy for me. Incredible guitarist and Pianist that writes some of the best modern rock today with Muse.

F*** yes! exactly my sentiments

agreed. (end comment)

 

[TheGreenManalishi]

Tom Morello. Guitarist/DJ/Noisebox/Mixmaster/Guitarist.

 

[the_hessian]

If we're not talking Ludwig van Beethoven or Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [had to put their full names as they are as impressive as their music] alot of modern mucisians are terrid and pale in comparison.

I'm no the biggest fan of country/blue grass, but it isn't bad, and this Chris Thile guy is pretty pretty epyx... but every genre has their "geniuses".

Thom Yorke from Radiohead or Jón ?Jónsi? Þór Birgisson from Sigur ros could battle over the alternative-rock title for all eternity with the third contender being "Godspeed you black emperor!" which is the most unmainstream alternative post/prog/orchestral/rock group ever, they have no structure or single leader with a line up ranging from one guy to a mini orchestra of about 24 members, and they're so interesting...

Another "group" that could be classed as "genius", and also fall into the post-rock pigeon hole are Cult of Luna.

Something wholey awesome and less progressive, more grungey is Queen Adreena.

Kyo from Dir en Grey has to be one of the most interesting and intreguing lyricists ever.

Steve Vai is a god on the guitar.
Johnny C's Cannon D on the guitar is genius.
Though they're both so blandley metal.

More mainstream Matt Belamy from Muse is damn impressive.
Hell eminem sometimes feels more like a poet rather than a rapper... sometimes.

The peramiters here are too vague as anyone will just spout their favourite mucisians with little real basis to call them a genius, as I must admit I have done so just a little, but all of them, minus eminem to be completely completely honest, could for their own merit be classed as "geniuses" in their own right.