Are there any recording artists you just can’t listen too?

@hickamore 

Clearly, you know what you mean by that, but it’s not at all evident to me, especially since you pointedly decline to mention what your baseline is for more accomplished guitar playing. I guess you don’t actually want to discuss this. OK with me but then, why bring it up to begin with? 

Fun post.

For me it’s Pearl Jam and specifically Eddie Vedder. I tried. But I just can’t.

@stuartk Sorry, I didn't notice that you wanted to extend the topic. Let's view it through this lens: for "singer-songwriter-self-accompanists," the baseline is necessarily below the Mark Knopfler level -- let's say the Jim Croce level. Croce's playing is adequate to support his intricate lyrics, melodies, chromatics, but still he is not thought of as a guitarist per se. Given that Taylor's lyrics are insipid, vacuous, and/or pretentious, his melodies elementary, three-chord stuff, and his one-octave voice thin and reedy, he would need to be a Knopfler-level guitarist to merit my listening. Actually, juxtaposition with Knopfler is another good lens, given that Taylor sings the part of Charles Mason in Knopfler's "Sailing to Philadelphia," which is 100 times better than anything Taylor could ever conceive. Knopfler  would be famous for guitar work even if he never wrote or sang anything. Who, I wonder, would make such a claim for Taylor? Nobody I ever heard of.

Can you imagine how great The Traveling Wilburys would have been if Bob Dylan would have hired Bruce Springsteen instead of that Harrison guy?  Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen--two of the greatest and most creative artists to ever bless a studio or a stage!!!  The Beatles may have thought that they were more popular than God, but Bruce is The Boss!  BRUUUUCCCEEE!!!!!! 

Actually, it was John Lennon who took it upon himself to declare they were more popular than Jesus Christ, not his Dad.

Quite the ensuing kerfuffle...