What Do You Mean Pete Seeger Isn't One of the 100 Best Living Songwriters?

I just picked up the June-July Special Collector's Issue of Paste magazine ... the one with Bob Dylan on the cover, along with the magazine's countdown of the 100 Best Living Songwriters. I was stoked to get inside and see who would be included. After all, Paste has become one of my favorite magazines, as it covers contemporary folk music, world music, and music from the various other genres that's just flat out good (the subtitle of the magazine reads, Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture).

But when I got inside, I was sadly disappointed. Folks who voted on this list include 50 quite capable songwriters and journalists, yet they left out Pete Seeger, Holly Near, Janis Ian, Ani DiFranco, Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, and Michael Franti – not to mention a slew of other artists who are lesser known but equally as gifted.

Now, I know from experience that, when choosing a "Best Of" list, you're not going to please everyone; but come on! Pete Seeger wrote some of the most important songs from the 20th century! Holly Near, Janis Ian, and Ani DiFranco, despite having never achieved real lasting critical acclaim, are admired among just about every songwriter I've ever met. Richard Shindell? Also mysteriously absent from the list.

Not all the folkies missed out, though. Some notables who were included are Neil Young, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, and of course the poster child of great songwriting – Bob Dylan.

I guess that's fair. I'll keep reading Paste, but with a chip on my shoulder. Okay, so I won't even have a chip on my shoulder. I will, however, end my rant here, and open the floor for comments.