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Today’s Music News: Bob Dylan is best songwriter ever, says Rolling Stone

by Staff

August 13, 2015

In a new Rolling Stone feature on the 100 all-time greatest songwriters, Minnesota native Bob Dylan comes out on top. "Dylan's vision of American popular music was transformative," writes Rolling Stone. "No one set the bar higher, or had greater impact." Runners-up were Paul McCartney (#2), John Lennon (#3), Chuck Berry (#4), and Smokey Robinson (#5).

Tom Waits has penned a poem in tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator Keith Richards. "He can run faster than a fax machine," begins the poem, written for a special issue of Rolling Stone. "His urine is blue." (Rolling Stone)

Dick Dale, the 78-year-old surf guitar legend, says that expensive health ailments are forcing him to continue touring. "I can't stop touring because I will die," says Dale, indicating that he needs the income to pay his medical expenses. "Physically and literally, I will die." (Billboard)

FKA Twigs has released a new EP titled M3LL155X, accompanied by a 17-minute music video. (Pitchfork)

The Arcs—a new band led by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys—have released a video for their song "Put a Flower in Your Pocket." (Noisey)

Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl of The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger have joined with Fat White Family to form a new "fictional band" that will nonetheless release an actual EP. The Moonlandingz will put out a 10-inch on Oct. 30, and have already shared a video for their song "Sweet Saturn Mine." Likening the band's genesis to the plot of Woody Allen's movie Purple Rose of Cairo, Lennon says the Moonlandingz "started as a fictional band, and it sort of stepped through the fourth wall." (Rolling Stone)

Lana Del Rey has released a new music video for her single "High By the Beach." There's still no official release date for her third album Honeymoon, but it's expected out this fall. (Billboard)

Ryan Adams shared cover art and a snippet of "Wildest Dreams" from his apparently forthcoming song-by-song cover of Taylor Swift's album 1989. (Billboard)

At Graceland on Wednesday, Priscilla Presley officially unveiled the new Elvis Presley postage stamp, which will go on sale this week at post offices across the country. (Billboard)

For just $35 million dollars—maybe even less—you could have complete ownership of six albums by the Offspring, including both the masters and publishing rights. "The deal could also include a new album," reports Billboard, though it's unclear whether that's a promise or a threat.

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