While I love Genesis as much as the next guy, I can't stand anything Phil Collins after Trick of the Tail. I still think Selling England By the Pound might be the best album ever written, but even post-Gabriel Genesis, Trick of the Tail, and Wind and Wuthering for example, are excellently composed.

Donnie Hathaway

Nina Simone

Scott Walker

Cole Porter

Jacques Brel

Joni Mitchell

PJ Harvey

That's all I can manage to remember on one cup of weak coffee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-AIrKaqw-o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD0UGRk6bPc&feature=related

Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

The story and lyrics he came up with in his Ayreon project is just glorious.

And Richard Lederer.

Dr.Luke.

Look him up..hes written some of the most popular pop songs in the past 5 years.

Noel Gallagher.

John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) is one of the best songwriters I know of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRP6egIEABk is arguably their most famous song, thanks to Morel Orel (:wub:), and thankfully it's also one of the best examples of his writing ability. I'm also a huge fan of the lyrics of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sskFjbHu_W0.