Meanwhile, rock songwriters are stealing all they can from electronica.

Mr. Springsteen is one of many veteran rock songwriters whose music has actually grown less melodic since the 1970's.

Back in the early 1980's, when a wave of seriousness rolled over rock songwriters, I thought it was a good idea.

It's also a grudging recognition that for most rock songwriters, experience and craftsmanship pale next to the inspirations of youth.

From the 1960's onward, rock songwriters have been able to depend on loyalty from radio programmers and fans.

Second only to Bob Dylan, Westerberg has been called the state's most influential rock songwriter.

Therapy has come to even the rarefied sector of rock songwriters.

This twist makes Mr. Alexakis an important contributor to the social history such rock songwriters are creating.

At this self-conscious stage in rock's evolution, many ambitious rock songwriters steer clear of the blues.

But for rock songwriters, the album sanctioned a new kind of distance between songwriter and audience.