Best American music of the last 25 years?

@bdp24 - I don't know how old you are, but I can assure you that back in the late 60's and early 70's, 'singer/songwriter' was a VERY popular style of music among people my age, who were teenagers. Elton John, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Don McLean, Johnny Winter, and I could go on and on.

Today, all you have to do is look at the pop charts and I think you might see more individual names than band names. Guitar-based rock bands have not been the most popular genre among younger folks for quite some time now. Hip-hop, pop, and electronica rule the roost. Doesn't bother me either way. 

@daledeee1 - Muse is a great band, but English....

@bdp24 - good choices, but Richard Thompson is quite English.... 

@cincyjim - Jon Anderson from Yes is American music from the past 25 years?

Doesn't seem like many people on this thread like any American music from any artists who debuted in the past 25 years, just older artists who were/are still around.

I'm not sure that 'represents American music of the past 25 years', which the OP was looking for suggestions for, but good suggestions anyway. 

@chayro - FZ would have preferred to not have to deal with other musicians at all, and could do all of the music himself, but they didn't quite have the technology he'd have needed in Frank's day... He did like using the Synclavier, though... Your question could be applied equally to Captain Beefheart....