Well of course, their "craft" is the recreation of music. You kind of just answered your own question with "lovingly interpret".

I think plenty of 'good' albums lack talent. To me, its an expression of technical skill. If you create something original that's easily replicated, you're not talented, you're creative and enjoyable. Talent is being able to work your instrument to its highest, most complicated parameters. If you can create a piece of art for any person, no matter their preferences, no matter how difficult it may be, you're talented. Otherwise you're just a musician trying to reach others with your own brand.

Which is not a bad thing.

All in all, they know how to play an instrument well, and they know how to write a stand-out song, and not just filler. They've got to show they can do something a little different instead of generic. And if they are generic, they're still talented if they still sound really good. Like Kiss. Talented, generic. That's my def, anyway. Basically, prove that you stand out more. Because musicians that don't stand out in anyway generally aren't something to write home about. Not to say its about popularity. It's the music itself that needs to stand out, not the connection to the media.

Oh, yeah, another form of talent is to immitate someone perfectly while still letting people know its you. A good example is this band called Milk Duct Tape. You can tell its them, but one song from their debut EP sounds exactly like a Stones song. That takes talent.

It can mean a lot of things—songwriting ability, proficiency with an instrument or instruments, versatility, ability to improvise, stage presence, etc.

It's been diluted with each successive technological advancement that's made making "art" easier.

Those damned lyric writing drum machines.

Everyone has some level of "talent"- it's just that some have the ability to take that level higher. There are millions of guitar players in the world- all have talent. But few reach a stratosphere of being able to do things that others cannot. Same with any instrument.

In my view they're talented musicians but not composers. idk why they don't choose to be composers. it can't be for lack of skills so it must be they lack the drive to create something of their own. i really don't understand that perspective, i learned how to play guitar to make my own songs not play covers forever.

For the classical world, it's much much much more difficult to (1) get an people to play your work if you're doing more than solo stuff and (2) get an audience than to just play the classics.

Didn't disappoint.

But missed the point.

Wanna smoke a joint?