your favorite current lyricist

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Well? I'll predictably choose Rennie Sparks, whose lyrics are absolutely beautiful.

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I really, really like Will Robinson Sheff of Okkervil River (and Shearwater). Beautiful images, fine rhymes, rousing stories - humour and emotion.

― Sean M (Sean M), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:05 (twenty-one years ago)

David Berman. Almost shockingly down to earth while still very poetic. He's able to summon the true spirit of what it means to be an American right now, and put into words things that we feel but can't put into words.

― David Allen (David Allen), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Jon Von Ryan of Olneyville Sound System.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Probably Colin Newman at the moment. Listening to some unleased stuff from around the time of 'Send'

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Marcy Mays probably.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:47 (twenty-one years ago)

DAN BEJAR.

― CL, Monday, 16 February 2004 04:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Joe Pernice for his Scud Mountain Boys tunes as well as the newer Pernice Brothers music; also James Mercer from the Shins.

― webcrack (music=crack), Monday, 16 February 2004 04:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Randy Newman. Always.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Matraca Berg, Gruff Rhys, Allison Moorer, Steve Tagliere out of Gingersol, Mike Ferrio out of Tandy. Anthony Hamilton is better than all of these, though.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

As far as new artists go, I'd go with Matt and Eleanor from the Fiery Furnaces.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Green Velvet.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Not sure about current ones I'm into other than him.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fiery Furnaces.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

lil flip, demon of east connection

― scg, Monday, 16 February 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

David Tibet, Michael Gira or Hayden Desser, in my case. Let's stick with the first one. (No, this is indeed no happy home ;-)

― Roger T (Roger T), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

jason molina of songs:ohia

I would fuck him if he wasn't so far away and male.

― hmmm, Monday, 16 February 2004 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Robyn Hitchcock.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

The Sleepy Jackson

― Jole (Jole), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never heard of a single one of these bands.

I choose The Guy From Belle and Sebastian

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

You haven't heard of Robyn Hitchcock? Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians? The Soft Boys? Sad, sad, sad!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.robynhitchcock.com/GlobeOfFrogsposter.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Do they have a fire to honor?

― Jole, Monday, 16 February 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

My favorite lately might be Holly Anderson, a poet whose works are adapted (in slightly altered form) for a lot of Consonant's (Clint Conley ex of Mission of Burma's current band) songs.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I must really be missing something bout the Fiery Furnaces. "Tropi-cool, tropi-cool/icy, icy" is the absolute anthithesis of good lyrics, IMHO.

― anode (anode), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh come on, Anode. That's very unfair. That's out of context, and just one line from one song.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

And you don't even have the line correct! It's "in the tropical, tropical, tropical ice-land, icy, icy"

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry, that's what it sounded like she was saying. The general gestalt of the song is that of a sugarless gum commercial, at least to me.

― anode (anode), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I must really be missing something bout the Fiery Furnaces

Matthew, they're fun and all - I love how Matt (not you, the Fiery Furnaces guy) sings the syllables in "Inca Rag," musical and chunky and nice, but if we're talking the absolute greatest lyricists of our time... they don't quite come to mind. Can you situate your admiration for them? I'd like to get where you're coming from.

― Sean M (Sean M), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the Fiery Furnaces' lyrics for the same reason I tend to love guys like Stephen Malkmus, Bob Pollard, Mark E. Smith, and The Wu-Tang Clan (esp. Ghostface Killah) - it's the playfulness, the overflow of disparate and unlikely images, and the contagious love of language. I like that at least half of their lyrics are cryptic, because it gives me something to want to figure out. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. The more obvious and linear lyrics tend to make very mundane things sound fascinating and whimsical, and sometimes they are just very melancholy and heartbreaking ("Bright Blue Tie," "Rub Alcohol Blues.")

I don't care about "greatness" (what would that be, someone who has IMPORTANT things to say? fuck that! that's so boring!) I just want interesting words that sound good and evoke ideas and images, or make me laugh. I value always fun over "greatness."

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Err, I always value fun over "greatness." Sorry to get all Yoda on you there.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I see, Matthew... ginsberg over cummings/eliot?

It's interesting because Malkmus and Ghostface's lyrics put me off; I always feel like calling bullshit on their random spoutings. I like language too (obv.), but what's magic for me is when someone finds the right, perfect word - the play comes in when that word surprises me, when it flickers or flashes-in against all expectation (but still perfect).

someone who has IMPORTANT things to say? fuck that!

I think you're right, most of the time, but I do hold on to some poetic ideal of finding turns of phrase that are somehow true. Fun is fun - it's one of my discoveries of the past two years - but sometimes I feel a responsibility to think and pursue and learn about ideas/memories/feelings somehow bigger (yes, "greater") than myself.

Of course, consequently, I'm a huge downer, and nobody invites me to parties.

― Sean M (Sean M), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

er: elliot

― Sean M (Sean M), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

what would that be, someone who has IMPORTANT things to say? fuck that! that's so boring!

Agreed....which is why I so highly rate Robyn Hitchcock, who sings obliquely about fish and light bulbs and zebras, but in an incredibly clever manner.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Sean, it's one "l" actually (unless we're talking about different poets.)

In any case, i don't see how say, "Howl" is any less "important" than "The Waste Land" (or for that matter "The Wasteland" is less surrealist than "howl", more so if you aren't micro-familiar with all the myth allusions.)

Both of those use surrealist/cut-up/nonsense techniques to drive at points worth taking home.

― anode (anode), Monday, 16 February 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

In any case, i don't see how say, "Howl" is any less "important" than "The Waste Land"

I don't either; but "Howl" is certainly more "fun."

― Sean M (Sean M), Monday, 16 February 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I think John Darnielle is about as good as them come. (And I'm not just saying that because he might read this.)

― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Monday, 16 February 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Britt Daniel can be amazing, esp. on Girls Can Tell,

― otto, Monday, 16 February 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Andy Falkous from McLusky's lyrics are the definition of fun. Ted Leo is a bit wordy sometimes, but I like his lyrics a bunch too.

― Maciej, Monday, 16 February 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

As far as older lyricists who I'm into right now go, I'm a big fan of Chris Difford's lyrics in Squeeze. I think he probably comes closer to Sean M's ideals as I understand them.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

McLusky has the best song titles in rock

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes they do. I love a band that has a song called "Undress For Success".

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

B-b-but Colin Newman doesn't write most of the lyrics in Wire! (I'm told it's mostly Graham Lewis these days.)

Dan Bejar is right up there as far as I'm concerned. Also very fond of Yasuko Onuki, Stephin Merritt, Mark E. Smith.

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost I also like Rock Vs. Single Parents alot.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Craig Finn.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Jarvis Cocker.

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll second the merritt and john D love. Phil elvrum, thom yorke, the guy from the unicorns, and cat power have been tickling my fancy lately. suddenly im feeling very indie geekish.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Craig Finn.

how are the lyrics on the new Hold Steady? Are they the same type of finn schtick? (I luv the schtick so that's not intended as a knock)

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Joe Henry

― southern lights (southern lights), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Drive By Truckers

― Sym (shmuel), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

cedric bixler (oh wait, this isn't a pretention thread)

tim harrington

― sean marvin (williamtell), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

scott miller from loud family, stew from the negro problem, stephen merritt

― dan (dan), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Right right right right right right right now - Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Ditto Stew, and kick me in the head please for forgetting Caetano Veloso

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Dizzee Rascal.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

the Hold Steady lyrics are every bit as good as the LP ones: http://www.theholdsteady.com/lyrics.html

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Sufjan Stevens, Immortal Technique, Ted Leo, MF Doom, Jean Grae, Patterson, Cooley, and Isbell from DBT.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks WK....the lyrics for Postive Jam look awesome! Very like Nassau Colliseum...can't hardly wait.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

It might still be Pat Fish, Lloyd Cole and Robert Forster.

But Britt Daniel was a good suggestion.

And Chris Butler writes some witty "only half of a conversation" lyrics. As if Bob Newhart were a musician.

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Bob Dylan is still the greatest lyracist who has ever lived. Like Hendrix, his mastery will never be surpassed, because he wrote the rule book, again and again.

― yup, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim Kinsella on the Owls album. The lyrics in "I Want the Quiet Moments of a Party Girl" in particular are brilliant - as is the title. "Holy Fucking Ghost" too - chilling song all around.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Another vote for Craig Finn.
Another vote for David Berman.
Slug from Atmosphere.
Aesop Rock.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol is up there (and please don't judge the band on Run - good though it is, there's more to them than Coldplay-esque anthems).

also -

another vote for Andy Falkous
the guy from Aereogramme
Chino Moreno
Yan from British Sea Power
Corgan (can be hit and miss, but when he gets it right he's fantastic)

― Chris Jones (Crackity Jones), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I'll have to third those Jarvis and Stephin mentions. Smart, sharp, and breaks your heart. (Uh, no, I'm not a lyricist.)

― A Wyck, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

current faves - james mercer/shins...death cab for cutie/postal service
classic: fela, of course. tom ze.

― Etta, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

re: British Sea Power - what's he saying on the first track with lyrics the album? About the Russian boy with bleached hair, or whatever? Good song, can't figure out the lyrics.

― Etta, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Courtney Love, for sure

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 08:28 (twenty-one years ago)

For the past few weeks, it's been Al Duvall.

"My Clementine her kisses are sweeter than fortified wine, but she left me for an old wifebeater whose theater was darker than mine, so come out put on your breadbag socks ‘cause it’s raining anchors and engine blocks, we’re gonna get drunk down by the phosphate mine, The bootlegger’s daughter lives on the hill she ain’t good looking but I love her still, it’s so far out to the chicken shack you ride a pregnant mare so you can get back, I brought the brewer a bag of malt if I don’t get drunk it’s the brewer’s fault, I don’t go to topless bars no more, they make you take your shirt off at the door, (Chorus) Mama I’m so tired I want to drift on down to sleep on the seashells in the deep Oh pretty mama when I die cut a big fat onion to make somebody cry (Chorus)."

― Curt (cgould), Thursday, 19 February 2004 05:58 (twenty-one years ago)

M Ward, Dan Bejar, Mike Cooley of DBT.

― Chris O., Thursday, 19 February 2004 06:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Jazz Butcher all the way!
the Fountains of Wayne consortium
Jeff freakin' Tweedy

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 19 February 2004 06:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Folks whose lyrics are kicking my ass as of late: Cee-Lo, James Mercer from The Shins, Talib Kweli, Thom Yorke, Ani DiFranco, Lyrics Born, and as Donna said Jeff freakin' Tweedy.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 19 February 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Mike Skinner from the streets a rapper that is not afraid to be british and talk about relevant stuff to everyday british life

― trevor johnson, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the Al Duvall stuff, Curtis. Tell me more about him (her?). An artist search on AMG yielded nothing.

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Adam Green.

― Momus (Momus), Thursday, 19 February 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul, Al Duval sounds like a cross between Tom Lehrer, Mountain Goats and Tiny Tim. He's from NYC. He has played CBGB's. I've never seen him, just heard his two albums. I discovered him on the website of the English shop, Norman Records. He seems to get more attention over there. He's got a website, alduvall.com with all of his lyrics. His records can be ordered from Brainwashed. They are addictive as hell.

― Curt (cgould), Friday, 20 February 2004 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks, will investigate (although the "tiny tim" part of your description scares me!)

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 20 February 2004 02:32 (twenty-one years ago)

m. ward

― cozen (Cozen), Friday, 20 February 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Tiny Tim mainly for ukelele and old, old song styles. If you prefer, think R. Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders, Leon Redbone and a bit ot Tom Waits, especially in the lyrics. Nevertheless, if you ever feel like to confronting your fear, check out Tiny Tim's live at Royal Albert Hall album. It's a real treat.

― Curt (cgould), Friday, 20 February 2004 04:43 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

Well, how about neutral milk hotel? I think that trumps everything. For me, anyway.

Cheers,
Timmy

― Elt Timmy, Monday, 16 August 2004 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Not sure if NMH is "current" unfortunately =(

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 16 August 2004 16:25 (twenty years ago)

I love Roots Manuva's lyrics:

"And now it seems we're getting used to this debris/We made our beds and now we hate where these beds be"

"Lager lout rapper, do you dig my niche?"

"This style is not free. This style is expensive."

Andre 3000's pretty good. Also MC Abdominal.

― Wooden (Wooden), Monday, 16 August 2004 16:40 (twenty years ago)

TOM SMITH TOTALLY DUDEZ

come in the hand of a girl named Kiss-Twat
biting at my skin, blood oozes out the toes
two women declined due to gold tinting
the ice faintly tingling on the rings in their noses
Kiss-Cunt couldn't can my one-night binge
"You dirty little cat, touching yourself again!"
I'm a crook, a no-good, a traitor and lover of
Suck-Twat, balled up in her smacking kiss
-
through love of kissed prick and priestly fraud
sucked the spikes and knives of Kiss-Twat bawd...

― brock (brock), Monday, 16 August 2004 16:50 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

re: British Sea Power - what's he saying on the first track with lyrics the album? About the Russian boy with bleached hair, or whatever? Good song, can't figure out the lyrics.

oh fyodor you are the most attractive man i know your russian heart is strong and has been bleeding for too long

― emsk, Monday, 7 February 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

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