Best Lyricist?

Indie is definitely not a lyrical music - at least not poetically valid lyrical. I haven't heard anyone from this decade that I'd say is a good lyricists.

I'd say Why? are indie... although it depends if youre using indie as a genre or just to mean independent. Because IMO Yoni has fucking amazing lyrics.

eskimo snow is pretty damn indie. Although I think Why was a TON better when yoni was more hip hop oriented. Hymies basement is sick too

yo yo bye bye is suuuuuch a good track. i really like the xiu xiu version too

I'm using indie as a genre, not a descriptor.

Alopecia was definitely the peak of his work... everything else falls short compared to it.

yea i think Alopecia was the perfect balance between the two styles. the lyrics were a little less opaque then the early stuff but it still had the distinct hip hop influence (twenty eight, fall of mr. fifths etc.)

post examples? or explain how Yoni's lyrics arent dope.

Elvis Costello

If I had to go with anyone, I'd go with Alex turner of Arctic Monkey's -

"if you grew up with white boys
who only look at black and puerto rican porno
cause they want something that their dad don't got
then you know where you're at

mortaring your earholes shut in a rush with wet coke
in a starbucks bathroom with the door closed
on booze, i'm left in residue and confused
like the first time you used soft water
down on my luck, caught unaware
like houdini when the last fist struck

if i'm sinking in laughing at something sunken in, i am

sucking dick for drink tickets
at the free bar at my cousin's bat mitzvah
cutting the punch line and it ain't no joke
devoid of all hope circus mirrors and pot smoke
picking fights on dyke night
with shirlies at loc's and snatching purses

doing elton at karaoke and forgetting all the verses
blowing kisses to disinterested bitches
playing lead lay in a bad way on broadway
sending sexy smses to my exes new man cause i can
on the road trying to break an old van
eating pussy for new fans, i am what the hell
using purell till my hands bleed and swell
missing mel at a motel 6, i'm unwell

if i'm sinking in laughing at something sunken in, i am

it feels exciting touching your handwriting
getting horny by reading it and repeating poor me
intently staring at the picture of your feet on the sticker
at the r. crumb exhibit, i wonder who's sicker

jerking off in an art museum john till my dick hurts
the kind of shit i won't admit to my head shrinker
not even in a whisper to my own little sister
i just act like a dick and talk shit when i'm with her

aught six i'll say the friday before easter
was not good i cried to myself in the pisser
and with you in the front row at the silver jews show
and you act like you didn't notice, my fear of the bear
at showbiz pizza when i was six was overwhelming and not dissimilar to this

if i'm sinking in laughing at something sunken in, i am

at jacob hand's on tour i wake up
hung over on a hardwood floor
from a dream about how your dress
hangs off of your little breasts
i'd rather be dead than call this song
how i lost your respect but god bless or get neglected
and i'll see you when the sun sets east, don't forget me"





c'mon, tell me that isnt genius.
ringtones and media links

At the risk of sounding like a complete hipster fiend, Im going to say Jeff Mangum, I love Aeroplane with all my heart.

No, you'd be right up my alley sir. Oh Comely is BY FAR his greatest lyrical work.

Are we on /mu/ now?

I've actually never been to that board. I've been a fan of Neutral Milk for about 2 years now - since I've heard, of course. I never bring it up because it's one of those bands where everyone pretty much gets how good it is.

well if eveybody is gonna start posting lyrics that they feel are the best i shall destroy you all:

Now that your picture's in the paper being rhythmically admired
and you can have anyone that you have ever desired

Don't get smart or sarcastic
He snaps back just like elastic
Spare us the theatrics and the verbal gymnastics
We break wise guys just like matchsticks

Oh, I said "I'm so happy, I could die."
She said "Drop dead," then left with another guy.

- All Elvis Costello, all PURE GENIUS!!!!!

I couldn't agree more, Oh Comely has always been without a doubt my favorite song off that album, good stuff.

SEMEN STAINS THE MOUNTAINTOPS

I FUCKIN KNO RITE!?

don't forget.

^yes.

also, neutral milk yes. semen does stain the mountaintops.

why? alopecia has perhaps my favorite lyrics of any album, but it's kind of his style. everything on there is more of a story than a song which is why its great.

mewithoutyou? anybody? so fuckin' good. except there newest album is ehh.

Obviously not a band known for its lyrics, but i was listening to F#A# infinity yesterday and i remembered how epic this song is:




The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn

We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
And the machine is bleeding to death

The sun has fallen down
And the billboards are all leering
And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

It went like this

The buildings tumbled in on themselves
Mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble and pulled out their hair

The skyline was beautiful on fire
All twisted metal stretching upwards
Everything washed in a thin orange haze

I said, "Kiss me, you're beautiful..
These are truly the last days"

You grabbed my hand and we fell into it
Like a daydream or a fever

We woke up one morning and fell a little further down
For sure it's the valley of death

I open up my wallet
And it's full of blood

bumping old thread,

Alex Turner definitely, loved the Arctic Monkeys for years now, but his best lyrical work was definitely on Age Of The Understatement.

Sage Francis,

but current Indie musicians definitely have nothing on the classics.

I think it's harder to find good lyrics in current indie music because so much of it is simply clever, which--to me--gets boring. That's why I wouldn't put WHY? on a list of bands with good lyrics: they might be fun, but they're not saying anything serious. You have to look to Elliott, maybe Frank Turner, or (flamesuit on) Craig Finn from the Hold Steady for sincere lyrics that mean something.

Before i even opened this thread, i said to myself "WHY?" and god damn am i pleased to see the results.  Check out live Why?, it's a little slower but i find his presentation to be much more enlivening. 

'Modern' music then yep, Frank Turner.

Oldies.. Townes Van Zandt

this thread was correct from the get go.



i sleep on my back cus its good for the spine aaaaand coffin rehersal