Best Lyricists in Modern Rock?

[krazed]

What are yr opinions on the matter? Off the immediate top of my head:

Craig Finn (Hold Steady)
Dan Bejar (Destroyer)
Matt Berringer (The National)
David Berman (Silver Jews)

Go.

[bac0n]

Joseph Arthur comes immediately to mind for me.

[Horbgorbler]

Friedbergers all the way.

[DSNT]

John Darnielle
Nick Cave

Of course Dylan, if he counts.

[transmogrifier]

PJ Harvey

[krazed]

Friedbergers all the way.

Really? Panda/Avey are way better at it.

:P

[krazed]

John Darnielle
Nick Cave


Great call on both. Though, Cave from the 80s has some of my favorite stuff of all time.

[Acapelli]

Stuart Murdoch

[Horbgorbler]

Really? Panda/Avey are way better at it.

:P

What the hell do the two (four?) have in common?

[Acapelli]

What the hell do the two (four?) have in common?
I think he may be having a bit of fun with you horb.

[Horbgorbler]

I think he may be having a bit of fun with you horb.

Ah. See, I'm used to jokes had at my expense referencing either Darnielle or Spoon.

[krazed]

What the hell do the two (four?) have in common?

I guess I've been gone too long. My jokes aren't relevant anymore, haha.

[Llopin]

Bill Callahan and David Berman for me.

[Lasse]

Despite some bad grammar once in a while, Jesper Binzer from D-A-D writes some amazing lyrics once in a while.

From Jacketless In December:
I see now a world of fear through at mist of tears
I've been in a very bad mood, as if I knew
You always end up empty so full of yourself
I can safely say now, even oldest of tricks that exist:
That you can still disappoint a pessimist!

From Home Alone 4:
Gently my eyelids close. I'd rather be good than clever
I'd rather have all facts wrong than no reply what(so)ever.
I learned before I could speak, with those "being patient eyes"
when God created my kind. But he forgot to tell me why.
So gently my eyelids close.

Human Kind:
When I close my eyes
Strange things begin
It's hard to follow
It's hard to win
With a stretch of purple
Like I'm in a daze
A weakened signal
On it's way...
I see familiar clouds go by
I'm underneath a ceiling sky

Yeah, I'm falling in love with all humankind
If you love me now I won't change my mind
Yeah, I'm falling in love with all humankind
There's noone to blame - the fault is mine
(The fault is mine..)

Yeah, a shock of horror
When the way is clear
My best days
Is when I shake with fear
When my risks are those
I hardly dare to take
I need courage
To stay awake

[D_Davis]

That dude from Sigur Ros

"Yeeeyehhheheheh wheeehhnnnnnniiiyaaa. Fronnnneeeeyeeiaiaia."

Brilliant.


I've always liked E, from The Eels. His lyrics are pretty awesome. Simple, but awesome.

[transmogrifier]

That dude from Sigur Ros

"Yeeeyehhheheheh wheeehhnnnnnniiiyaaa. Fronnnneeeeyeeiaiaia."

Brilliant.


I've always liked E, from The Eels. His lyrics are pretty awesome. Simple, but awesome.

*is listening to eels right now*

Electro-shock Blues is one of the greatest albums of the 90s.

[megladon8]

Hayden

[Hugh_Grant]

Will Sheff

[Horbgorbler]

That dude from Sigur Ros

"Yeeeyehhheheheh wheeehhnnnnnniiiyaaa. Fronnnneeeeyeeiaiaia."

Brilliant.

Pssh. Liz Frasier beats him hands down.

"Kakinnot kikikin katichnot kitisetkitchnot."

(That was supposed to "Lorelei," if you couldn't tell from my brilliant transcription. :lol:)

[Derek]

That dude from Sigur Ros

"Yeeeyehhheheheh wheeehhnnnnnniiiyaaa. Fronnnneeeeyeeiaiaia."

Brilliant.

Man, you really need to brush up on your Hopelandic. You're missing way too many I's. ;)

[origami_mustache]

Sufjan Stevens
Sam Beam (Iron and Wine)
Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu)
Joanna Newsom
Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal)

[Thirdy]

James Mercer for the win.

[krazed]

James Mercer for the win.

Can't complain about this choice.

[ledfloyd]

i second David Berman.

i really enjoy alot of Conor Oberst's lyrics. even if i don't always like the songs or his voice.

i'll think on this for a bit, i'm sure some others will come to me.

[Thirdy]

Will Sheff

Oh yeah, I forgot about him. He's great.

The Stage Names is one of the best albums this year.

[D_Davis]

Pssh. Liz Frasier beats him hands down.

"Kakinnot kikikin katichnot kitisetkitchnot."

(That was supposed to "Lorelei," if you couldn't tell from my brilliant transcription. :lol:)

There is a song on Blue Bell Knoll in which Frasier sings, "Jesus chili-cheese burger."

[Duncan]

Will Sheff kind of freaks me out.

Dave Berman is my pick, for sure. I also dig Will Oldham's stuff.