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Post by Rattlesnake Gospel on Feb 6, 2014 18:09:14 GMT -5
Also, ever so slightly off topic (as I don't necessarily mean lyrics, aside from some cases) but I think Lionel Ritchie and Phil Collins are two of the finest songwriters of their generation (and I will defend this vehemently). I am mocked relentlessly by friends for my love of Phil Collins. I too will defend his songwriting till my dying day. |
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Post by bloodystereos on Feb 6, 2014 19:43:45 GMT -5
my buddy wrote and plays live with full band a song called Cod Shaped Hair
it was inspired by my playing hold steady and telling him that NO ONE writes likes this
he did his best, and it's not in the same vein as Craig's writing
and it is a bit contrived
but, the point is that I'm just typing as think
Dylan rules. Desolation Row.
Nick Cave
Leonard Cohen
Roger Waters
Steve Barbarro
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stringer
Has Status
Seein' my duty clear.
Posts: 2,702
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Post by stringer on Feb 7, 2014 4:34:42 GMT -5
Also, ever so slightly off topic (as I don't necessarily mean lyrics, aside from some cases) but I think Lionel Ritchie and Phil Collins are two of the finest songwriters of their generation (and I will defend this vehemently). I am mocked relentlessly by friends for my love of Phil Collins. I too will defend his songwriting till my dying day. Something Happened On The Way To Heaven. 'Nuff said. |
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Post by kickingitwithkevin on Feb 9, 2014 5:42:10 GMT -5
I love Dylan to death, but not always for his lyrics. He's certainly important, bringing poetry to rock and all, but sometimes that poetry was just a bit lame, IMHO. 'The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face'? Anyone hazard a guess at what that actually means, beyond sounding, you know, kinda deep? That said 'the day on the countryside was hotter than a crotch' is pretty genius. And to put all of this in context, I have more Dylan on my iPod and play him more often than any other artist.
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Feb 9, 2014 6:59:50 GMT -5
I've seen several favorites listed already. Here are some others worth looking into: - John Roderick (The Long Winters)
- Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys)
- Ted Leo
- Aimee Mann
- Paul Williams
- John Cale
- Carl Newman
- Dolly Parton
- Billy Bragg
- Mac McCaughan (Superchunk)
- Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide)
- Mark Oliver Everett ("Mr. E" of eels)
- John Prine
- Townes Van Zandt
- Joe Jackson
- Edwyn Collins
- Carole King
- Willie Nelson
- Billy Joe Shaver (check out the songs he wrote for Waylon Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes)
- Kris Kristofferson
- Gary Louris and Mark Olson (The Jayhawks)
- Jimmy Webb
- Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo)
- Jill Sobule
- Josh Ritter
- Lloyd Cole
- Eddie Argos
I could keep going, but it's stupid early here and the coffee is just starting to wake me up. |
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Post by doctoracula on Feb 9, 2014 9:03:08 GMT -5
Fuck I can't believe I forgot E. He should make every list on the merit of "P.S. you rock my world" alone.
Re: Dylan, I love that he was able to do the wild, weird poetry of the mid 60s records just as well as the more straightforward stuff (like on Nashville Skyline) just as well as the crazy complex storytelling (like on Desire and BOTT) and the heartbreaking stuff and the growing older stuff and seriously everything in between. I also don't particularly care if I know what specific lines mean, his weirder words usually work on a subconscious level for me. They conjure up a feeling, not a specific understanding in literal terms, and that's one of those great things only music and poetry can pull off. Also, sometimes words just sound cool together.
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Post by kickingitwithkevin on Feb 9, 2014 9:14:00 GMT -5
Fuck I can't believe I forgot E. He should make every list on the merit of "P.S. you rock my world" alone. Re: Dylan, I love that he was able to do the wild, weird poetry of the mid 60s records just as well as the more straightforward stuff (like on Nashville Skyline) just as well as the crazy complex storytelling (like on Desire and BOTT) and the heartbreaking stuff and the growing older stuff and seriously everything in between. I also don't particularly care if I know what specific lines mean, his weirder words usually work on a subconscious level for me. They conjure up a feeling, not a specific understanding in literal terms, and that's one of those great things only music and poetry can pull off. Also, sometimes words just sound cool together. I don't disagree with any of this. Except to say I think he's got better as he's got older. Time Out Of Mind has got some truly beautiful reflections on love and mortality, plus Tempest has some real grit. It goes without saying too that Blood on the Tracks is a masterclass in just about everything , and it ain't Christmas without Must Be Santa. |
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Post by doctoracula on Feb 9, 2014 10:13:33 GMT -5
he really has been pretty consistently great since Time Out of Mind. i thought his quality dipped a little on Together Through Life, but then he picked right back up with Tempest. the man is unreal.
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Post by Phils_fan on Feb 9, 2014 18:30:03 GMT -5
Subpoenaed in Texas: Hayes Carll Guy Clark Lyle Lovett Bob Schneider  |
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Feb 9, 2014 19:42:58 GMT -5
Amen re: Guy Clark. "Desperadoes Waiting on a Train" wrecks me.
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Post by timmytva on Feb 9, 2014 19:51:53 GMT -5
One I haven't seen mentioned yet - Rhett Miller (The Old 97s)
Tim
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Post by WhiskeyDaisy on Feb 9, 2014 20:07:38 GMT -5
And Todd Snyder.
Oh, so many good ones in this thread!
XO
WD
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Post by Andy on Feb 9, 2014 20:39:12 GMT -5
Two folks that aren't in this thread that should be in this thread.
David Berman of the Silver Jews is up there.
"I Remember Me" is one of my favorite/most heart crushing songs of all time:
Bill Callahan "Small Plane"
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Post by Phils_fan on Feb 9, 2014 23:07:11 GMT -5
One I haven't seen mentioned yet - Rhett Miller (The Old 97s) Tim I feel like I could go on with Texas songwriters for awhile. And Rhett reminded me to mention Ray Davies. |
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iterate
Sniffling Indie Kid
Don't know all the lyrics, but I hit the key words.
Posts: 189
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Post by iterate on Feb 10, 2014 0:58:13 GMT -5
That hip hop comment may be unfair, but I feel like when your whole medium depends that heavily on your way with words, a different criteria needs to be set. think maybe the thought that hip-hop is entirely dependent on the writing is a bit unfair. much to be said for song structure/voice/presence/cadence/etc of a rapper, not to mention the many dimensions involved in great production. some albums are big purely on the production, and many rappers who are quite poor writers are very, very famous. sorry if this seems nitpicky; just think simplification of hip-hop is a major hurdle for the genre and its various practitioners glad to see milo has already found mention in this thread  safari al milo john darnielle open mike eagle busdriver AESOP ROCK el-p kool ad heems billy woods earl (when he's not 'fucking the freckles off your face') eyedea SERENGETI nocando yoni wolf yc the cynic zeroh caps indicate love-driven emphasis of some color the hold steady are quite nearly the only non-rap/electronic i listen to... |
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Post by doctoracula on Feb 10, 2014 1:19:19 GMT -5
To be fair, it's rza that will fuck the freckles off your face
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iterate
Sniffling Indie Kid
Don't know all the lyrics, but I hit the key words.
Posts: 189
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Post by iterate on Feb 10, 2014 3:16:47 GMT -5
god dont even get me started on how underutilized that feature is
earl was just flexing on some 'HAHAHHA I CAN HAVE RZA ON A TRACK' instead of... making an actual artistic project out of it
also: surprised to see no rhymesayers in this, given craig's atmosphere connection
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Feb 10, 2014 7:04:54 GMT -5
also: surprised to see no rhymesayers in this, given craig's atmosphere connection Slug is a great MC, true- but, then again, there's a wealth of talent in the MPLS hip hop community. The Rhymesayers crew is rad in general and, in particular, Brother Ali floors me every time. Also, the Doomtree collective merits much respect. POS (who featured CF on the song "Safety in Speed") and Dessa get frequent spins around here. |
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lyman
Cityscape Skin
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Post by lyman on Feb 10, 2014 10:46:12 GMT -5
All a y'all got some eclectic muthafuckin taste. This might be the 1st thread ever to namecheck RZA, John Prine, and Neko Case.
And that is good.
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Post by lukeindetroit on Feb 11, 2014 9:37:35 GMT -5
Second P.O.S., and I think Slug from atmosphere is one of the great storyteller in music period.
Other great hip hop lyricists: Elzhi, Eyedea, Frank Ocean, Danny Brown, Anyone from Slaughterhouse
If you can stomache the offensiveness, Eminem is still one of the great lyricists of all time
As for non-hip hop
Jason Isbell's post Drive by Truckers stuff is fantastic, particularly his solo album
TV on the Radio
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Post by Nightclub Dwight on Feb 16, 2014 2:41:28 GMT -5
Speaking of heroin, how could I forget Warren Zevon? Was Warren Zevon a heroin guy? I thought he was just a drunk before he had his second career as a clean machine. But yes, in any case he was wonderful. |
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Post by Nightclub Dwight on Feb 16, 2014 2:47:25 GMT -5
To echo some previous suggestions:
Slim Cessna!!!
David Dondero (on NPR's list of the greatest living songwriters, upon which I would probably say he is number 1.)
Franz Nicolay (extra points for subtlety and grace)
Robert Earl Keen, probably my favorite contemporary songwriter.
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Post by doctoracula on Feb 16, 2014 8:55:03 GMT -5
Speaking of heroin, how could I forget Warren Zevon? Was Warren Zevon a heroin guy? I thought he was just a drunk before he had his second career as a clean machine. But yes, in any case he was wonderful. I was mostly just thinking about Carmelita |
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Post by Phils_fan on Feb 16, 2014 13:30:54 GMT -5
I walked into this thread talking about Texas and walked out an Eels fan. Thanks guys!
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Post by doctoracula on Feb 16, 2014 14:42:56 GMT -5
nice! which album(s) did you check out?
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