Best Lyricists?

[Peestie]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

Butler/Iommi

Just to be picky, Iommi never actually wrote any of the lyrics. Geezer wrote almost all of them in the 70's until Dio took over and after that it was (largely) the lead singer at the time who wrote them, even when Geezer was back. However, I do agree that his lyrics are great.

A few of my favourites would be (in no order):

Avey Tare. Often surreal nonsense but it's pleasing to the ears (Animal Collective)
Elliott Smith
Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Later day Neal Peart after he dropped the sci-fi stuff, especially their last album (Rush)
Jim Steinman because he's just so over the top (worked with Meat Loaf and others)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)
Paul Simon


Regina Spektor is pretty good but I only know one album so far.

Sometimes I think Ben Gibbard is great and sometimes I think he can do some absolute dross, depending on my mood.

[Cornflake Girl]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Jewel...sometimes. Haha! I totally agree. I love lots of the tracks on Pieces of You but Spirit is a bit of a let down (save for FANTASTIC Down So Long). I think my favourite album of hers is This Way though, the one that nobody else seems to like! Do we dare speak of 0304?! Hmmmm.... As of yet I haven't got Goodbye Alice in Wonderland or Perfectly Clear. Would you recommend them? My God, her poetry is dreadful as well...

I don't think 0304 is as bad lyrically as it is musically. I love 'This Way', especially 'New Wild West'. What good is power if you can't act like a rock star?

'Goodbye Alice..' is brilliant, I totally recommend it. I totally recommend you stay far away from 'Perfectly Clear' though.

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

Additions:
Ryan Adams (particularly his album Love is Hell if you want something more reflective and dark, but EVERYTHING he writes is beautiful. He is a great example of an artist who can balance extremely image driven and complex lyrics with many simple alt-country songs, too)

I can't believe I didn't mention him, he really is brilliant. My favourite is 'Cardinology'.

[Cornflake Girl]

Originally Posted by David

1. Christine McVie

7. Warren Zevon

I don't think I've ever heard anyone rate Christine as a lyricists before. I like Warren Zevon, you have to admire someone who can work 'waring blender' into lyrics without it sounding ridiculous.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Cornflake Girl

I don't think 0304 is as bad lyrically as it is musically.

I dunno, there are some truly terrible lyrics on that album. "Old Spice is nice, but sweat is better, e-mail is cool, but romance lives in a letter, batteries are fine, but I'm energized all the time, U and me spells l-o-v-e"

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by David

1. Christine McVie
2. Elvis Costello
3. David Bowie
4. Paul Weller
5. Joe Ely
6. Stevie Wonder
7. Warren Zevon
8. Junie Morrison
9. Jim Carroll
10. Rickie Lee Jones

lol I know you're kidding with Christine. You really love your Funkadelic don't ya?

[Cornflake Girl]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I dunno, there are some truly terrible lyrics on that album. "Old Spice is nice, but sweat is better, e-mail is cool, but romance lives in a letter, batteries are fine, but I'm energized all the time, U and me spells l-o-v-e"

Point taken. I think I've listened to that album a total of two times. I think some of 'Intuition' is pretty amusing though; 'you learned cool from magazines, you learned love from Charlie Sheen.'

Those you posted are the kind of lyrics 'Perfectly Clear' is filled with. I don't know what it is with Jewel, her lyrics can be wonderfully insightful but also sickeningly insipid.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Cornflake Girl

Point taken. I think I've listened to that album a total of two times. I think some of 'Intuition' is pretty amusing though; 'you learned cool from magazines, you learned love from Charlie Sheen.'

Those you posted are the kind of lyrics 'Perfectly Clear' is filled with. I don't know what it is with Jewel, her lyrics can be wonderfully insightful but also sickeningly insipid.

I think because that album is kind of a love letter to her husband Ty, so it's a bit sickly sweet and school-girlish. The lyrics to Rosey And Mick are quite poignant but I think that's a much older song. Btw, did you know that Linda's Heart Like A Wheel was her inspiration for that album? It's doesn't live up to that though.

[Cornflake Girl]

Originally Posted by belledejour

I like Dolly Parton

She is brilliant! I love the humour in a lot of her lyrics.

[Cornflake Girl]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I think because that album is kind of a love letter to her husband Ty, so it's a bit sickly sweet and school-girlish. The lyrics to Rosey And Mick are quite poignant but I think that's a much older song. Btw, did you know that Linda's Heart Like A Wheel was her inspiration for that album? It's doesn't live up to that though.

I didn't know that! I've always known Jewel had good taste. It really doesn't live up to it.

I actually think 'Goodbye Alice..' was a better country album, though 'Perfectly Clear' was supposedly her first play for the country audience,

[trackaghost]

Yeah, I agree, I actually think Goodbye Alice In Wonderland is one of her best albums. Her new one, Lullaby, is a bit of a snooze-fest sadly.

[David]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

lol I know you're kidding with Christine.

No.

You really love your Funkadelic don't ya?

Yes.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by David

No.

Yes.

Okay, interesting. Convince me though. Which lyrics of Christine's would you hold up as a good example of her as a superior lyricist?

[David]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Okay, interesting. Convince me though. What lyrics of Christine's would you hold up as a good example of her as a superior lyricist?

You saw me, you saw me to the train
You saw me, you saw me to the train
Well, I could hardly keep from cryin'
'Cause I knew I wouldn't see you again

Bye bye baby, bye bye baby, bye bye
I said bye bye baby, bye bye baby, bye bye
If I was your only woman
I'd love you till the day I die
______________________________
Lord, it's good to talk to you
Even sweeter than wine
Don't take the love light away
'Cause I'm far away from home
______________________________
If I could turn the page
In time, Then I'd rearrange just a day or two
______________________________
You want a percentage
But I'm the fool paying the dues
______________________________
Isn't it midnight on the other side of the world?
Do you remember the face of a pretty girl?
______________________________
The stars must be my friends to shine for me

[FMlex]

I wouldn't think Christine would ever "officially" be ranked in top lyricists, but I do love her lyrics, David.

Originally Posted by David

You saw me, you saw me to the train
You saw me, you saw me to the train
Well, I could hardly keep from cryin'
'Cause I knew I wouldn't see you again

Bye bye baby, bye bye baby, bye bye
I said bye bye baby, bye bye baby, bye bye
If I was your only woman
I'd love you till the day I die
______________________________
Lord, it's good to talk to you
Even sweeter than wine
Don't take the love light away
'Cause I'm far away from home
______________________________
If I could turn the page
In time, Then I'd rearrange just a day or two
______________________________
You want a percentage
But I'm the fool paying the dues
______________________________
Isn't it midnight on the other side of the world?
Do you remember the face of a pretty girl?
______________________________
The stars must be my friends to shine for me

Just to add to this...

You don't have to give up
Why is it all wrong
Why don't you love me
Why won't you just be strong

Always been one of my favorites from her

[gldstwmn]

Bernie Taupin