Who are your favorite young lyricists? When I ask, I don't mean to refer to words alone. Lyricism is an aspect of art that can apply to more than what poetry fits in a rock song. But I do mean to lean toward words. David Berman is a good example of a stellar lyricist who often fails to move me because of the music the words are packaged with. I've been stuck on some guys whose capacity for communicating the feelings of our fiery desperate youth is truly UM beyond words.

This isn't necessarily a thread for "underrated" lyricists, but I'm steering away from guys like Elvis Costello because they're a little too easy.

Bryan Webb of the Constantines is difficult to beat in terms of sheer majesty. When he's on, every verse is like great-american-novel-last-chapter-last-paragraph stuff.

In a town that was hung
By that old devil moon
I scaled a street called St. You

Will Sheff of Okkervil River - these guys hover somewhere between the obscurity of your average great "indie-folk/rock" outfit and the popularity of college radio darlings like the Arcade Fire - somewhat closer to the latter. So the "underrated" label might not seem to stick well at first. But in a lot of ways, I don't feel like they're properly appreciated or given their due. If you've ever really listened to his words, especially from songs dealing directly with the "Black Sheep Boy" saga - they're pretty much heart-stopping.

The black sheep boy dissolves
In hot cream and sweet moans
In each dead bed and empty home
In each seething bacterium

Bad-ass!

Mark Eitzel of American Music Club/Mark Eitzel.

In the world of sad songwriters, the man's lack of visibility is nothing less than perverse. If I had a sort of magical Shining-Time Station tiny-wise-uncle type oracle guy to consult, it would either be Tom Waits or Mark Eitzel. His wisdom is boundless, and yet he's just as bitter and lost as the kids who dig him. I can't figure out if that's hopeful or depressing as hell. For any who don't like AMC, listen to Everclear. If you've already heard it, I can't help you.

Your ex-girlfriend told me
You spent all yesterday cryin'
Yeah I didn't know
Things were goin' so bad for you
Maybe you're just trying to get her
To come back to you
Or work your way out of the cynical attitudes
That protect you
Bad habits make our decisions for us
You should try to remember
All you're holding is a handful of dust

Well it's not even closing time
And already the stars
Are fallin' out of the sky
You're all lit up
You gotta do something
I'll help you try

Had to include all that - too awesome. This passage works best with the music.


Charles Mexico [Bissell] and Kevin Whelan of the Wrens

If there had to be a choice made, it would be for the music. The composition and instrumentation these guys are capable of will make you cry. But the two lead songwriters provide words that are anything if not worthy of the songs. Charles is a bit more abstract and poetic, his stuff is often dominated by strange and alluring use of alliteration and imagery (often sung in such a way that makes the band sound like they're Japanese and trying to sing English lyrics). Kevin is more direct and confrontational - a bit less distinctive, but can be just as effective.

One song that inhabits a space somewhere between these two is "I've Made Enough Friends" (written by Charles)


Brush your shoulder with an offhand gesture
I'm holding your stare
Invite me upstairs
We look for reasons to stand closer, touching
We look at a book
Of pictures you took
See who's taller and then arm-wrestle a bet
I match your breathing our chins brush closer we get

It's not about your own life, but it seems to be. Also, wondrous and somewhat eccentric imagery abounds in the Meadowlands. "Shot-rock Splitter to God" is more lyricism in a song title than most bands could publish in a comprehensive bound volume.


Rick Froberg and John Reis of the Hot Snakes.

There really is no other band that's ever been quite as righteously savage as the Hot Snakes. But what about the lyrics from Suicide Invoice's title track?

You and I made a pact
Only you would keep
And now I answer to you
In my sleep

A suicide invoice
In pen and ink
Brings you to my bedside
In yellow, white, and pink

And when I dream
I keep my promises to you
I really do


HUH? Am I right? That shudder you just felt wasn't just a cloud-shadow passing over your grave. Don't fuck with the Snakes.

I'd try to do more but I'm real, real tired. Who else has ideas?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BlackGravel,

I agree with the Cons and the Wrens and Will Sheff. The others are good but don't really stand out.

I would add Dan Bejar, Stephin Merritt, Isaac Brock, Jason Molina, and John Vanderslice.

Edit: I'm also going to add the caveat that Will Sheff's lyricism is *often* good, but not always. Occasionally it becomes a little overwrought and falls prey to that most heinous of conditions: Oberstosis.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: youandwhosearmy,

Will gets carried away all the time, but it results in things like "So Come Back, I am Waiting." Some might perceive an amateurish aspect in the sheer pageantry of a song like that, but it's too glorious to find fault. A lot of the time he writes like he wants to win an "awesomest song in the UNIVERSE" contest.

Merritt is terrific, but too often sounds like he wants to write musical theater rather than great songs. Perfectly tuned and rhymed lyrics that could stand to be less ironic - his voice seems meant to invite us to think whatever he's singing is stupid.

Dan Bejar ARRGH! Too divisive to speak on here (AARARRRRGH!)

Jason Molina well. Yeah, I guess. His voice is better than his lyrics. But he's a stand-up kinda guy.

Isaac Brock's lyrics are the best thing about Modest Mouse. But he was one of the "easy" guys I had in mind.

Vanderslice is a favorite of mine, but he frustrates me every time he fails to be as good as Pixel Revolt. "Dear Sarah Shu" is one of the most beguiling, charming, mysterious and moving songs around. But I've been backward in his catalog all the way through MK Ultra and all the way forward too, and he just never got in that zone again! What's UP with that?


As far as my other choices not "standing out" - if you're judging from my hastily chosen quotes, don't. Listen to the records in question. It's hard to conceive of anyone suggesting Mark Eitzel doesn't "stand out" as a lyricist.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BlackGravel,

I know this thread already exists. But it's still a shame that Andrew Bird hasn't been mentioned yet.

This thread does not already exist. I almost mentioned Andrew Bird, but I think he falls just short lyrically (musically and vocally he's a titan) of the highest echelon.

I believe these two threads would have sufficed and I disagree with you on Andrew Bird, but that's neither here nor there.

Yeah, that first linked thread is the one I couldn't find last night, thanks. Those two threads are fine, feel free to post you posts over there, if you like.