Favorite lyricists

My top ten, in rough order, although there's no doubt about number one.

Maynard James Keenan
Nick Cave
Leonard Cohen
Mark Lanegan
Layne Staley
Roger Waters
Danny Cavanagh
Mikael Akerfeldt
Dax
Axl Rose


Five more that could have been on the list if I'd made it yesterday or tomorrow:

Mickey Newbury
Tom Waits
Paul Simon
Dege Legg
Duncan Patterson

Leonard Cohen is like nails down a chalkboard for me.
i like Robert Plant and i'm trying to think of more. there's tons. Patti Smith. Sarah McLachlan, Josh Homme, Mark Lanegan, Dax of course. oh yeah, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Griffin, Randy California.

devils wrote:

Leonard Cohen is like nails down a chalkboard for me.
i like Robert Plant and i'm trying to think of more.

Really? You noticed that I said lyricists, right? Not vocalists. If you meant their vocals, I agree on both counts, but otherwise I feel the opposite. Leonard Cohen has an amazing way with words, while Robert Plant...well...let's just say I like my lyrics to have a little more depth than Lord of the Rings references!

Cronos from Venom always wrote some sick shits.
Eazy-E (The Devil's son-in-law) was always a master maestro as well...

Waits, Zappa, Neil Fallon, Lenzig, Brecht, Chris Cornell (in no order)

Chris Cornell, no doubt.

Jimi Hendrix

I might get blasted for saying this, but I'm a big fan of The Smiths and love Morrissey's lyrics - even if he is an asswipe.

Dax - We all know why; Dax has the unique ability to equate death with enlightenment, surrender, and a respect for the mystic and divine

Eddie Vedder - Real life words about real life people; no embellishing, no bullshit, just the human condition laid bare.

Chris Cornell - Songs about struggling to affirm oneself in the face of the despair we all experience as a result of being a human being in today's world

Roger Waters - Can link his songs together, creating characters, situations, and plots, all while describing the bare insanity of life.

J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr) - Songs about the immeasurable distance that separate people and the effect that has on interpersonal relationships

Maynard James Keenan - Writes honest, raging lyrics that call motherfuckers out on their bullshit, as well as songs that approach enlightenment and spirituality

Regina Spektor - Dissects the human psyche while never losing a sense of play and the pure enjoyment of words and language.

David Bowie - Probably the most fascinating, intellectual songwriter of the last century; can write about anything and apply his vast knowledge of history and thought to his lyrics while maintaining a concern for real people.

Bradley Nowell - Dude, everyone's gotta have fun sometimes.

Neil Young - Folk songs that could have been written a 150 years ago and will be relevant for 150 years to come.

good post

douse wrote:

good post

Indeed...

Off the top of my head...

Dax Riggs
Maynard James Keenan
Layne Staley
Thom Yorke
Glenn Danzig


There's more... but I am lazy.

3 of those 5 are on my list.
1 of them i also dig but not enough for top 5.

Draugr wrote:

Indeed...

werd


i'd like to add:
Micheal 'Eyedea' Larsen
Kristoff Krane
ECID
Brandon Boyd
matt mahaffey
lia ices

Mickey was a good dude and a great lyricist. We had some super good convo. I was sad when he passed. He was the best in that genre. R.I.P.

This is a tough one for me. I'm more into the music side of things.

Chino (deftones) - Diamond Eyes is awesome for lyrics

Danzig - Just so cool. Dark. Lots of Testosterone.

Jewel - "0304" is just a super well written record. Plus, you think she's talkin' about being in love with you.

MJK - who else can put "juxtapose" or "metamorphosis"into a song?

Vedder - Just a great rock 'n roller!

Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Michael Gira, Mark Lanegan, Adrian Borland, Dax, Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, Mark Linkous, and I still love a lot of Chris Cornell's Soundgarden lyrics.