best currently active lyrical band

fulhamfanincork

I think God and Satan by Biffy Clyro is worth a mention...

arsenallegend

Alex turner, You can't deny the man knows to write a lyric that sticks with you.

AhSureTisGrand

Elbow, Radiohead, Jamie T and the Pacemakers (ok perhaps this is only one person), Eels, Arctic Monkeys, the National, Everything Everything (sort of)

Legwinski

The Shins ftw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoNtIkRm1HE

Battleflag

The National

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YHVo2NP1eo

EdwardSav

The Fall

Xavi6

The Decemberists

Colm Meloy tells a great story.

Gonzovision

The Antlers, Hospice was a fantastic story that stays with you and only gets better over time.

Generation Terrorist

Not one of their best lyrics but 'Postcards From A Young Man' by The Manics contains the line 'I'll send you postcards every single day just to prove I still exist'.

Really poignant when taken in then context of the story of the band/Richey etc, but also appealing to me in terms of other personal stuff . Always makes me sad when I hear it

Joe_Dull

I've always thought Maximo Park have fantastic lyrics

pappyodaniel

A great storyteller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRuew9rvi3Y

Thundercats Ho

I'm gonna say the Avett Brothers. Love them.

niallo76

loads really...
Tom Waits,
Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse
Will Oldham
Cathal Coughlan
Wu-tang Clan
Edan
Thom Yorke
Mark Kozelek....

Scuid Mhór

also, brights eyes have fantastic lyrics. it's the same sort of boat as bob dylan; you'd listen for the lyrics themselves, not the voice.

TwoCanDan

I have to second the mentions of Why? Confessional, almost to the point of embarrassing at times...lyrics definitely stick with you though...Alopecia is one of my favourite albums...
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned our own Villagers...or is it pushing it to call 'em a band...Twenty Seven Strangers has nice, simple story, well told...
I love Mountain Goats lyrics too (I know it's really John Darnielle solo)...

This thread has gotten me thinking...Outside of the context of the songs themselves, a lot of my favourite lyrics don't make much of an impression...I suppose it's like tearing your favourite single piece out of your favourite painting and expecting it to mean the same thing...
^^^Wow, I'm an asshole...ha!...

lordgoat

TwoCanDan wrote: »

I have to second the mentions of Why? Confessional, almost to the point of embarrassing at times...lyrics definitely stick with you though...Alopecia is one of my favourite albums...
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned our own Villagers...or is it pushing it to call 'em a band...Twenty Seven Strangers has nice, simple story, well told...
I love Mountain Goats lyrics too (I know it's really John Darnielle solo)...
QUOTE]

That's not exactly true. Same drummer for years. Either way lyricist of a generation.

TwoCanDan

That's true...I was overqualifying there...some of the previous posters seemed offended by the inclusion of solo artists...

On paper, early Mountain Goats should be tolerable at best...hissy, scratchy-sounding singer-songwriter fare...worth a listen once maybe...In reality, I've played the backside out of most of his stuff...the funny, heartfelt, literate lyrics raise even the very lo-fi stuff above the ordinary...
Brilliant...

Have you checked out The Extra Lens' new(ish) album yet?

KeanSeenan

May have been mentioned, but I like The Magnetic Fields' lyrics.

Kold

Out of interest, anyone given AJJ a good listen yet? I can't be alone in thinking that they're lyrically top notch.

Orizio

The Mountain Goats.