top 10 bands of all time, lyrics-wise

batreleaser · 03.23.2008, 09:40 PM

your favorite bands with your favorite lyrics (singer songwriters not allowed)

birthday party
flipper
the fall
velvet underground
the promise ring
slint
teenage jesus and the jerks
bardo pond
swans
half japanese
pil

this was verrrrrry off the top of my head, but i like all these bands' lyrics a lot

GravitySlips · 03.23.2008, 09:43 PM

funny, i was listening to PiL's Metal Box today while reading over their lyrics...some really cool stuff in there.

HaydenAsche · 03.23.2008, 09:43 PM

I'm sure no one will agree with me.

Cat Power
the Smiths
Xiu Xiu
Radiohead
Joy Division
Arab on Radar(sickeningly great)
Elliott Smith
Rufus Wainright
Antony and the Johnsons
Bright Eyes

Granted, they're only great because of the fantastic delivery.

krastian · 03.23.2008, 09:57 PM

Sonic Youth
Misfits
R.E.M.
Bob Dylan
Minor Threat
Leonard Cohen
Subhumans
PJ Harvey
Modern Lovers
The Doors

Quickly off the top of my head.....lyrics aren't really that important to me.

Death & the Maiden · 03.23.2008, 10:00 PM

The Smiths
The Verlaines
Television

Can't think of anymore right now.

uhler · 03.23.2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batreleaser

your favorite bands with your favorite lyrics (singer songwriters not allowed)

birthday party
flipper
the fall
velvet underground
the promise ring
slint
teenage jesus and the jerks
bardo pond
swans
half japanese
pil

this was verrrrrry off the top of my head, but i like all these bands' lyrics a lot

what's your favorite promise ring record?

mine:
black flag
minor threat
fugazi
rites of spring
crass
bob dylan
discount
early against me!
the minutemen
bikini kill

Dead-Air · 03.23.2008, 10:14 PM

Huh, this is actually harder than just your average top ten list, and I'll probably forget somebody I totally like. It's not that I don't think about words, but many of my faves (Sun City Girls, Eno) are more straight musical. Even Sonic Youth become less important when I look at the lyrics first. I like their lyrics, but they are not among my favorite groups in that department. So with words first (though NOT in order)...

Sun Ra Arkestra
Velvet Underground
Elliott Smith
David Bowie
The Fall
Jandek
Palace/Will Oldham
Dead Kennedys
Sex Pistols
John Lennon

batreleaser · 03.23.2008, 10:49 PM

hayden, xiu xiu and arab on radar both have awesome lyrics.

and i feel like an asshole because i meant the shadow ring, not the promise ring, sorry dude, i havnt slept much lately.

and i said non singer songwriters yall...

StevOK · 03.23.2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krastian

...lyrics aren't really that important to me.

same here.

Cantankerous · 03.23.2008, 11:37 PM

this is not in any significant order and also i couldnt think of 10

bob dylan
bowie
patti smith
talking heads
pink floyd
my bloody valentine

batreleaser · 03.24.2008, 12:09 AM

there not that important to me either, but i like when theyre good.

Norma J · 03.24.2008, 12:20 AM

Lyrics are very important to me. Bad lyrics can ruin even the greatest of music.

Nick Cave and any outfit he's in or been in.
Bob Dylan (the greatest lyricist).
Jamie Hutchings from Bluebottle Kiss.
Bright Eyes.
Nation of Ulysses/ Make-Up.
These Arms are Snakes.

...

Sonic Youth 37 · 03.24.2008, 12:24 AM

Good pick with MBV cantank.

10 or so:
ATD-I (just for sheer out-there lyrics that make zero sense sometimes)
Blonde Redhead
Television
Sonic Youth (early to DDN era with Rain on Tin and few others being the exceptions)
The Misfits (50s B movie goodness)
Pixies (incest and the Bible, gotta love early Pixies)
Hum (space, astronauts, eskimos)
Radiohead
Wilco (mostly from YHF)
Joy Division

plus other's that I don't feel like rementioning.

Onani Nic · 03.24.2008, 02:33 AM

Off the top of my head...

The Replacements
Whitehouse
Royal Trux (mostly later stuff like Thank You eg: "I knew right then that I would always love her, even when her breasts were rotted with cancer")
Big Star
Descendents
Andrew WK
Turbonegro

and early 90's RAP.

CHOUT · 03.24.2008, 03:15 AM

rem, early at least...i have no idea what he's saying but it intrigues me.
'cowered in a still, monkey mouth in question'

shit, i can't think of any bands with exceptional lyrics...cuz i usually don't pay much attention.

atsonicpark · 03.24.2008, 06:54 AM

Xiu Xiu
Morrissey/The Smiths
Leonard Cohen
Hot Snakes
Sun City Girls
Joy Division
Thinking Fellers Union Local # 282
Beefheart
Slint
Polvo

I don't really listen to lyrics but the above stand out to me.

Torn Curtain · 03.24.2008, 08:14 AM

The Smiths
Joy Division
The Cure (really depends on the records though, the best lyrics are on Pornography and Disintegration IMO)
Television
Radiohead
Sonic Youth (especially on Sister and Daydream nation, then quality varies)
The Notwist
Tindersticks

atari 2600 · 03.24.2008, 09:14 AM

John Lennon/Yoko Ono
The Beatles
The Kinks
Bob Dylan
Talking Heads
The Smiths
The Velvet Underground
The Rolling Stones
The Grateful Dead
R.E.M.

50 or so lyricists

John Lennon
Ray Davies
Bob Dylan
David Byrne
Morrissey
Robert Hunter
Brian Wilson
Lou Reed
Syd Barrett
Mick Jagger
Smokey Robinson
Brian & Eddie Holland with Lamont Dozier
David Bowie
John Lydon
Michael Stipe
Thurston Moore
Joe Strummer
David Lowery
John Fogerty
Neil Young
Roy Orbison
George Harrison
Paul McCartney
Gordon Sumner
Al Green
Leonard Cohen
Roger Waters
Peter Sinfield
Marc Bolan
Jim Morrison
Tom Waits (& Kathleen Brennan)
Robert Johnson
Ron Mael
Kate Bush
Kim Gordon
Lee Ranaldo
Beck Hansen
Nick Drake
David J & Daniel Ash
Prince Rogers Nelson
Sam Cooke
Ric Ocasek
Paul Westerberg
Don Van Vliet
Barrett Strong & Marvin Gaye
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
Bruce Springsteen
Elvis Costello
Stephen Malkmus
Andy Partridge
Pete Townshend
Stevie Wonder

__________________

"We're Coming Up on Alderaan"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbRvY...eature=related

batreleaser · 03.24.2008, 10:24 AM

well if i was allowing singer songwriters, which was supposed to be against the point, leanord cohen would be ny number one pic by far.

batreleaser · 03.24.2008, 10:24 AM

beefheart would be second

03.23.2008, 09:40 PM	#1
batreleaser invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 5,155	your favorite bands with your favorite lyrics (singer songwriters not allowed) birthday party flipper the fall velvet underground the promise ring slint teenage jesus and the jerks bardo pond swans half japanese pil this was verrrrrry off the top of my head, but i like all these bands' lyrics a lot __________________ listen to pink reason
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03.23.2008, 09:43 PM	#2
GravitySlips children of satan Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 373	funny, i was listening to PiL's Metal Box today while reading over their lyrics...some really cool stuff in there.
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03.23.2008, 09:43 PM	#3
HaydenAsche invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,755	I'm sure no one will agree with me. Cat Power the Smiths Xiu Xiu Radiohead Joy Division Arab on Radar(sickeningly great) Elliott Smith Rufus Wainright Antony and the Johnsons Bright Eyes Granted, they're only great because of the fantastic delivery. __________________ rip
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03.23.2008, 09:57 PM	#4
krastian invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 7,808	Sonic Youth Misfits R.E.M. Bob Dylan Minor Threat Leonard Cohen Subhumans PJ Harvey Modern Lovers The Doors Quickly off the top of my head.....lyrics aren't really that important to me. __________________ Confusion is next and next after that is the Truth.
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03.23.2008, 10:00 PM	#5
Death & the Maiden expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,036	The Smiths The Verlaines Television Can't think of anymore right now. __________________ www.myspace.com/ghostofanidealwife
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03.23.2008, 10:14 PM	#7
Dead-Air invito al cielo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland OR Posts: 4,300	Huh, this is actually harder than just your average top ten list, and I'll probably forget somebody I totally like. It's not that I don't think about words, but many of my faves (Sun City Girls, Eno) are more straight musical. Even Sonic Youth become less important when I look at the lyrics first. I like their lyrics, but they are not among my favorite groups in that department. So with words first (though NOT in order)... Sun Ra Arkestra Velvet Underground Elliott Smith David Bowie The Fall Jandek Palace/Will Oldham Dead Kennedys Sex Pistols John Lennon __________________ FuckBook; My Band; My Radio Show; My Flickr Page; Science Fiction Message Board
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03.23.2008, 10:49 PM	#8
batreleaser invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 5,155	hayden, xiu xiu and arab on radar both have awesome lyrics. and i feel like an asshole because i meant the shadow ring, not the promise ring, sorry dude, i havnt slept much lately. and i said non singer songwriters yall... __________________ listen to pink reason
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03.23.2008, 11:37 PM	#10
Cantankerous invito al cielo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A RETIREMENT HOME Posts: 18,499	this is not in any significant order and also i couldnt think of 10 bob dylan bowie patti smith talking heads pink floyd my bloody valentine __________________ RETIRED
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03.24.2008, 12:09 AM	#11
batreleaser invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 5,155	there not that important to me either, but i like when theyre good. __________________ listen to pink reason
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03.24.2008, 12:20 AM	#12
Norma J invito al cielo Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orstralia Posts: 4,917	Lyrics are very important to me. Bad lyrics can ruin even the greatest of music. Nick Cave and any outfit he's in or been in. Bob Dylan (the greatest lyricist). Jamie Hutchings from Bluebottle Kiss. Bright Eyes. Nation of Ulysses/ Make-Up. These Arms are Snakes. ... __________________ I want girls with new-wave hair-doos
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03.24.2008, 12:24 AM	#13
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	Good pick with MBV cantank. 10 or so: ATD-I (just for sheer out-there lyrics that make zero sense sometimes) Blonde Redhead Television Sonic Youth (early to DDN era with Rain on Tin and few others being the exceptions) The Misfits (50s B movie goodness) Pixies (incest and the Bible, gotta love early Pixies) Hum (space, astronauts, eskimos) Radiohead Wilco (mostly from YHF) Joy Division plus other's that I don't feel like rementioning. __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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03.24.2008, 02:33 AM	#14
Onani Nic the end of the ugly Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 930	Off the top of my head... The Replacements Whitehouse Royal Trux (mostly later stuff like Thank You eg: "I knew right then that I would always love her, even when her breasts were rotted with cancer") Big Star Descendents Andrew WK Turbonegro and early 90's RAP. __________________ I don't give a fuck thats the problem. I see a motherfuckin cop i don't dodge them.
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03.24.2008, 03:15 AM	#15
CHOUT invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 3,128	rem, early at least...i have no idea what he's saying but it intrigues me. 'cowered in a still, monkey mouth in question' shit, i can't think of any bands with exceptional lyrics...cuz i usually don't pay much attention. __________________ Chout's rare Sonic Youth vids: http://youtube.com/SONICchout
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03.24.2008, 06:54 AM	#16
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Xiu Xiu Morrissey/The Smiths Leonard Cohen Hot Snakes Sun City Girls Joy Division Thinking Fellers Union Local # 282 Beefheart Slint Polvo I don't really listen to lyrics but the above stand out to me. __________________
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03.24.2008, 08:14 AM	#17
Torn Curtain invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: France Posts: 7,997	The Smiths Joy Division The Cure (really depends on the records though, the best lyrics are on Pornography and Disintegration IMO) Television Radiohead Sonic Youth (especially on Sister and Daydream nation, then quality varies) The Notwist Tindersticks __________________ "Si seulement nous avions le courage des oiseaux qui chantent dans le vent glacé"
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03.24.2008, 09:14 AM	#18
atari 2600 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,212	John Lennon/Yoko Ono The Beatles The Kinks Bob Dylan Talking Heads The Smiths The Velvet Underground The Rolling Stones The Grateful Dead R.E.M. 50 or so lyricists John Lennon Ray Davies Bob Dylan David Byrne Morrissey Robert Hunter Brian Wilson Lou Reed Syd Barrett Mick Jagger Smokey Robinson Brian & Eddie Holland with Lamont Dozier David Bowie John Lydon Michael Stipe Thurston Moore Joe Strummer David Lowery John Fogerty Neil Young Roy Orbison George Harrison Paul McCartney Gordon Sumner Al Green Leonard Cohen Roger Waters Peter Sinfield Marc Bolan Jim Morrison Tom Waits (& Kathleen Brennan) Robert Johnson Ron Mael Kate Bush Kim Gordon Lee Ranaldo Beck Hansen Nick Drake David J & Daniel Ash Prince Rogers Nelson Sam Cooke Ric Ocasek Paul Westerberg Don Van Vliet Barrett Strong & Marvin Gaye Buddy Holly Chuck Berry Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller Bruce Springsteen Elvis Costello Stephen Malkmus Andy Partridge Pete Townshend Stevie Wonder __________________ "We're Coming Up on Alderaan" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbRvY...eature=related
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03.24.2008, 10:24 AM	#19
batreleaser invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 5,155	well if i was allowing singer songwriters, which was supposed to be against the point, leanord cohen would be ny number one pic by far. __________________ listen to pink reason
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03.24.2008, 10:24 AM	#20
batreleaser invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 5,155	beefheart would be second __________________ listen to pink reason
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