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Recent artists with good lyrics?

barredowl

barredowl

Before and after Science
It seems like it is slim pickings for those of us who consider lyrics to be important, off hand all I can think of is Dr. Octagon, Kristen Hersh, Steve Earle and Greg Brown. Are there any great poets out there writing songs I have missed that compare quality wise with say Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, etc?
 
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mark lanegan did an album with soulsavers that has some pretty crafty lyrics. anything he does is interesting lyrically. he draws from alot of great influences imo.
 
Bruce Cockburn. Pick nearly any of his songs. He's a poet who plays very passable guitar and has a captivating voice.

Here's one of my favorites:

If I Had a Rocket Launcher

Here comes the helicopter -- second time today
Everybody scatters and hopes it goes away
How many kids they've murdered only God can say
If I had a rocket launcher...I'd make somebody pay

I don't believe in guarded borders and I don't believe in hate
I don't believe in generals or their stinking torture states
And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
If I had a rocket launcher...I would retaliate

On the Rio Lacantun, one hundred thousand wait
To fall down from starvation -- or some less humane fate
Cry for guatemala, with a corpse in every gate
If I had a rocket launcher...I would not hesitate

I want to raise every voice -- at least I've got to try
Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes.
Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry
If I had a rocket launcher...Some son of a bitch would die​

"Dust and Diesel" is another great one for classy lyrics. But I'll let you discover it. :D
 
Elvis Costello.

And certainly not new but if you aren't familiar with him, check out Danny O'Keefe.
 
I've liked the Jayhawks since I lived in a town with a radio station that actually played them.
 
Peter Blegvad (old guy)

Gillian Welch

James McMurtry

Mindy Smith

T Bone Burnett (old guy)

Sufjan Stevens

Mary Gauthier

...many, many others.
 
PM's choices are excellent. Sufjan Stevens, in particular, has an encyclopaedic ability in his lyrical treatment of a subject/topic, e.g., most of the album (Come On Feel The) Illinoise.

Sam's nomination of the Jayhawks is spot on.
 
I like the lyrics from the Felice Brothers' songs. Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family writes dark, surreal poetry that husband Brett sets to music.

See also Robert Fisher (Willard Grant Conspiracy), Ben Nichols (Lucero), Richmond Fontaine, etc...
 
There's too many out there to give up hope.

Two of my favorite lyricists working today are Will Oldham (a.k.a Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, a.k.a Palace) Check out his albums I See a Darkness, Master and Everyone, Lie Down in the Light, The Letting Go, and/or Joya.

The other is Jason Molina (a.k.a. Songs:Ohia, a.k.a Magnolia Electric Company) Check out his Songs:Ohia albums Didn't it Rain and Magnolia Electric Company These are two of the most nail-your-head-to-the-back-wall (lyrically) albums I've heard put out int he last 10 years.

Others that come to mind if you like rock informed by folk are

Bill Callahan (a.k.a Smog)--Sad and happy at the same time; An introspective wise-ass.

Jim O'Rourke--Too smart for his own good, and bitter in a fun way.

Conor Oberst (a.k.a. Bright Eyes)--- Straight-forward, good-old-fashioned, leave-nothing-to-the-imagination story telling often with a point. Emmylou Harris thought enough of him to join his for much of his 2005 album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning"

Devendra Banhart - freakfolk if you go for that kind of thing.
 
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