Looking for wordy bands
May 12, 2010 9:24 AM Subscribe
I'm a person who likes words more than anything else, even when I'm listening to music. I'm looking for indie bands to check out who are known for writing clever, literate, narrative-driven lyrics. I'm thinking of bands like The Mountain Goats, The Weakerthans, The Magnetic Fields, and the Hold Steady. Hell, I'll even throw The Decemberists in there for good measure. Have you MeFites got any suggestions?
Johnathan Coulton
posted by The otter lady at 9:28 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The otter lady at 9:28 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
You might enjoy Okkervil River. Lyrics wise I think Black Sheep Boy is my favorite of their albums.
posted by Palmcorder Yajna at 9:30 AM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Palmcorder Yajna at 9:30 AM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
Or if you are looking for Thesaurus-rock, Bad Religion.
posted by rocketpup at 9:31 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by rocketpup at 9:31 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Forgive me if I'm off the mark, but Ben Gibbard immediately sprung to mind. I'd check out The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie.
posted by ejfox at 9:33 AM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ejfox at 9:33 AM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
Okkervil River and Titus Andronicus are both wordy-as-hell.
posted by Think_Long at 9:38 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Think_Long at 9:38 AM on May 12, 2010
Sorry if this is a bit obvious, but if it doesn't have to be a band, have you tried Suzanne Vega? Also Kate Bush - both great storytellers as well as songwriters.
posted by greenish at 9:39 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by greenish at 9:39 AM on May 12, 2010
He's not a band, but I love Josh Ritter's lyrics.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:46 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 9:46 AM on May 12, 2010
Indie-wise, Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastian, Joanna Newsom, and John Vanderslice all come to mind.
I'd also recommend going back a little further to Leonard Cohen and Al Stewart.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:46 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd also recommend going back a little further to Leonard Cohen and Al Stewart.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:46 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
David Dondero writes biting lyrics about his rambling life. He also invented Connor Obert's voice.
posted by domnit at 9:48 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by domnit at 9:48 AM on May 12, 2010
Another vote for Okkervil River. Also, Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst.
posted by jal0021 at 9:51 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by jal0021 at 9:51 AM on May 12, 2010
Robyn Hitchcock and his various projects! My favorite albums are probably I Often Dream of Trains, Element of Light and Queen Elvis.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:51 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:51 AM on May 12, 2010
You might like some of Stephen Malkmus' work. Check out his bands Pavement and Silver Jews.
(And I know it's not indie rock, but listen to a hip-hop artist called Aesop Rock. John Darnielle from the Mountain Goats is in one of his songs, "Coffee", off None Shall Pass.)
posted by reductiondesign at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2010
(And I know it's not indie rock, but listen to a hip-hop artist called Aesop Rock. John Darnielle from the Mountain Goats is in one of his songs, "Coffee", off None Shall Pass.)
posted by reductiondesign at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2010
scott walker
posted by rhizome at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 9:52 AM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
They're a little less raw than the Mountain Goats, and they wear their affection for Counting Crows and Bruce Springsteen on their sleeve (so if you're not into that, you may want to avoid), but The Gaslight Anthem does some nice narrative work. "Here's Looking at You, Kid" on The '59 Sound is a good example.
You might also like Lucero.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:54 AM on May 12, 2010
You might also like Lucero.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:54 AM on May 12, 2010
Since your tastes seem to jibe with mine, you might like 'The New Pornographers' and the 'Kaiser Chiefs'
Have you checked out Pandora? It's a streaming music site that will create a playlist for you based off of music you know you like. Pick a song or artist, and it will try and find similar things. The more info you feed it the better it can calibrate. I've found some pretty good tracks that way.
posted by Caravantea at 9:59 AM on May 12, 2010
Have you checked out Pandora? It's a streaming music site that will create a playlist for you based off of music you know you like. Pick a song or artist, and it will try and find similar things. The more info you feed it the better it can calibrate. I've found some pretty good tracks that way.
posted by Caravantea at 9:59 AM on May 12, 2010
To a large extent, the folk genre specializes in interesting lyrics, in comparison to what you tend to get with either pop or rock. Bob Dylan is the best known example, and he has certainly written lots of interesting lyrics. A more recent example would be Mark Knopfler who has composed many subtle and fascinating lyrics of a sort of folk-rock kind of genre. Billy Bragg is another very interesting folk singer. Rock music is not without interesting lyrics, such as The Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson, and although some people think this is among the most ridiculous songs ever written, I very much like the lyrics to American Pie by Don McLean, especially because of the passionate delivery with which they are sung. Elton John has had sporadically interesting lyrics, perhaps the best case being "My Father's Gun" from the Tumbleweed Connection album. Or his observations about the problems of being homosexual in a homophobic world; from the song "All The Young Girls Love Alice" we have the poignant lines, "Poor little Alice, with a tear drop of a heart, it's like acting in a movie when you've got the wrong part".
But for even more impressive lyricism, my recommendation is a 1960's protest singer named Phil Ochs. Here is a stanza from a song called "The Flower Lady":
Painter paints his brushes black
Through the canvas runs a crack
Portrait of the paint never answers back. Interesting, eh? You have to listen to Ochs.
posted by grizzled at 10:03 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
But for even more impressive lyricism, my recommendation is a 1960's protest singer named Phil Ochs. Here is a stanza from a song called "The Flower Lady":
Painter paints his brushes black
Through the canvas runs a crack
Portrait of the paint never answers back. Interesting, eh? You have to listen to Ochs.
posted by grizzled at 10:03 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Perhaps Neutral Milk Hotel? I once asked a question about great song lyrics, and other mefites recommended them along with the bands you mentioned. Fell in love right away!
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 10:10 AM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 10:10 AM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
Townes Van Zandt. Great country songwriter. Willie Nelson's covered a few of his songs...
Also, if you like the Weakerthans, you might also like The New Amsterdams - they were on a couple of compilations together.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 10:14 AM on May 12, 2010
Also, if you like the Weakerthans, you might also like The New Amsterdams - they were on a couple of compilations together.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 10:14 AM on May 12, 2010
Seconding Deathcab/Postal Service (Transatlanticism and Plans). Also, Sufjan Stevens and Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes (Lifted, or the story is in the soil...is an AMAZING album)
Also, Iron and Wine comes to mind. Laura Marling is making incredible music. Also, and don't laugh now, Jason Mraz is a GREAT lyricist.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 10:17 AM on May 12, 2010
Also, Iron and Wine comes to mind. Laura Marling is making incredible music. Also, and don't laugh now, Jason Mraz is a GREAT lyricist.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 10:17 AM on May 12, 2010
Seems like we have overlapping tastes...I'd strongly recommend Josh Ritter. Very literate, crazy little narratives, impossibly smart...but not, to my thinking anyway, as precious as the Decemberists.
Also seconding from above: Okkervil River, Townes Van Zandt, the National, Neko Case and the New Pornographers.
posted by circumspect at 10:22 AM on May 12, 2010
Also seconding from above: Okkervil River, Townes Van Zandt, the National, Neko Case and the New Pornographers.
posted by circumspect at 10:22 AM on May 12, 2010
Modest Mouse. As far as lyrics go Isaac Brock is pretty untouchable. There was a big shift in his style after The Moon and Antarctica, before his lyrics were not very structured but after they scan more regularly and so on. My favorite of Brock's lyrics is 3rd Planet, though others are great too.
posted by Kattullus at 10:22 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Kattullus at 10:22 AM on May 12, 2010
Sunset Rubdown have excellent lyrics in general (Their most recent album, Dragonslayer, is especially fantastic), and I'm fond of the narrative of The Antler's album Hospice.
posted by Schismatic at 10:23 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Schismatic at 10:23 AM on May 12, 2010
Two filk singers/bands that are very lyrically awesome (along the lines of Jonathon Coulton who is also awesome and was mentioned earlier):
Tom Smith start with 307 Ale
Boogie Knights do fantastic parodies.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 10:24 AM on May 12, 2010
Tom Smith start with 307 Ale
Boogie Knights do fantastic parodies.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 10:24 AM on May 12, 2010
Gogol Bordello's lyrics are fantastic, and the klezmer-y music is a lot of fun too.
Jon Rae and the River, One Hundred Dollars and Songs:Ohia are more or less all lyric-heavy indie treats.
Warsawpack was my favourite band until they broke up - you can still hear a few songs on the g7welcomingcmmittee website (formerly known as the Weakerthans' label). They put out two albums, worth checking out if you like what you hear. The lyrics are aligned with the Weakerthans' politics, and the music is pretty good too (and not usually sampled! they really did have a brass section when they played live).
And I'll second the support for The National.
posted by smallvictories at 10:32 AM on May 12, 2010
Jon Rae and the River, One Hundred Dollars and Songs:Ohia are more or less all lyric-heavy indie treats.
Warsawpack was my favourite band until they broke up - you can still hear a few songs on the g7welcomingcmmittee website (formerly known as the Weakerthans' label). They put out two albums, worth checking out if you like what you hear. The lyrics are aligned with the Weakerthans' politics, and the music is pretty good too (and not usually sampled! they really did have a brass section when they played live).
And I'll second the support for The National.
posted by smallvictories at 10:32 AM on May 12, 2010
Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies
Jenny Owen Youngs
posted by useyourmachinegunarm at 10:33 AM on May 12, 2010
Jenny Owen Youngs
posted by useyourmachinegunarm at 10:33 AM on May 12, 2010
Crooked Fingers. They're former Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann's current project. Good stuff. The Archers are also worth checking out, but they've been disbanded for over a decade now.
posted by valkyryn at 10:37 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by valkyryn at 10:37 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jawbreaker and to a lesser extent, Archers Of Loaf
oh, and Built To Spill
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:38 AM on May 12, 2010
oh, and Built To Spill
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:38 AM on May 12, 2010
He skews more pop-punk than anything you mentioned, but for my money there's no cleverer lyricist than The Mr. T Experience's Dr. Frank.
posted by mintcake! at 10:38 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by mintcake! at 10:38 AM on May 12, 2010
As a caveat, I'm totally a music person, not a lyrics person. However, here's what I'd recommend:
Dresden Dolls
Rilo Kiley (try the song "Does He Love You?")
The Dodos (I definitely think you'd like their music too)
If you're OK with solo artists in addition to "bands," I'd add Regina Spektor (try "Samson" or "The Ghost of Corporate Future").
Seconding Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service, and Okkervil River.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:41 AM on May 12, 2010
Dresden Dolls
Rilo Kiley (try the song "Does He Love You?")
The Dodos (I definitely think you'd like their music too)
If you're OK with solo artists in addition to "bands," I'd add Regina Spektor (try "Samson" or "The Ghost of Corporate Future").
Seconding Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service, and Okkervil River.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:41 AM on May 12, 2010
Agree with a lot of the above. Also: Avett Brothers. Actually, I think Vampire Weekend has a pretty good lyrical thing going, as well, particularly the newer album.
posted by penduluum at 10:42 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by penduluum at 10:42 AM on May 12, 2010
Came in to suggest The Lucksmiths. Very clever. Stephen Malkmus's solo work has a lot of awesome story songs.
posted by Wolfie at 10:44 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Wolfie at 10:44 AM on May 12, 2010
Also seconding that if you're not familiar with Death Cab for Cutie, it's important to start with the albums Plans and Transatlanticism. I've always been surprised by how many people seem to have such a negative reaction to this band, and I wonder if it's that people aren't focusing on their strongest work.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:44 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:44 AM on May 12, 2010
Not sure he counts as indie, but IMHO, Jim White is one of the best songwriters out there.
I remember quite clearly, a bad Muzak version of James Taylor's big hit, called "Fire and Rain" was playing as you crouched down and tearfully kissed me, and I thought, "Damn, what good fiction I will mold from this terrible pain."
--Christmas Day, No Such Place
posted by elendil71 at 10:48 AM on May 12, 2010
I remember quite clearly, a bad Muzak version of James Taylor's big hit, called "Fire and Rain" was playing as you crouched down and tearfully kissed me, and I thought, "Damn, what good fiction I will mold from this terrible pain."
--Christmas Day, No Such Place
posted by elendil71 at 10:48 AM on May 12, 2010
No love yet for Richard Thompson?
1952 Vincent Black Lightning is said to be the most requested song on National Public Radio.
Beeswing is another great song with narrative lyrics.
posted by cali59 at 10:50 AM on May 12, 2010
1952 Vincent Black Lightning is said to be the most requested song on National Public Radio.
Beeswing is another great song with narrative lyrics.
posted by cali59 at 10:50 AM on May 12, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks all, so many helpful suggestions in here. I can't believe I didn't mention Smog and Malkmus. Death Cab isn't exactly my taste, but maybe I need to give them another listen. Please keep them coming, everybody, if you've got more!
posted by WStraub at 10:52 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by WStraub at 10:52 AM on May 12, 2010
Andrew Bird:
Imitosis
Tables and Chairs
MX Missiles
Great Lake Swimmers:
Your Rocky Spine
Changing Colours
Everything Is Moving So Fast
Bonus: gorgeous music to go along with the fantastic lyrics. Recommended a thousand times.
Also, nthing Sufjan Stevens.
posted by shaun uh at 11:02 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Imitosis
Tables and Chairs
MX Missiles
Great Lake Swimmers:
Your Rocky Spine
Changing Colours
Everything Is Moving So Fast
Bonus: gorgeous music to go along with the fantastic lyrics. Recommended a thousand times.
Also, nthing Sufjan Stevens.
posted by shaun uh at 11:02 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Frank Turner
posted by dogwalker at 11:05 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dogwalker at 11:05 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Definitely Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst. Most people on MeFi hate him for some reason, but the dude is an extremely talented lyricist. I really only like the records from Lifted on - especially Digital Ash, Wide Awake, Cassadaga. I especially love Conor's first solo record.
Ani DiFranco.
Nthing Neutral Milk Hotel and Modest Mouse.
Nick Drake.
McCarthy Trenching.
Joan as Police Woman.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2010
Ani DiFranco.
Nthing Neutral Milk Hotel and Modest Mouse.
Nick Drake.
McCarthy Trenching.
Joan as Police Woman.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2010
oh, and nthing Sufjan Stevens.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2010
Why?, Xiu Xiu, Patrick Wolf, Kind of Like Spitting, heavily nthing John Vanderslice (who tours with and works with John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, they wrote an EP together, Moon Colony Bloodbath, which is an essentially literal title). Completely different genre, but The Streets album "A Grand Don't Come for Free" is one of the best sustained narrative albums. The Good Life also comes to mind (and his other band, Cursive), their "Album of the Year" is the narrative of a relationship, with each song representing a different month.
posted by haveanicesummer at 11:07 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by haveanicesummer at 11:07 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
A lot of good ones have been mentioned already. I will throw in Andrew Jackson Jihad as being similar to The Mountain Goats as far as lyrical content goes. Also, Why? has really great lyrics although the music is stylistically different from the kinds of bands you mentioned.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:14 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by burnmp3s at 11:14 AM on May 12, 2010
I clicked on this thread to suggest Mr. T Experience aka MTX. Then I thought of Old 97s.
Nas (particularly on that album Illmatic) and Ghostface Killa are two of the best narrative lyricists in hip-hop, if you have a taste for that.
posted by Clambone at 11:18 AM on May 12, 2010
Nas (particularly on that album Illmatic) and Ghostface Killa are two of the best narrative lyricists in hip-hop, if you have a taste for that.
posted by Clambone at 11:18 AM on May 12, 2010
I'm surprised the Silver Jews have only been mentioned once so far.
Also: Guided By Voices
posted by degoao at 11:21 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also: Guided By Voices
posted by degoao at 11:21 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think Rhett Miller, lyricist for the Old 97's, is a crackerjack poet. The Other Shoe is among my faves, as is Niteclub.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2010
Oooooh, Clambone beat me to it!
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:23 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:23 AM on May 12, 2010
Joanna Newsom.
posted by Windigo at 11:34 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Windigo at 11:34 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think it's difficult to find bands where the wordiness approaches the Hold Steady either in delivery or in sentiment. Okkervil River is the closest I've scanned on this list but even that is so much more maudlin (I mean that in a good way, I love them).
Has anyone suggested the Mountain Goats? I think the wordiness of the Mountain Goats - particularly in earlier acoustic work - approaches Hold Steady-ish levels of urgent specificity in lyric writing and delivery. Though obviously the sound is much different.
I think they also have a band crush on each other, Hold Steady and Mountain Goats, and there's a camaraderie there in terms of earnest sentiment and maybe even worldview.
posted by kensington314 at 11:38 AM on May 12, 2010
Has anyone suggested the Mountain Goats? I think the wordiness of the Mountain Goats - particularly in earlier acoustic work - approaches Hold Steady-ish levels of urgent specificity in lyric writing and delivery. Though obviously the sound is much different.
I think they also have a band crush on each other, Hold Steady and Mountain Goats, and there's a camaraderie there in terms of earnest sentiment and maybe even worldview.
posted by kensington314 at 11:38 AM on May 12, 2010
For example, in the song "Recognition Scene" off of the excellent excellent excellent Sweden album, there's a line that goes "(I) see something written in tall clear letters on your face . . ." which comes across in about two seconds max, and if you listen to that you might see what I'm talking about when I say "urgent specificity." I really do think these two bands share it.
posted by kensington314 at 11:41 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by kensington314 at 11:41 AM on May 12, 2010
Wow. My comments should be deleted as I did such a bad job and got so overexcited about the Mountain Goats that I didn't even completely read OP's reference to them in the post. Apologies for being a bad MeFite.
posted by kensington314 at 11:42 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by kensington314 at 11:42 AM on May 12, 2010
Jukebox the Ghost has some fun lyrics, including some multi-song narratives.
posted by wsquared at 12:13 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by wsquared at 12:13 PM on May 12, 2010
Looked through my playlist for some more possibilities (where I've actually paused to really hear the awesome words):
MewithoutYou
Frightened Rabbit
The Tiger Lillies
Moxy Fruvous
If I were to post song recommendations, it would pretty much be everything across every album.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 12:16 PM on May 12, 2010
MewithoutYou
Frightened Rabbit
The Tiger Lillies
Moxy Fruvous
If I were to post song recommendations, it would pretty much be everything across every album.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 12:16 PM on May 12, 2010
Has nobody mentioned the Long Winters yet? They're fantastic and I always think of them as somehow bracketed with the Mountain Goats. My favourite song, Carparts, doesn't seem to be available on YouTube but here is the video for Blue Diamonds.
posted by daisyk at 1:21 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by daisyk at 1:21 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Communist Love Song" by Soltero. I'm naming the song rather than the band in general, because (to be honest) I have not really listened to all of their stuff much because I'm too obsessed with this one song.
posted by so_gracefully at 2:32 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by so_gracefully at 2:32 PM on May 12, 2010
You might like Elvis Costello. For example, New Amsterdam, Alison, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.
posted by mbrubeck at 2:37 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by mbrubeck at 2:37 PM on May 12, 2010
How about Nick Cave? Lots of wordy narrative there.
Also, The Verlaines.
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 2:48 PM on May 12, 2010
Also, The Verlaines.
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 2:48 PM on May 12, 2010
Parenthetical Girls, Hello Saferide, Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy, Sparks (musically they're leagues away from those you've mentioned, but boy can they be wordy - and hilarious, very much in the vein of Stephin Merritt).
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 4:02 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 4:02 PM on May 12, 2010
Tom Waits
Michelle Shocked
Lucinda Williams
James McMurtry
Elliott Smith
Paul Simon
Morrissey
Billy Bragg
John Prine
Steve Earle
Andy Partridge (XTC)
Nthing Townes Van Zandt, Okkervil River, Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Conor Oberst, Sufjan Stevens, Ani DiFranco, and the inimitable, underrated Phil Ochs.
posted by xenophile at 4:57 PM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
Michelle Shocked
Lucinda Williams
James McMurtry
Elliott Smith
Paul Simon
Morrissey
Billy Bragg
John Prine
Steve Earle
Andy Partridge (XTC)
Nthing Townes Van Zandt, Okkervil River, Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Conor Oberst, Sufjan Stevens, Ani DiFranco, and the inimitable, underrated Phil Ochs.
posted by xenophile at 4:57 PM on May 12, 2010 [3 favorites]
Art Brut opened for the Hold Steady a couple years ago and have a very similar delivery style. Eddie Argos (the "singer") really talks more than he sings and tells some great self-deprecating song-stories. Highly recommended. You might enjoy listening to Art Brut opening for the Hold Steady on NPR.
posted by wondercow at 7:25 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by wondercow at 7:25 PM on May 12, 2010
If you like the Mountain Goats you'll like everything Jeff Tweedy has ever done, but especially Wilco. Also, The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. If you like the Decemberists then Spoon will probably be right up your alley. Other people have suggested the Fountains of Wayne and I think they sound like a happier version of The Weakerthans. Nick Lowe is older than all your examples but his songs are also extremely clever.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 8:17 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 8:17 PM on May 12, 2010
I'm a huge fan of The Weepies, especially their lyrics.
posted by milestogo at 9:57 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by milestogo at 9:57 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Another vote for Josh Ritter, specifically his new album "So runs the world away." He's currently writing his first novel, and he's very much a narrative-driven storyteller.
posted by jbickers at 3:55 AM on May 13, 2010
posted by jbickers at 3:55 AM on May 13, 2010
The National
You're cussing a stone in a cocktail dress your mother wore when she was young;
red sun saint around your neck; a wet martini in a paper cup;
you're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
Your eyes are broken bottles
and I'm afraid to ask
and all your wrath and cutting beauty
you're posion in the pretty glass
you're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
You're all humming live wires under your killing clothes.
Get over here; I wanna kiss your skinny throat.
You're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:28 AM on May 13, 2010
You're cussing a stone in a cocktail dress your mother wore when she was young;
red sun saint around your neck; a wet martini in a paper cup;
you're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
Your eyes are broken bottles
and I'm afraid to ask
and all your wrath and cutting beauty
you're posion in the pretty glass
you're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
You're all humming live wires under your killing clothes.
Get over here; I wanna kiss your skinny throat.
You're a wasp nest, you're a wasp nest.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:28 AM on May 13, 2010
Definitely definitely Belle & Sebastian. Jens Lekman, too. And Jonathan Richman.
posted by timshel at 9:21 AM on May 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by timshel at 9:21 AM on May 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
Darren Hayes is very lyrical, and This Delicate Thing We've Made is especially narrative-driven.
posted by divabat at 11:26 AM on May 14, 2010
posted by divabat at 11:26 AM on May 14, 2010
Rilo Kiley (try the song "Does He Love You?")
I was about to suggest Rilo Kiley as well, but I'd point you toward A Man/Me/Then Jim, one of the best "story songs" of the last decade, especially for its twisty format.
Sadly, every version I can find online is a bad live recording. Buy it, already.
posted by rokusan at 3:18 PM on May 14, 2010
I was about to suggest Rilo Kiley as well, but I'd point you toward A Man/Me/Then Jim, one of the best "story songs" of the last decade, especially for its twisty format.
Sadly, every version I can find online is a bad live recording. Buy it, already.
posted by rokusan at 3:18 PM on May 14, 2010
real good stuff in here but seriously, the band you are looking for is Destroyer.
posted by saul wright at 5:48 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by saul wright at 5:48 PM on May 14, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:27 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]