I used to not care that much about the Lyrics, SY and other bands like VU, .. have made me more aware of lyrics. Still Music >>> Lyrics

some bands whose lyrics I like:
My Bloody Valentine
The Birthday Party
T. Rex
Joy Division
The Lyrics on The Stooges' debut (Simple but Great)

Generally speaking, I'm not that much of a "words guy" with music, but there are some who blow me away.


Legendary Pink Dots
Current 93
Bevis Frond
Stone Breath et al
In Gowan Ring
Echo and the Bunnymen
Joy Division
The Church
Death In June
PiL

Swans
Minor Threat
Birthday Party
Pixies
Big Black
the U-men
Sonic Youth
Radiohead
Fela Kuti
the Pop Group

Joy Division
Radiohead
Nick Cave
Lou Reed
Xiu Xiu
Interpol
The Smiths
Swans
Cat Power
Siouxsie & The Banshees

Pretty unoriginal list but it's the truth!

You included Interpol for comic relief purposes, surely.

I knew putting them in my list would backfire.
I like their lyrics.

I was genuinely surprised.
I know people who like their music (hell, I even saw them on one of their early tours and enjoyed the show), but you are honestly the first person I have encountered (fans included) who doesn't think their lyrics are not only unexceptional, but hilariously godawful.

I agree with many as you with Joy Division.

Rob Instigator's list of bad-as faves in lyrical stylings. Just based on LYRICS, and it has to be bands, not hip hope acts, or else I woul include public enemy and Rakim and slick rick)

Codeine
Pavement
REM (pre-1990)
Black Sabbath
Jane's Addiction
The Smiths/Morrissey
Morphine
Butthole Surfers
PJ Harvey

I know I will get some slack for this, but Wilco has some good lyrics.

interpol is what ian curtis shat out one week after a binge of curry chicken

Mark E Smith (I am always trying to figure out what goes on inside this guy's head)
Burt Bacharach
Mr Lif
Nico
Diamanda (Yes, she doesn't need a surname anymore)
Coil/ Current 93/Death In June/Throbbing Gristle (Cheating)
Belle and Sebastian


Let me think of some more.

I thought Bacharach worked with a lyricist.

Sorry, I have just realized that I meant Hal David. Kill me.

Youtube doesn't have the dinner Philosophy scene from Monty Python's Meaning of Life

[insert scene here]

Mrs. Hendy: Do all philosophers have an S in them?
Mr. Hendy: Yeah I think most of them do.
Mrs. Hendy: Oh... Does that mean Selina Jones is a philosopher?
Mr. Hendy: Yeah... Right, she could be... she sings about the Meaning of Life.
Mrs. Hendy: Yeah, that's right, but I don't think she writes her own material.
Mr. Hendy: No. Maybe Schopenhauer writes her material?
Mrs. Hendy: No... Burt Bacharach writes it.
Mr. Hendy: There's no 'S' in Burt Bacharach...
Mrs. Hendy: ...Or in Hal David...
Mr. Hendy: Who's Hal David?
Mrs. Hendy: He writes the lyrics, Burt just writes the tunes... only now he's married to Carole Bayer Sager...
Mr. Hendy: Oh... Waiter... this conversation isn't very good.
Waiter: Oh, I'm sorry, sir... We *do* have one today that's not on the menu. It's a sort of... er... speciality of the house: Live Organ Transplants.

Those are, to my mind, equally as asinine and irritating as Steve 'genuinely shit lyricist' Milk-mouse's interminably 'zany' rhyming couplets of shitness. See also Brian Molko. Bob Dylan can eat a massive tub of 'shut the fuck up you over-rated wank residue' as well.

Good lyricists make sure that the book references are as subtle as that Sonic Youth37 poster's sense of humour. If they are outstanding lyricists they don't need any at all.

Wow, no one has mentioned the Silver Jews yet? Lyrically, American Water might be my favorite album.

Because they suck.