[Anyone Here A Fan Of Death Grips?]

SUBATOMIC PENETRATION RAPID FIRE THROUGH YOUR SKULL, I SHOT IT ON WE'RE TAKIN' IT BACK TO THE DAYS OF TRYIN' TA LOSE CONTROL

 

 

 

Never heard anything like them, and honestly, never felt as invincible when listening to something as I do them.

 

How would you go about trying to recreaate something with the energy of the louder songs on Exmilitary?

[Is Alex Turner Perhaps The Greatest Modern Day Lyricist?]

Ed Sheeran is another very talented young writer, though it is perhaps early in his career as a writer he has been a very prolific writer writing for many artists.

What makes Alex Turner's lyrics stand out for you, to the extent that you think him one of the greatest? For me writers that incorporate some level of ambiguity in their writing are fascinating. It is something I try to incorporate in my own writing but it is something that is hard to do well. Most writers tend to write in a very literal way, presenting listeners with a fairly exact message and story. Writers like Turner, Yorke, Bowie let the listener take emotive lyrics and make them personal to themselves, allowing the listener to imbue them with a far more personal meaning without even realising it. Clever stuff.

 

I think Ed Sheeran has some brilliant stuff.

 

And you hit the nail on the head. For me the best lyrics are never literal. And mix poetry with songwriting, at just the right balance, so that the singer doesn't sound a pretentious prig. 

 

And references. Always need references. Doesn't mater if they're from movies, other songs, or everyday life, a well placed well known reference can take a line to new heights.

 

Even AM, which is probably their most literal album ever, still has all these things. Like, in 'Knee Socks' when Alex refers to midnight, with the line 'When the zeroes line up on the 24 hour clock" only after the 4th listen did I get it and I was like, wow, thats so simple and yet so cool sounding.

[Is Alex Turner Perhaps The Greatest Modern Day Lyricist?]

I think there are many great lyricists, not all are famous, but sticking with that for a moment, I am a big fan of Thom Yorke's lyrics as they can be multilayered and abstract, but then Radiohead are perhaps a little too yesteryear. One writer I do rate is Adele. Her lyrics are simple, evocative and unpretentious. There really are many worthy writers.

Although lacking popular success there are even one or two highly worthy writers here on our forums, but then for me an accolade such as "the best lyricist" is somewhat false and forced, and frankly far too taste dependent. Who do we rate I believe is a more valuable and meaningful debate, and one maybe less prone to "mine is better than yours" if only because surely there are many who are praiseworthy and looking at each would surely be a good thing?

Of course not having to beat our way to finding a lucky winner would also seem a bonus lol

 

 

I....I....alright, you're absolutely right. I don't want to get into that kind of argument, as its the kind no one really wins. Deep down, all I wanted was to share info on someone I think is a very talented writer, and get info on others as well. Thanks, man.

 

It also depends what you mean by modern. The last 5 years, the last 10, the last 50? Turner can't touch lyricists like Tom Waits or Elvis Costello.He's clever, yes, but does he move me? No.

 

I've never heard of those two, but I will check them out. By modern, I mean in the 2000s. 

 

i didnt mean to be negative about him ...i like it that his lyrics are so different & unusual but i havent  a clue what they mean ...often i like that bcos you are left to imagine & the lyrics just conjure up images in your mind .....you dont have to work to understand what they mean bcos they mean anything you  want them to ......& that was how i thought he wrote

now crying lightning is like that i havent any idea what hes saying ...but are you saying you can understand it?

 

 

http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858759902/

[Is Alex Turner Perhaps The Greatest Modern Day Lyricist?]

True, but lyrics that can be interpreted in many ways aren't bad lyrics.

 

I bet you look good on the dancefloor bores me.

 

Give crying lightning a listen. Poetic songwriting at its catchiest.

[Is Alex Turner Perhaps The Greatest Modern Day Lyricist?]

Alright, he's no Greg Graffin or Bob Dylan, but the wit and wordplay he uses is unmatched.

 

 

Counter or agree?