The Best Lyric-Related Albums

[Mister Gold]

As the title suggests, this thread is about which albums we all rank as the best in regards to lyrics. I'd have to spend a lot of time revisiting and analyzing my favorites to make a full-on countdown list, but I definitely have a few standout favorite albums in this regard.

Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky - Quite probably the greatest album I have ever come across, at least as far as lyrics go. Browne's lyrics on this album are devastatingly powerful and incredibly human. Love, heartbreak, death, the journey of life, joy, and the Apocalypse are all featured here. I can't sing enough praises for this album.

Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black - If Late for the Sky is the album that I go to channel and connect with the most raw emotions I can muster, then Dreaming Neon Black is the album I go to when I'm emotionally devoid. This album is bleak and I have had physical reactions while listening to this album and reading Dane's lyrics as I go along (i.e. breaking into sweat, goosebumps, etc).

Marillion - Clutching at Straws - I'm not entirely sure how I would compare Clutching at Straws to my other favorites, but I can definitely say that Fish is simply among the greatest lyricists out there. His work is thought-provoking and emotionally stirring. I myself am not an alcoholic. In fact I only ever drink one bottle whenever I decide to consume alcohol, but it's largely because I recognize that I have an innate personality that leans towards addictions. I can relate to this album because its protagonist is someone I often fear I might one day become.

Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian, Perfect Symmetry, pretty much ANY FW album - Fates Warning, regardless of who the lyricist is, is one of those bands that is practically guaranteed to always deliver an album's worth of fantastic lyrics. John Arch is an individual who leans more towards the fantastical and uses them as metaphors for real life problems, whereas Jim Matheos and Ray Alder lean more towards the Neil Peart school of lyricism.

Those are some of my personal favorites. What about the rest of DTF? What are your favorite lyric-based albums?

[DerekTheater]

Rush - Hold Your Fire
Pink Floyd - Animals
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Metallica - Master of Puppets

[lonestar]

You already got my favorite listed. As an alcoholic, I can say that Fish nails the descent brilliantly.

[Kotowboy]

I love the lyrics on Nimrod by Green Day.

[DerekTheater]

You already got my favorite listed. As an alcoholic, I can say that Fish nails the descent brilliantly.

Yes, Fugazi, Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws are all among my favorite lyric albums, and a lot of Fish's solo work has interesting lyrics. A lot of people call him a Peter Gabriel clone, but I prefer his lyrics to Gabriel's.

Some more favorites:

The Who - Quadrophenia
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

[Mister Gold]

You already got my favorite listed. As an alcoholic, I can say that Fish nails the descent brilliantly.

Yes, Fugazi, Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws are all among my favorite lyric albums, and a lot of Fish's solo work has interesting lyrics. A lot of people call him a Peter Gabriel clone, but I prefer his lyrics to Gabriel's.

Some more favorites:

The Who - Quadrophenia
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

As much as I like Gabriel's lyrical work, I think it's pretty safe to say that Fish is a vastly superior lyricist. He's right up there in lyrical quality with Browne, in my opinion and I think he's generally been more consistent in his quality of lyrical work than Browne too.

[King Postwhore]

Mr. Gold.  Check out Jackson Browne's album, I'm  Alive. Talk about pouring your heart into your music and lyrics.

[Mister Gold]

Mr. Gold.  Check out Jackson Browne's album, I'm  Alive. Talk about pouring your heart into your music and lyrics.

I'm already familiar with a song or two off of that album (Sky Blue and Black ), but I'll be sure to check it out in full later! I doubt it'll beat Late for the Sky in my book though.

[DerekTheater]

What's your opinion on post-Fish Marillion lyrics?

I think there is some great stuff, but Fish is just more clever and interesting.

[Mister Gold]

What's your opinion on post-Fish Marillion lyrics?

I think there is some great stuff, but Fish is just more clever and interesting.

I love it a lot. H is a more universal lyricist, which has its benefits, and he's quite capable of coming up with vivid imagery in his lyrics (i.e. "reach with her toes to touch him" in The Sky Above the Rain). That said, I do think that Fish is the superior lyricist overall.

However I love both of their voices equally and associate Marillion more with H than I do Fish anyway.

[King Postwhore]

It's about his breakup with actress Daryl Hannah. They had a long and tumultuous relationship with whispers of abuse.  The musiC is perfect for the tone of the lyrics.

[TAC]

Pink Floyd - Animals
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Metallica - Master of Puppets

Great albums listed there, man.

[Mister Gold]

It's about his breakup with actress Daryl Hannah. They had a long and tumultuous relationship with whispers of abuse.  The musiC is perfect for the tone of the lyrics.

Ooh, sounds intriguing. I have a feeling I'll enjoy the album a lot then! Still, I remain rather sure that I'll still probably prefer Late for the Sky. Part of that is that while LftS does discuss about break-ups in great detail, the album is cathartic in other ways too. For a Dancer, for example, deals with both loss and our own inner struggles of mortality. It also raises a glimmer of hope in The Late Show. I dunno, I just think that album touches a lot of ground lyrically and does so brilliantly in each regard.

[Kotowboy]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

[adace]

Agalloch - discography
Opeth - discography

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

well you could kinda say that about any life experience

maybe people just shouldn't write songs about stuff

[Mister Gold]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

well you could kinda say that about any life experience

maybe people just shouldn't write songs about stuff

Exactly. For me, I don't mind real-life relationships inspiring lyrics, but I'd like it to be handled maturely. I'll dislike it if it's whiny or unbelievably positive and phony. Lyricists like Browne paint their relationships in a more interesting light. There's good and there's bad and the blame is never solely on one person's side.

For example, the opening lines of Late for the Sky:

The words had all been spoken
And somehow the feeling still wasn't right
And still we continued on through the night
Tracing our steps from the beginning
Until they vanished into the air
Trying to understand how our lives had led us there

[Anguyen92]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

But then artists like Taylor Swift will never get any material done.      

The thing is that with music being driven by emotion, at times, and that emotion is sometimes caused by real-life event.  Sometimes, it is just natural for people to write songs about their relationships and feel a bit better releasing all of this tension out a bit.  Some might say it's cathartic.  How it is handled and interpreted is another story.

Edit: I actually looked up cathartic, right now.  It is exactly what I meant.

Exactly. For me, I don't mind real-life relationships inspiring lyrics, but I'd like it to be handled maturely. I'll dislike it if it's whiny or unbelievably positive and phony...... There's good and there's bad and the blame is never solely on one person's side.

Agree.

[Fluffy Lothario]

The first ones that come to mind are just my favourite albums, or the ones that have any vocals/lyrics at all.

Besides, I don't think about lyrics on an album by album basis. I look at songs separately.

[PuffyPat]

The first that comes to mind is Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city.' Insanely well written rap album in an industry riddled with a lot of bull shit.

[Xenon]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

I think there are good songs regarding that.

BTW, these are some of my favorite lyric related albums:
-The Whirlwind by Transatlantic
-Fear of a blank planet by Porcupine Tree
-The Perfect element by pain of salvation
-Damnation by Opeth
-Everything by The Doors
-De-Loused in the comatorium and Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta


- () by Sigur Ros

[King Postwhore]

For those who say writing about relationships is wrong.  You need to read and listen to Fleetwood Mac -- Rumours.  They all were breaking up with each other in the band and poured their souls into the album.

Another great relationship album is No Doubt -- Tragic Kingdom.  Gwen Stefani's personal lyrics and emotion drove that album.  Imagine being Tony Kanal the base player in No Doubt hearing the lyrics to Don't Speak.  Powerful and emotional.

[DerekTheater]

I love thoughtful lyrics of all kinds, no matter what the subject is. If you have a clever observation on taking a dump, by all means, write about it.

[senecadawg2]

David Gray- A Century Ends
Any Agalloch album
Anathema- WHBWH and WS

[DerekTheater]

Pink Floyd - Animals
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Metallica - Master of Puppets

Great albums listed there, man.

Indeed.

[Zook]

I love thoughtful lyrics of all kinds, no matter what the subject is. If you have a clever observation on taking a dump, by all means, write about it.

But not too literal:

Just an hour ago
in the master bath
I took a big huge dump
I wiped and flushed
and washed my hands

[Zyzzyva17]

I love thoughtful lyrics of all kinds, no matter what the subject is. If you have a clever observation on taking a dump, by all means, write about it.

But not too literal:

Just an hour ago
in the master bath
I took a big huge dump
I wiped and flushed
and washed my hands

That pattern of syllables looks very familiar...  SUCKING ON HIS PIPE!

[sneakyblueberry]

Joanna Newsom - Ys has the most beautiful lyrics of any album anywhere in time.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom, while seemingly nonsensical, probably has the most emotional and best lyrics out of any album I've heard
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Yes - Close to the Edge
Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
Any The Dear Hunter album
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Really too many to count, but those were the ones that came first to mind.

[Dr. DTVT]

Enchant tends to have great lyrics for the most part.  I can only think of one song with some cringe worthy lyrics.

[GentlemanofDread]

Any album by Coheed and Cambria, though that comes with the concept driven nature of every album, I guess.

[Zantera]

Best lyricist for me has to be Mark Kozelek. He puts his heart and soul into everything he writes, and he has written some of the most heartfelt lyrics I've ever heard. In terms of albums, I think either the self-titled Red House Painters album, also known as Rollercoaster, or Sun Kil Moon's debut album Ghosts of the Great Highway are excellent showcases of Mark Kozelek's writing. To me he's on a higher level compared to most songwriters when it comes to lyrics. The most recent Sun Kil Moon album from this year, Benji was also something special.

I wish I could also mention a more popular DTF band or artist, but truth to be told, I don't think many Progressive Rock bands really have good lyrics. The Mars Volta being the exception, lyrics seem to be a common weakness for many Progressive bands. Just thinking about the lyrics of a band like Anathema makes me feel slightly sad. Sure, they had some great high points back in the earlier days (Judgement), but nowadays it's like listening to drunk high school kids philosophizing about life and stuff. Luckily the music more than enough compensates for clichéd lyrics. And Anathema was just an example, most of the newer progressive rock bands have the same problem.

[Jaq]

Given my favorite album ever is Amused to Death, I think it goes without saying how much I like Roger Waters' lyrics. I will give another nod to Marillion's lyrics, with both singers, even if Steve Hogarth has the uncanny ability to write lyrics constantly that fit things I went through in my life.

[lonestar]

I never understand why people write songs about their relationships.

1. It should be private.

2. Nobody gives a shit.

Well, for them, it's their emotional output, their way of dealing with things. As for me, I have learned more about love and life through song lyrics than I have through every other artistic medium combined. So yes, I do give a shit.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Van der Graaf Generator - Still Life
Bright Eyes - Lifted, Or, The Story Is In The Soil Keep Your Ear to the Ground