James Mercer of The Shins and Broken Bells writes the most goddamn lovely lyrics I've ever heard:
I am also partial to Will Sheff of Okkervil River's incredibly emotive lyrics: Of all the churning random hearts under the sun
eventually fading into night,
these two are opening now,
as we lie I touch you, wonderful alive. Lover, now that you've left me, I'm glad you're unlovely.
Because if you could take all the heat in your heart and just hang it from you,
I wouldn't be able to bear the way you cannot love me.
It's much easier of me make a monster out of you.
..and speaking of emotive, Jeff Magnum: And so here I go, substituting the glow from your temples,
all our sighs and our trembles, and each last letter sent you
from the cheap little pen of this weak little man
- the one singing - out his jangling, ringing
and hopefully stinging attack upon you.
Little boy born without a mother or a father
Taken to the river and then pushed into the water
And the priests are singing that the hell was getting hotter
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the only one to save him
From the thing he loves the most but we know will betray him
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the only one to save him
From the thing he loves the most but we know will betray him And here beneath the water I can see
How the light distorts so strange
And this is how I would like to leave my body
And start again
Every single band/person I was going to mention. They truly are some of the best ever. I would just have to add Port of Morrow and 40 Mark Strasse for The Shins. And For Real and Black Sheep Boy for Okkervil River.
I was at the grocery store earlier today and I could have sworn I saw James Mercer in the produce section. I lurked for a while, stalked the guy to get a better glimpse and finally got close enough to realize that it was just a guy that looks a LOT like James Mercer and that I was a creepy dude staring at him as he picked out his onion. He really knew that onion. I'm a big fan of his though, I love his lyrics, one of my favorites is from Those To Come: Eyeless in the morning sun you were
Pale and mild, a modern girl
Taken with thought, still prone to care
Makin tea in your underwear
You went out in the yard to find Something to eat and clear your mind
Something bad inside me went away
Haha. Somewhere, some bearded guy thinks he's hot stuff for getting checked out at the supermarket. Yes! I remember exactly where I was when I first heard that song. It's so simple and beautiful.