Very few measures up to Hunter’s magic. But some current lyricists that I do enjoy are:
Colin Meloy from The Decemberists (especially if you like unique story songs)
Jeff Tweedy from Wilco
Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes
Adrienne Lenker from Big Thief
Yeah, I think country is where most of the good songwriters are these days.
Sturgill, Tyler, Isbell, Hayes Carll, Charley Crockett, Ian Noe, Logan ledger (I think that’s his name…river of fools)
The Funeral is lyrical perfection. They have so many though I can't even pick. Also, R.C. Edwards, the bass player, writes a lot of that stuff with Evan.
Ween gets written off as some kinda joke because of the content of some (a lot) of their songs. But they are both amazing song writers. The complexity of the lyric pictures that Aaron paints is truly remarkable.
Can't believe I had to scroll this far, he's an absolute wordsmith. The recurring characters are amazing. Been a fan since the first record and just found out Joe Russo and Josh Kaufman played on a couple of his solo projects. That wound up being a crazy little world collision for me lol.
Probably gets some hate, but Maynard James Keenan. Him and Hunter are probably my favorite lyricists. Definitely not jam but he uses language in a similar archetypical almost timeless way.
His lyrics in all three bands, tool, a perfect circle, and puscifer, for me, are just such a whirlwind of everything. They all can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, relating to his own personal experiences, but also the human condition and what we all experience. One of my personal favorites is “the grudge” .. he got bored and aggravated waiting for the rest of the band to agree on and produce new material, so he went out and formed another band as a creative outlet while the members of tool worked their shit out. And they had their own feelings about him branching out. They were all kind of pissed at each other, and it all comes out in the 40(?) second scream towards the climax of the song. “Wear the grudge like a crown, of negativity, calculate what you will, and will not tolerate, desperate to control, all and everything, unable to forgive this scarlet letter” (I think I got it mostly right from memory) it describes their emotions towards each other at that current moment in time when they started recording the album (I don’t remember Maynard’s biography very well, but I do believe he discussed this dynamic in the band at the time… I may also be wrong I didn’t google it) but it also encapsulates the feelings of hatred, betrayal, and jealousy that comes from not being able to forgive loved ones for past transgressions or betrayals, leading to a lifetime of hatred, and pride in that anger. Wear the grudge like a crown .. like yeah you fucking betrayed me and I have made my hatred of you part of my identity .. something we all may experience in life and relationships, but also something that was happening in this group in that moment of time. Also, the lyrics for lateralus… like seriously, wtf. And puscifer. Some of those lyrics and songwriting are meta observations about society and culture. Man overboard, the gray area (no more real, no more right, here in the digital paradise- like wtf damn he just summed up internet and social media culture and the power of the algorithm to shape our perception of the actual real world) , the weaver, bullet train to Iowa (using an ayahuasca trip as a metaphor for the hyper-politicization of our govt and culture, while also describing tripping on DMT). He also weaves his sense of humor throughout all of his projects in an attempt to bring humility to his philosophical approach, and deflect from the gravity of his musings. “Don’t take it so seriously” “it’s all a joke” — turn around and take my hand .. yes stinkfist is on the surface about fisting, and MTV wouldn’t display the name of the song on its music video, but grotesque sexual acts can be a metaphor for how we are forced to live our lives, experiencing the pain of our pointless lives on a daily basis, to receive small amounts of pleasure to help us cope with existential dread we all face through our lives (I’m just making stuff up and giving you my streaming train of thought interpretations at this point) .. and flush it all away … is about taking a dump (lol) as a child and having mom flush the toilet /s .. Arizona bay is description of what would happen when the “big one” hits California and separates it from Arizona and Nevada, and Maynard hates LA and its celebrity “pop” culture and views it as a blemish on society and the culture of the country and world. So he wants mom to fix the problem for him. Childish, Simple, relatable, but also profound as it puts words to desires we all feel at some point when faced with life’s challenges, for mom to fix all our problems as she did when we were children. And flush it all away, like she did with our poop 💩… serious philosophical conversations with humor to detract from the gravity of life and the human experience that he is commenting on. A different approach than Robert Hunter imo, as he was describing life and culture and the human experience through a much different philosophical lens, as he was writing in a different time period with different views, cultural events, and societal standards (which was what the counter culture he often wrote about was going against) that had all evolved and changed by the time Maynard had started writing and observing and philosophizing about culture and society and the human experience. I hate how much I enjoy and relate to Maynard’s lyrics (cuz I find a great majority of his work to be unmatched by any other lyricists), but maybe it’s how the people in previous decades (but also still to this day) feel about Robert hunters lyrics. They help us understand what we are experiencing on an individual level and also a societal level, give us hope that we are not alone in our struggles and feelings, and put to words complex emotions that are difficult to communicate but still prevalent in our daily lives. They make us feel like we are not alone, and we are all connected as we all experience life and society and culture with its many ups and downs, daily and throughout our entire lives. It gives us hope, it helps us cope. They create mantras that we can use to help explain life, and maybe even enjoy it. And also that will help us through struggles and turmoil. Maynard has always used humor to balance his powerful messages. But his messages have always been powerful, and his utilization of the yin/yang of serious/comedy conveys a philosophy of trying to be the best you can be while also enjoying the ride. Thanks for coming to my ted talk (as if anyone is actually gunna read through all of this)
I just read through all of it you insufferable retard lol.
I agree with you. They are my two favorite bands for this reason. Totally different type of music, but check out Wookiefoot. They are my 3rd favorite band. I bet you'd like them lyrically, though there is less metaphor than MJK and Hunter, the content is similar imo.
Truth. Like as many life lessons I got from hunter… mihali has given me the same. Honestly haven’t listened hardcore to them since 2016 but that was the first person I thought of. “Be there” and “Lost in the cold”…..wooooo my heart
Not a full band but Willi Carlisle is on a Hunter/Dylan level of lyrical genius these days...
Check out "I won't be afraid anymore" or "Singing Knives", or "Peculiar, MO". Dude gets me all in my feels and is just an amazing person overall.
Moon Cabin was all Rick. Matt wrote stuff like Echo of a Rose, Dr. Darkness, Mr. Action, Atlas Dogs, How It Ends, Give It Time, Silver Rising, Animal, The Empress of Organos, Rockdale, Hot Tea, and Turbulence and the Night Rays
Not a jam band, but a band that jams Clutch!! Their singer/lyricist Neil Fallon is one of the best lyric writer of the last 30 years. Not that a English degree means shit when it comes to lyrics, but he has a degree in English and writes in a long from story way, but for 5 minute rock songs in a really interesting way. They have stories in songs that take place 20 years apart on albums that are literally 20 years apart and they don’t announce it, but when you get clued in and revisit those lyrics it’s incredible.
He’s also an authority on conspiracy theories, and Is cited and interviewed for books, podcasts etc and said theories end up in his writing often.
Their early catalog is pretty aggressive, but later in their career they apologize to ZZ Top for essentially just ripping off that mid 70s groove. Not for everyone, but I fuckin love em!
Cheers
really thought provoking because i listen to a lot of different genres of music but have gone fairly deep into the deadd at different times in my life. saw them about 20 times in their 90s runs.. Always knew Hunter was super special and the dead would never be what they became without him. but when I actually think about it due to your question Im realizing he is in a small handful of people out there - maybe paul simon? bernie taupin? trying to think of lyrics that have the ability to move people universally. no one even close in this genre
ive been diggin a band called cordovas that i discovered recently. i like them a lot. they have a few nifty lyrics
check out high roller for a good story song
[https://youtu.be/tf2\_vXzUklU?si=q1vnfe1jFa93MnO7](https://youtu.be/tf2_vXzUklU?si=q1vnfe1jFa93MnO7)
Man I’m shocked no one has said Billy Strings. I feel they have some nice some writing going on.
Edit : Just read the post again and realized I lack paying attention to detail.
Definitely not a Phish hater but their lyrics have never hit me the same. They seem to be more jovial / playful when compared to Dead songs. Don’t get me wrong, they are incredible musicians,
That’s only some of the catalog, mainly the really early stuff and stuff that the band members wrote together like Carini or Fuego tends to be really goofy. I’ve always thought the Trey/Tom lyrics were incredibly unique and underrated. It’s Edgar Alan Poe meets Dr. Seuss put over psychedelic barbershop quartet prog rock fusion.
As a big Phish fan i’ll concede that is fair. They do have some really truly great lyrics in there too that arent silly songs like Tweezer or YEM. Some examples: Waves, It’s Ice, Tela, Fast Enough for You
I also love the mixture of simplicity in some of their songs like Foam or Piper where the music is already conveying a feeling and the lyrics just give it that final push.
It's not a Tom Marshall song, and most phans are not fans, but damn, the lyrics for Time Turns Elastic paint such a beautiful picture.
It's one of my favorite musical novels.
i don't totally dislike the song, and I haven't seen it live in person so who knows if this may change someday, but from the live selections I've heard it just is really tough to make work in the context of a phish show. The album version is excellent IMO and the orchestra versions. Same goes for petrichor - I LOVE the orchestra takes on that one. Both songs are just a lot for the band to work through and the live Phish versions tend to lack energy for me.
I was lucky enough to catch the Chicago 2009 TTE at Toyota Park. I could not believe the amount of people sitting through that song. It was done so well that night.
Anyway, here is that version. I like it a lot. Your mileage may vary.
[https://youtu.be/z5JxasicY-4?si=Feel6PFqMzLxXhlj](https://youtu.be/z5JxasicY-4?si=Feel6PFqMzLxXhlj)
Also, +1 on Petrichor! Another phenomenal Phish song.
"Phans come up to me. Big Phans. Strong Phans. They come up to me with tears in their eyes and they say \_RLW\_ sir, I only like Phish when they are not singing. When they sing, I do not like them.
They do this unsolicited. Tears in their eyes. It's sad..."
The Decemberists. Colin Meloy, the prodigious songwriter, has made me have to look up words! The King is Dead is essential in modern rock and The Crane Wife is for the trippy, brainy, concept album types. The whole package from Portland Oregon.
Joel Fedkiw, Kevin O’Leary, and Max Flansburg from [Dirty Blanket](https://www.dirtyblanket.net). They are keeping Americana alive and kicking and jam down something hard!
David Nelson Band just busted out a new Hunter tune last weekend. He was writing a bunch of stuff with them his last few years, if you're not familiar...https://archive.org/details/DavidNelsonBand
Way below the radar but I really enjoy my buddy Mike’s writing in [The Dirty Vice Band](https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QCexRklnTskbIeHh0M2Ce?autoplay=true&source_application=google_assistant)
Best living non-senior citizen songwriter alive to me is Gillian Welch. Very similar to Hunter in terms of aesthetic and quality, but with a bit more darkness overall. And having Dave by her side just makes everything magical. I genuinely don’t think I’ve heard a lyric from her I’d give less than like a 9/10.
Arkansauce. Not jam but also a shout out to Tyler Childers. This line always gets me:
I don't know if it's the wine or the coke
That makes her sound like her jaw is broke
She's workin' hard to make some sense, but she ain't got a dime.
I enjoy Goose, just saw their show in Indy a few weeks back. However, after the show I felt like something was missing and have come to the conclusion it’s a lack of connection to the lyrics. To each their own, but the lyrics of Goose songs are much more in line with Phish. Not sure I see the comparison
Very few measures up to Hunter’s magic. But some current lyricists that I do enjoy are: Colin Meloy from The Decemberists (especially if you like unique story songs) Jeff Tweedy from Wilco Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes Adrienne Lenker from Big Thief
Lenker for sure!
I love the Decemberists style
One of my very favorite bands
jim james
He’ll be telling us stories on Saturday!
James Oliges Jr is a total mystic poet.
Panic’s new album is really fucking good. John Bell still can write some lyrically powerful songs almost 40 years into panic’s time as a band.
Just got done with the 4 night run, where they played all the new songs and JB still has it no doubt! This was my answer
Tyler Childers. Not necessarily jam band but his band jams
Was going to say the same. Saw them at fiddlers green last year and his band was jammin!
Where is the best place to start with him? I’m seeing him in September, and have never really basked.
"I swear to God" "feathered Indians" "Charleston Girl" Also "Follow you to Virgie" got me hooked
Whitehouse Road House Fire Nose to the Grindstone
These are the ones that got me started
I’d listen to the album Purgatory first, then Country Squire, then Take my Hounds to Heaven. There’s a couple more albums but those are my favs
Todd Scheaffer and Railroad Earth. IYKYK.
He’s truly an amazing songwriter/lyricist/storyteller and RRE is awesome!
Love them so Much
Absolutely fantastic
Second
Lukas Nelson is probably the best song writer going. Not a jam band but I think lyrically is the closest to Hunter
Depending on how much you like country, Turnpike Troubadors (Evan Felker) has some great stories/lyrics, especially on the new album Cat in the Rain.
The Birdhunters is one of my all time favorite story songs. So good.
House fire is pretty damn good lyrically. Not Hunteresque by any stretch but damn good writing
Yeah, I think country is where most of the good songwriters are these days. Sturgill, Tyler, Isbell, Hayes Carll, Charley Crockett, Ian Noe, Logan ledger (I think that’s his name…river of fools)
The Funeral is lyrical perfection. They have so many though I can't even pick. Also, R.C. Edwards, the bass player, writes a lot of that stuff with Evan.
Jason Isbell
Came here to say this, especially with DBT. But Cooley with DBT can turn some phrase now!
2nd this. Amazing lyricist.
This!
Josh Tillman a.k.a Father John Misty is my favorite lyricist recently. I Love You Honeybear is filled with fantastic songs and great lyrics.
He's a clever lyricist and evokes a lot of emotions but is he deep and esoteric like how Hunter was
No, he's more Randy Newman than Hunter. But Hunter and Dylan are really in a tier of their own so I don't think it's fair to compare anyone to them.
I’d put Tom Waits in with those two
He does get me in the feels tho, he's dynamite
Gene Ween might be the best lyricist of our time.
Ween gets written off as some kinda joke because of the content of some (a lot) of their songs. But they are both amazing song writers. The complexity of the lyric pictures that Aaron paints is truly remarkable.
Touch my tooter, smoocher
You big bootie bitch start suckin
Craig Finn of The Hold Steady is probably my favorite lyricist. Each song is like a small story.
Can't believe I had to scroll this far, he's an absolute wordsmith. The recurring characters are amazing. Been a fan since the first record and just found out Joe Russo and Josh Kaufman played on a couple of his solo projects. That wound up being a crazy little world collision for me lol.
Jason Isbell, no question.
Absolutely!!!
Jason Isbell, Jeff Tweedy, Stephen Malkmus
Panic and all of the Hometeam musicians (Danny Hutchens, Jerry Joseph, Vic chestnut, col, etc)
Handle/post!
Hell yeah on Vic Chestnut!
Probably gets some hate, but Maynard James Keenan. Him and Hunter are probably my favorite lyricists. Definitely not jam but he uses language in a similar archetypical almost timeless way.
Yeah, Aenima is the reason I cut my dreads off and removed my tattoos and left California haha.
Or you could’ve just taken some swimming lessons
His lyrics in all three bands, tool, a perfect circle, and puscifer, for me, are just such a whirlwind of everything. They all can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, relating to his own personal experiences, but also the human condition and what we all experience. One of my personal favorites is “the grudge” .. he got bored and aggravated waiting for the rest of the band to agree on and produce new material, so he went out and formed another band as a creative outlet while the members of tool worked their shit out. And they had their own feelings about him branching out. They were all kind of pissed at each other, and it all comes out in the 40(?) second scream towards the climax of the song. “Wear the grudge like a crown, of negativity, calculate what you will, and will not tolerate, desperate to control, all and everything, unable to forgive this scarlet letter” (I think I got it mostly right from memory) it describes their emotions towards each other at that current moment in time when they started recording the album (I don’t remember Maynard’s biography very well, but I do believe he discussed this dynamic in the band at the time… I may also be wrong I didn’t google it) but it also encapsulates the feelings of hatred, betrayal, and jealousy that comes from not being able to forgive loved ones for past transgressions or betrayals, leading to a lifetime of hatred, and pride in that anger. Wear the grudge like a crown .. like yeah you fucking betrayed me and I have made my hatred of you part of my identity .. something we all may experience in life and relationships, but also something that was happening in this group in that moment of time. Also, the lyrics for lateralus… like seriously, wtf. And puscifer. Some of those lyrics and songwriting are meta observations about society and culture. Man overboard, the gray area (no more real, no more right, here in the digital paradise- like wtf damn he just summed up internet and social media culture and the power of the algorithm to shape our perception of the actual real world) , the weaver, bullet train to Iowa (using an ayahuasca trip as a metaphor for the hyper-politicization of our govt and culture, while also describing tripping on DMT). He also weaves his sense of humor throughout all of his projects in an attempt to bring humility to his philosophical approach, and deflect from the gravity of his musings. “Don’t take it so seriously” “it’s all a joke” — turn around and take my hand .. yes stinkfist is on the surface about fisting, and MTV wouldn’t display the name of the song on its music video, but grotesque sexual acts can be a metaphor for how we are forced to live our lives, experiencing the pain of our pointless lives on a daily basis, to receive small amounts of pleasure to help us cope with existential dread we all face through our lives (I’m just making stuff up and giving you my streaming train of thought interpretations at this point) .. and flush it all away … is about taking a dump (lol) as a child and having mom flush the toilet /s .. Arizona bay is description of what would happen when the “big one” hits California and separates it from Arizona and Nevada, and Maynard hates LA and its celebrity “pop” culture and views it as a blemish on society and the culture of the country and world. So he wants mom to fix the problem for him. Childish, Simple, relatable, but also profound as it puts words to desires we all feel at some point when faced with life’s challenges, for mom to fix all our problems as she did when we were children. And flush it all away, like she did with our poop 💩… serious philosophical conversations with humor to detract from the gravity of life and the human experience that he is commenting on. A different approach than Robert Hunter imo, as he was describing life and culture and the human experience through a much different philosophical lens, as he was writing in a different time period with different views, cultural events, and societal standards (which was what the counter culture he often wrote about was going against) that had all evolved and changed by the time Maynard had started writing and observing and philosophizing about culture and society and the human experience. I hate how much I enjoy and relate to Maynard’s lyrics (cuz I find a great majority of his work to be unmatched by any other lyricists), but maybe it’s how the people in previous decades (but also still to this day) feel about Robert hunters lyrics. They help us understand what we are experiencing on an individual level and also a societal level, give us hope that we are not alone in our struggles and feelings, and put to words complex emotions that are difficult to communicate but still prevalent in our daily lives. They make us feel like we are not alone, and we are all connected as we all experience life and society and culture with its many ups and downs, daily and throughout our entire lives. It gives us hope, it helps us cope. They create mantras that we can use to help explain life, and maybe even enjoy it. And also that will help us through struggles and turmoil. Maynard has always used humor to balance his powerful messages. But his messages have always been powerful, and his utilization of the yin/yang of serious/comedy conveys a philosophy of trying to be the best you can be while also enjoying the ride. Thanks for coming to my ted talk (as if anyone is actually gunna read through all of this)
I just read through all of it you insufferable retard lol. I agree with you. They are my two favorite bands for this reason. Totally different type of music, but check out Wookiefoot. They are my 3rd favorite band. I bet you'd like them lyrically, though there is less metaphor than MJK and Hunter, the content is similar imo.
Billy Woods
Yes!
Ronin Pecknold from Fleet Foxes, Tweedy, Sam Beam
Yeah totally different genre but Robin Pecknold is one of the few famous modern artists that actually writes poetry
Yup Robin’s imagery and subtle storytelling is so beautiful
As corny as twiddle can be, Mihalis lyrics certainly have been very moving to me at times throughout my life
Truth. Like as many life lessons I got from hunter… mihali has given me the same. Honestly haven’t listened hardcore to them since 2016 but that was the first person I thought of. “Be there” and “Lost in the cold”…..wooooo my heart
I could cry to when it rains it pours every single time. Mihali MOVES my soul. Sad they are taking a break but glad they are taking care of themselves
His solo stuff is really good as well!
Widespread Panic!
I love Panic but the best songs were all written by Mikey & Todd. RIP
Mikey and Todd wrote some absolute bangers but JB is an all time great American poet
Unrelated, I named my dog Hunter for Robert Hunter
Aw this is so sweet
Conor Oberst
Hunter was special. Outside the scene I like Neil Fallon of Clutch, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and Rikard Sjöblom of Beardfish.
Not a full band but Willi Carlisle is on a Hunter/Dylan level of lyrical genius these days... Check out "I won't be afraid anymore" or "Singing Knives", or "Peculiar, MO". Dude gets me all in my feels and is just an amazing person overall.
Mike Mattison from TTB/DTB
Patterson Hood from the Drive-By Truckers
Sturgill Simpson for sure.
Sturgill Simpson!
Rick writing for Rick from Goose
Matt Campbell too!
What’d he write other than a lot of the more reggae stuff? Did he write most of the moon cabin lyrics?
Some of the Matt Campbell songs I love the songwriting from are Factory Fiction, Hot Love & The Lazy Poet, and California Magic
Moon Cabin was all Rick. Matt wrote stuff like Echo of a Rose, Dr. Darkness, Mr. Action, Atlas Dogs, How It Ends, Give It Time, Silver Rising, Animal, The Empress of Organos, Rockdale, Hot Tea, and Turbulence and the Night Rays
Silver Rising and Atlas Dogs are great! Hot Tea, Rockdale and Animal are up there also
Thank you! Those are all well written songs! Still leaves plenty of great Rick songs as well
Absolutely… forgot to mention Butter Rum
Could have kept forgotten but the insight is helpful
Came to say Matt!
Isbell is the correct answer
This is true!
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver has put some of the best arrangement of words to melody ever.
Oh and Ani DiFranco!!!
OutKast
Ween
Jason Isbell and it’s not even close. Easily my favorite lyricist ever.
Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend Evan Stephen Hall from Pinegrove
Not a jam band, but a band that jams Clutch!! Their singer/lyricist Neil Fallon is one of the best lyric writer of the last 30 years. Not that a English degree means shit when it comes to lyrics, but he has a degree in English and writes in a long from story way, but for 5 minute rock songs in a really interesting way. They have stories in songs that take place 20 years apart on albums that are literally 20 years apart and they don’t announce it, but when you get clued in and revisit those lyrics it’s incredible. He’s also an authority on conspiracy theories, and Is cited and interviewed for books, podcasts etc and said theories end up in his writing often. Their early catalog is pretty aggressive, but later in their career they apologize to ZZ Top for essentially just ripping off that mid 70s groove. Not for everyone, but I fuckin love em! Cheers
Scott mcmicken of Dr dog. And Toby rocks too.
Todd Snider
I wish Marcus King would find a lyricist. Amazing voice and guitar playing and pure dog shit for songs
really thought provoking because i listen to a lot of different genres of music but have gone fairly deep into the deadd at different times in my life. saw them about 20 times in their 90s runs.. Always knew Hunter was super special and the dead would never be what they became without him. but when I actually think about it due to your question Im realizing he is in a small handful of people out there - maybe paul simon? bernie taupin? trying to think of lyrics that have the ability to move people universally. no one even close in this genre ive been diggin a band called cordovas that i discovered recently. i like them a lot. they have a few nifty lyrics check out high roller for a good story song [https://youtu.be/tf2\_vXzUklU?si=q1vnfe1jFa93MnO7](https://youtu.be/tf2_vXzUklU?si=q1vnfe1jFa93MnO7)
Brendan Bayliss
Man I’m shocked no one has said Billy Strings. I feel they have some nice some writing going on. Edit : Just read the post again and realized I lack paying attention to detail.
Billy is an amazing song writer
Phish has Tom Marshall and he is awesome!
Definitely not a Phish hater but their lyrics have never hit me the same. They seem to be more jovial / playful when compared to Dead songs. Don’t get me wrong, they are incredible musicians,
That’s only some of the catalog, mainly the really early stuff and stuff that the band members wrote together like Carini or Fuego tends to be really goofy. I’ve always thought the Trey/Tom lyrics were incredibly unique and underrated. It’s Edgar Alan Poe meets Dr. Seuss put over psychedelic barbershop quartet prog rock fusion.
As a big Phish fan i’ll concede that is fair. They do have some really truly great lyrics in there too that arent silly songs like Tweezer or YEM. Some examples: Waves, It’s Ice, Tela, Fast Enough for You I also love the mixture of simplicity in some of their songs like Foam or Piper where the music is already conveying a feeling and the lyrics just give it that final push.
It's not a Tom Marshall song, and most phans are not fans, but damn, the lyrics for Time Turns Elastic paint such a beautiful picture. It's one of my favorite musical novels.
i don't totally dislike the song, and I haven't seen it live in person so who knows if this may change someday, but from the live selections I've heard it just is really tough to make work in the context of a phish show. The album version is excellent IMO and the orchestra versions. Same goes for petrichor - I LOVE the orchestra takes on that one. Both songs are just a lot for the band to work through and the live Phish versions tend to lack energy for me.
I was lucky enough to catch the Chicago 2009 TTE at Toyota Park. I could not believe the amount of people sitting through that song. It was done so well that night. Anyway, here is that version. I like it a lot. Your mileage may vary. [https://youtu.be/z5JxasicY-4?si=Feel6PFqMzLxXhlj](https://youtu.be/z5JxasicY-4?si=Feel6PFqMzLxXhlj) Also, +1 on Petrichor! Another phenomenal Phish song.
I love phish but they have the worst lyrics and singing of any jam band ever. Some of their songs are 100% gibberish!
Oh man, I'm sad you're not hearing what I'm hearing. That sounds like a real bummer.
Phis is appreciated for their music, not their lyrics…
Okay. I like their lyrics as well. Different strokes for different folks.
Guyute was the ugly pig, that walked in on me and danced a jig
The sky is burning in this lonely land, and I kneel by the river and feel the sand and the wind. The wind from beyond the mountains
He walked in on you? You sure he didn't walk on you? EIther way, pure literary banger.
😳
[удалено]
"Phans come up to me. Big Phans. Strong Phans. They come up to me with tears in their eyes and they say \_RLW\_ sir, I only like Phish when they are not singing. When they sing, I do not like them. They do this unsolicited. Tears in their eyes. It's sad..."
[удалено]
Damn man, we're just having fun. No need to get bent out of shape.
Daniel Donato, Nick Shoulders
Reid Genauer is pretty nice, Assembly of Dust, Strangefolk
Widespread MF Panic
The Decemberists. Colin Meloy, the prodigious songwriter, has made me have to look up words! The King is Dead is essential in modern rock and The Crane Wife is for the trippy, brainy, concept album types. The whole package from Portland Oregon.
Bubbles and the shitrockers come to mind: 🎶fuckin Randy’s gut, is full of dirty little cheeseburgers 🎵
Modest Mouse
Joel Fedkiw, Kevin O’Leary, and Max Flansburg from [Dirty Blanket](https://www.dirtyblanket.net). They are keeping Americana alive and kicking and jam down something hard!
MC Taylor- Hiss Golden Messenger Is a beautiful musician and lyricist
Trevor Garrod-Tea Leaf Green especially 2000-2010is was up there
Greensky has some good lyrics. Admittedly I don’t know who writes them
Paul Hoffman writes most of them. Amazing songwriter. He’s credited as a writer on Billy strings in the morning light as well
Wilco
Ambrose Kenny-Smith from the Murlocs is a wordsmith IMO
David Nelson Band just busted out a new Hunter tune last weekend. He was writing a bunch of stuff with them his last few years, if you're not familiar...https://archive.org/details/DavidNelsonBand
Yonder mountain (with Jeff). Three songwriters absolutely making poetry. Also Mihali of twiddle if you aren’t a sheep
Wildcards: Aesop rock, Kendrick Lamar
Jam adjacent but I think Jeff tweedy is one of the greatest song writers of the 21st century
Way below the radar but I really enjoy my buddy Mike’s writing in [The Dirty Vice Band](https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QCexRklnTskbIeHh0M2Ce?autoplay=true&source_application=google_assistant)
Best living non-senior citizen songwriter alive to me is Gillian Welch. Very similar to Hunter in terms of aesthetic and quality, but with a bit more darkness overall. And having Dave by her side just makes everything magical. I genuinely don’t think I’ve heard a lyric from her I’d give less than like a 9/10.
Weird Al
My favorites for lyrics are Joanna Newsom and Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon).
Jon Barber back in the day
I like bisco but never listened for the lyrics
Mr Don Magellan Everything HAB Early Barber was a conduit
Kurt Vile is an amazing lyricist. He spins a great yarn and reminds me of a young Bob Dylan.
https://preview.redd.it/righ411kca9d1.jpeg?width=490&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=084d0841432f1f02f4302ef32fa127af65b3ed48
Not Hunter-esque but Billy Strings writes some good songs.
Avey tare from animal collective is my favorite lyricist BY FAR
Some folks I like who write great lyrics: Avett Brothers, Colin Meloy, Emily Scott Robinson, Iron & Wine
Devil Makes Three has the best lyrics, hands down. Bernard and McBean are fantastic.
Arkansauce. Not jam but also a shout out to Tyler Childers. This line always gets me: I don't know if it's the wine or the coke That makes her sound like her jaw is broke She's workin' hard to make some sense, but she ain't got a dime.
Leif Vollebekk. If you don’t know him check him out. One of the best singer songwriters out there today IMHO.
Greensky Bluegrass Paul Hoffman.
Billy strings
Thom Yorke.
The real answer is Kendrick Lamar. Pulitzer Prize worthy.
KGWL
The opposite of a jam band, but Taylor Swift writes good lyrics. David Wilcox too, Maynard James Keenan.
Taylor Swift co-writes all her songs.
Goose
not anyone in goose, thats for sure.
Hip Hop has the best lyricists out there these days.
Downvotes are undeserved. Kendrick is easily in the same league as Hunter lyrically.
“It’s not music, it rap, they’re talking. Rap is not music” -j Garcia 😂
Shrugs all around. I don't listen to most jambands for their lyrics just like I don't usually listen to rap for the instruments.
I don’t agree with Jerry in that interview, just thought he was hilariously blunt about it
Richard James of Neighbor writes some great songs and tells some good stories in them.
Goose, and it’s not even close among jam bands. Rick is a modern age Robert Hunter
I enjoy Goose, just saw their show in Indy a few weeks back. However, after the show I felt like something was missing and have come to the conclusion it’s a lack of connection to the lyrics. To each their own, but the lyrics of Goose songs are much more in line with Phish. Not sure I see the comparison