Who are the best rock lyricists of this era?

Anybody out there to get excited about?

 

Ray Davies

 

Bob Dylan, as long as he is with us.

 

Ron Mael of Sparks, as evidence by this year's Hippopotamus.

 

Robert Pollard

 

joni mitchell, leonard cohen, bob dylan, kevin gilbert, laura nyro

 

Anyone who wouldn't qualify for an old age pension?

One of the above recommendations is dead!

 

Ian Felice, Jack White, Jeff Tweedy, Eric Bachmann, Will Johnson, Stephen Malkmus, Tim Easton.

 

Bernie Taupin.

 

Thom Yorke

 

Kendrick Lamar.

 

Sleaford Mods.

 

Jason Isbell.

 

Well....if you define rock very broadly and you're interested in lyrics that are poetic, I highly recommend a now defunct band called Subtle. The singer is Adam Drucker and he's best known as a rapper, but his work under the Subtle monicker is pretty much rock in my book. His lyrics are usually fairly deep and thoughtful. (On a side note...if anyone is familiar with Why?, Yoni Wolf's lyrics can be pretty deep too.)

Here's a brief sample from a song called "Requiem for a Dive"

"In the further cornest of a clearest skull when you feel your kneecaps being nursed
By white on white, welcome magic till, she scar to read woe, become only one
In the mirror on hands and heart for verge lift she mad jacket in her
And with it's omen, and brought it zits, and in the tight wishbone you care for a lift
Your instrument was left at the door and she slowly unclutches the car seat sack
When it's keyhole to me, and so you snap this bone car wish in the lockpick
Until you hear through the click of door the dead bolt coughed in suddenly

To feel God above your skull, beneath your skin goes wild"

 

Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), Laura Marling, Sufjan Stevens, Phil Everum (Mount Eerie)...there are so many in the current batch of singer/songwriters.

 

Father John Misty, Craig Finn, Conor Oberst. Finn is I'd say one of the top 10 rock writers of any generation.

 

Don McLean
Jim Croce
Lennon-McCartney
Hal David
Jimmy Webb
Bob Dylan

 

The OP definitely said 'of this era'. Lennon has been dead for 37 years. You appear to be in a timewarp.

Aside from not really grasping why 'rock' is constantly referenced in this forum in preference to other genres, I no longer have a clue what the parameters of its definition are. Does it mean white artists that play guitars or piano, and sing?

Evidently not.... so all these are rock, then what is not rock? Not saying I don't like these artists, I agree with your assessment in terms of contemporary relevance, just bemused.

 

Too many dinosaurs being listed here so far. Of a more modern era I would include Andy Partridge, Chris Difford, Sting, Michael Stipe and Neko Case.

 

Will Taledo and Joshua Tillman.

 

If you're willing to move towards alt country, try James McMurtry.

 

They all hold up quite well. Ya know, I'd rate Jim Croce as my fave on that list. There's something about the blue collar earthiness of his lyrics (and music) that appeals to me.

 

I think Matt Berninger of "The National" is right up there with the best. He's my favorite of the 21st century.

 

Your list of non-dinosaurs includes a couple of people who've been pretty much retired for 10 years.

 

This era, for ROCK......I'll pick: Gillan/Glover.