Prog's Most Controversial Lyricist

Horizons wrote: Steven Wilson.

Based on the definition that I tend to think of when I hear the word "controversial", I wholeheartedly agree.

Partially for the reason that some people, fans and non-fans of his, that I've talked to directly think he's a poor lyricist for whatever reason, but I don't think being a poor lyricist equates to being a controversial lyricist. Plus I personally disagree with the assessments made by those individuals.

However, some of his subject matter being what it is, I'm quite frankly shocked that he hasn't raised some more eyebrows as far as the lyrical content of his songs goes.

Obviously he's extremely innovative and pushes boundaries with the instrumental aspect of his music and even with his lyrics, but I've never heard of any backlash because he wrote a few songs from the perspective of various serial killers (in the first person no less), and I've never heard of any backlash because he so openly criticizes drab mainstream modern music (e.g - "Sound of Muzak"). Maybe the fact that he didn't win a Grammy was "backlash" for the latter example I gave, but Mr. Wilson is [fortunately] the antithesis of everything the Grammys stand for these days anyways.

So maybe Wilson hasn't directly caused controversy with his lyrics due to his projects still being relatively unappreciated in what is more or less at times the "land of drama and controversy" (the US, of course), but I personally am always shocked his lyrics don't push more people's buttons.

Again though, I love the way he writes and his subject matter and point of view always intrigues me.

...or more numbingly tedious it would appear.

JaySpiral wrote: Everyone who's ever written lyrics for Dream Theater can't seem to write lyrics better than an elementary schooler. How many people have written lyrics for them? And they don't have a single song that stands out lyrically.

I feel that when Kevin Moore was with the band the lyric content was much stronger.
For instance, I think Pull Me Under is a very well written song as well as the very clever Space Dye vest.
When Moore left the lyric quality deminished. I will say that Octavarium is well written lyrically. That is one of DT's better moments without Moore. Honestly, overall though, I feel DT's best albums and best years are when Kevin Moore was with the band. Images and Words and Awake are to of the very greatest prog-metal albums of all time in my book.

:)

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: progbethyname wrote: JaySpiral wrote: Everyone who's ever written lyrics for Dream Theater can't seem to write lyrics better than an elementary schooler. How many people have written lyrics for them? And they don't have a single song that stands out lyrically. I feel that when Kevin Moore was with the band the lyric content was much stronger. For instance, I think Pull Me Under is a very well written song as well as the very clever Space Dye vest. When Moore left the lyric quality deminished. I will say that Octavarium is well written lyrically. That is one of DT's better moments without Moore. Honestly, overall though, I feel DT's best albums and best years are when Kevin Moore was with the band. Images and Words and Awake are to of the very greatest prog-metal albums of all time in my book. :) A Dramatic Turn of Events had very good lyrics.  Far better than anything since Images or Awake.While I don't think their lyrics, for the most part, are that bad, they went into a sharp decline with Black Clouds, which was absolutely atrocious.  Systematic Chaos had some clunkers too.  Other than that, I think the lyrics are pretty decent, nothing to write home about poetically though.

Yeah. I with you on the point that dream theater aren't really all that bad lyrically. Boy. 6 degrees is great lyrically!
ADTOE is awesome too. Loved having MYUNG back in the lyric game.
I still will say, SPACE DYE VEST is the most clever lyrically charged song they've got.
Kevin Moore is a genius. Have you checked out his OSI and CHROMA KEY yet?
It is so very good. :)

JaySpiral wrote: To me they use just a bunch of cliches and it doesn't work for me at all.

My main problem with them is that their lyrics are excellent conceptually but sometimes lackluster poetically: for example Six Degrees (the song) has an incredible concept that humanizes the mentally ill and makes their sufferings relatable in a remarkable way.  However, some of the poetry just doesn't do the concept justice, like Portnoy's clunker:

Random urine testing
Pills red, pink, and blue
Counseling and therapy
Providing not a clue.

Of course, there are some great lines in there too, though... "Those b*****d doctors are gonna pay"...

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: JaySpiral wrote: To me they use just a bunch of cliches and it doesn't work for me at all. My main problem with them is that their lyrics are excellent conceptually but sometimes lackluster poetically: for example Six Degrees (the song) has an incredible concept that humanizes the mentally ill and makes their sufferings relatable in a remarkable way.  However, some of the poetry just doesn't do the concept justice, like Portnoy's clunker: Random urine testing Pills red, pink, and blue Counseling and therapy Providing not a clue. Of course, there are some great lines in there too, though... "Those b*****d doctors are gonna pay"...

And I thought that was a great stanza!
No for real, I thought that was a good lyric

Gaza by Marillion caused a lot of stir recently. They took a lot of heat for that song but it is one of their best to date.

verslibre wrote: The.Crimson.King wrote: I concur...FZ could write a biting social commentary then follow it with juvenilia like "The Illinois Enema Bandit" thus offending "serious" fans everywhere.  I think he was well aware of the controversy that swirled arouind his lyrics and had fun with it, hence the brilliantly titled box set "Shut Up n Play Yer Guitar"  The lyrics to "Broken Hearts Are For @$$holes" are superb (and hilarious). The.Crimson.King wrote: I've seen Greg Lake's name pop up in this thread and can't see anything "controversial"...now if the thread was progs worst lyricist, then that would be a different story... That was the cost of giving us some of the best prog music: ELP also came packaged with gawdawful lyrics. Not all of the songs, but...perhaps most of them. Who ever listened to ELP for their lyrics, right?

Someone get me a ladder.

For real, you don't listen to ELP for Greg Lake. It's for keyboard geeks almost exclusively.

Guilty!

And hey, it's my 100th post!


Edited by CKnoxW - August 22 2013 at 00:39

Well never mind then.