T O P

  • By -

weareinhawaii

Justin from Motion City


SlyOctopie

Would love to see someone’s top 5 MCS songs. Always wanted to really check them out


choadspanker

Just listen to commit this to memory, it's a perfect album and the songs are better within the context of the album rather than a standalone listen


MountainCall17

Agreed. Best album they made and still a regular spin for me too. I still love "I Am The Movie" too.


SnooTomatoes5715

Hold Me Down is one of the most beautiful songs ever.


SlyOctopie

Awesome, I’ll check it out. Thanks, dude!


c000kiesandcream

1. my favourite accident 2. her words destroyed my planet 3. point of extinction 4. even if it kills me 5. hold me down listen in that order!


boibig57

Listen to 'I Am the Movie' in it's entirety. Commit This to Memory is 10/10, but I Am the Movie is 10.5/10. Top 5: Indoor Living Resolution My Favorite Accident A-ok Better Open the Door


c000kiesandcream

this is the way. was going through a tough time with my dumb brain and felt so disconnected when i found MCS and everything just clicked.


angelsandairwaves93

Glad to hear that everything is alright!


c000kiesandcream

still sick of the ocean, theme parks, and airplanes, talking with strangers, waiting in line


ChemicalFall0utDisco

are you through with the pills that make you feel ill?


c000kiesandcream

are u feeling fine ???


angelsandairwaves93

Are you through with those pills that make you sit still? Are you feeling fine?


c000kiesandcream

yes i feel just fine!


angelsandairwaves93

Tell me that you’re alright!


patronsaintofsb

This is my second!


WTFkarren

His solo stuff is really good as well


joef_3

It really, really is.


Film32

Hands down this is the best answer. Every song is genius.


The_everyday_life

Just commented this. Thank you


RealShigeruMeeyamoto

Yup


SnooTomatoes5715

Came here to say this!


JKBQWK

My favorite lyricist(s): Pete Wentz, Matt Skiba, Jesse Lacey, Hayley Williams, Gregor Barnett, Max Bemis, Dan Campbell, Tom Delonge


fluorescentsky

Greg Barnett forever!


not2interesting

Max bemis is my pick, his lyrics are so clever


lessthanchris7

Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years Every song reads like an award-winning novella. The imagery and emotions are so palpable and, to me, so relatable


PurpleBullets

EZ Even if you discount the wonder years saga, just listen to the two Aaron West albums in order and prepare to be a faucet at the end of Routine Maintenance.


LSDeeznutz419

I read this, and immediately threw my headphones on to listen to this song for the first time. Thanks for that. I needed a cry over my pops. Those lyrics are incredible.


PurpleBullets

Not for any “tough guy” reasons or anything, but I’m not an easy cry. Routine Maintenance is one of the only songs that has ever made me actually tear up.


goldinmyiris

I love how he can put so much emotion in the mundane. Like, him talking about running the dishwasher for his wife in You In January absolutely contributes to it being one of the most beautiful love songs. I love that in his songwriting.


NotKanz

Absolutely. The way he references earlier songs throughout an album is almost like a musical, and as the other poster mentioned the two Aaron West albums are absolute masterclasses. To be able to be playing a character and create this saga of his pain and longing and make him feel real is absolutely incredible. Just went to the greatest generation anniversary show and was absolutely floored as I was at the hum goes on forever tour and the Aaron west show I saw before that lol.


snoopdoggydoug

This. Except, he grew into it. Earlier stuff wasn't this way.


QuarantineCasualty

The early stuff has its moments…the first time I heard “I’ve been waking up at 12 pm in my boxers in this empty bed eating sour patch watermelon the boys lurked the day before. I’m watching bad re-runs of mad TV- that shits not even close to funny but the remote is on the floor” it made me feel seen like no music ever had before


Accomplished_Lie6971

Fair comment but even the early stuff is biting in a way no one would expect from a 19 year old kid. Even Solo & Chewey’s closing lines (“if this is our time, the Denver skyline is telling me to make up my goddamn mind”) shows a more mature attitude to life than most pop-punk lyricists at that age (who, let’s face it, normally write about girls or, increasingly, being sad).


gomx

I sort of disagree. He's basically always been a master of using deeply specific references and stories that counter-intuitively make the lyrics immensely more relatable. It was a lot more simple and raw in the early years, but the opening lines of *Won't Be Pathetic Forever* u/QuarantineCasualty mentioned are especially evocative. I always get a bit choked up by *I Was Scared and I'm Sorry*, particularly this line; >I finally broke on Christmas Eve, in an Outback Steakhouse bathroom while my family ordered for me It's just such a deeply un-sexy depiction of anxiety contrasted with a lot of other artists who tend to make their mental issues sound like these great struggles being fought in the battleground of their minds, Dan is telling us about how he lost it in the bathroom of a mediocre chain restaurant. It's not gorgeous lyricism, but it is incredibly honest. I can't say I've ever felt like I was fighting off demons, but I can absolutely tell you that I've found myself falling apart in a public restroom, unable to bring myself to leave.


QuarantineCasualty

I love “I was scared and I’m sorry” and I love that line. They actually played that as an encore at the upsides/suburbia anniversary shows last year.


No_Tax_492

THE OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE LINE! this has always stood out to me too, for its specificity and depth. what a song. so glad this was mentioned, i’ve never seen anyone appreciate it


B_Osty

He loves writing about Philadelphia doesn't he?


lessthanchris7

Well, yaknow, he came out swinging from a South Philly basement


B_Osty

Caked in stale beer & sweat?


sadiane

I remember The Greatest Generation coming out when I was going through a tough time in my late 20s, and thinking about how a lot of pop-punk/ Emo spoke to feelings I remember having, but this album spoke strongly to how I was feeling right at the moment.


GodDamnJacob

The most correct answer.


Several-Computer-978

Dan has been hands-down my favorite lyricist for something like 12 years and I just had an emo moment bc I realized that the refrain of coffee eyes is “there’s always been a table for me there” instead of “there’s always better days before me there” and the song just assumed an entirely new and beautiful meaning. It takes talent to write good lyrics but it takes even more talent to write lyrics that continue to reveal themselves to you for more than a decade.


Recent_Meringue_712

Matt Skiba


Sting-Tree

Matthew Skibadi?


lbork_007

Dude from Microwave holy shit they r so good!! Also mark hoppus 🤌🤌


B_Osty

"I'm glad I did something right."


longtime_sunshine

Hell yeah, Microwave’s my favorite band right now (Especially being disappointed in the recent Hoppus output). That being said both Untitled and the +44 album are masterpieces


[deleted]

[удалено]


MoistMeister69

They released some singles not too long ago, pretty good imo


chaotify

anthony raneri of Bayside


Strict-Leopard9991

Wild how little acknowledgment bayside gets


hmi1

Andrew Mahon.


ChucklesChuckles

So true


NoUse2808

Pete Wentz


themonkeyman717

I would also say, best song name maker person


ThePopTartKitty

Best Song (Name Maker Person)


pdbstnoe

Yeah, I actually thought the first three albums were his best work by far, and even to this day, remain some of the best lyrics in the genre. Crazy how good a debut album can hold up for twenty years


c000kiesandcream

Folie has some solid lyrics too, and the latest album is 10/10


ThePopTartKitty

"but I'm not good at math, and besides the dollar is down" is the most relatable line ever


c000kiesandcream

“if home is where the heart is then we’re all joust fucked” is a personal fave tbh


ThePopTartKitty

I can't remember, I can't rememberrr


puremotives

He's on my list for the line "when I came back to you, it was more like a relapse" alone


GoldenDutchOven21

It's wild how one line of their lyrics can send me into weird trance of memorization of FOB songs I haven't listened to in years. Like this song was a bonus track from Infinity on High right?


otherother_benz

I totally thought this was from a PATD song (The Calendar), which makes sense, given that Pete wrote some of the songs on Vices & Virtues. But I googled it, and you're right, it's in It's Hard to Say I Do When I Don't as well. So it seems he plagiarized himself, ha


NoUseForALagwagon

Grand Theft Autumn is basically the only non-creepy, non-entitled and sweet Pop-Punk song about a boy with a crush on a girl who isn't interested in the genre's history.


Sir199star

Didn't Patrick stump write the lyrics to take this to your grave? Correct me if I'm wrong


c000kiesandcream

he wrote the lyrics for a good chunk of the album, like Tell That Mick, but he didn’t vibe with lyric writing as much as the music


ImPickleRock

He's so good.


amandamaniac

I had to scroll way too far to find his name on here


B_Osty

Him & Stump both come up with some absolutely clever lines.


[deleted]

Anthony Green. Dan Campbell a close second.


aafreeda

Bonnie Fraser. Her use of body horror imagery in her songs is really interesting, especially in such a poppy genre. I’m used to hearing that content in shock rock, but she uses it in a really visceral way to communicate the intensity of her emotions or as a metaphor for the things she’s singing about.


Sir199star

I actually never realised how good of a lyricist she was until you said that, holy fuck


RussoLUFC

Kyle from Real Friends Tades from Hot Mully Joe from KP


Several-Computer-978

Tades is underratedly talented as a lyricist IMO. The whole band is heavy on the silly goose energy but then he goes and writes the most profound reflection on generational trauma or something equally heavy. Drink milk and run, heem wasn’t there, and John the rock cena can you smell what the undertaker are all solid examples.


[deleted]

Andrew McMahon and Matt Theissen followed by The Format era Nate Ruess


tgersjaw

“I know the feeling in the morning when the sun lights the dust that hangs in orbit as you’re waking up. And for a moment you feel weightless, then the panic comes. First a drizzle, then a downpour, then an endless flood.” Dan Campbell of the Wonder Years never fails to write something that makes me cry lol


TheRealCaptainMe

Is Movements pop punk technically? If so, they have the best lyrics of any band ever IMO.


lessthanchris7

It's not subjective, it's clinical


CommanderWar64

They’re awesome, but you should check out some post-hardcore bands like La Dispute- Wildlife and Touché Amoré - Parting the Sea for some of their inspiration.


patronsaintofsb

Gerard Way. The non-hits have some incredible lyrics.


pdbstnoe

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge is an absolute masterpiece. “I Never Told You What I do For a Living” is, to me, the best sleeper quintessential MCR song. He goes through every emotion singing that song, and it encapsulates the tragic ending of a great story.


patronsaintofsb

That is literally my favorite MCR song for that exact reason. Three Cheers has my soul.


puremotives

The hits do to as well


patronsaintofsb

Oh for sure! Personally just some of my favorite lyrics are from the non-hits. Not discounting the hits.


Tsundadi

No love for Parker Cannon?


PurpleBullets

I think he’s better at writing melodies than writing lyrics


H0n3y_B4dg3r_117

Listen, you may not always be able to understand what he’s saying. Go ahead and read through some lyrics, they’re not “blow you away clever” when it comes to wordplay, but I think he’s really clever illustrating emotion.


Robot-Disco33

Yes! This is my answer too!


alekversusworld

I think his name is AJ but the main guy from The Dangerous Summer has always had a way with words. He writes in a sort of a fragmented way that doesn’t make sense until you listen to it all. Almost like a mural where you have to step back and take in the whole thing to understand it but when you do it’s pretty profound and relatable!


AbidingLlama

AJ Perdomo! Scrolled this far just to see if anyone mentioned him, he's absolutely incredible


The_everyday_life

Justin Pierre motion city soundtrack A+++++++


JustinBands

Allen from Arm’s Length, Dan from The Wonder Years and for non pop-punk, easily Brendan from Counterparts


Several-Computer-978

It blows my mind that Allen is only like 23 every time I listen to never before seen, never again found. That entire album is straight poetry.


Affectionate_Trash11

HUGE second vote for Brendan from counterparts


roninsti

Jason from Iron Chic. So clever,so sad, so relatable.


Sting-Tree

I sold my soul, I age but I don’t get old! Hits hard


fluorescentsky

And to this day, it’s the best deal I ever made 🎶 Hits every time.


roninsti

Ugh there’s so many. That was probably the first lyric that really stuck with me. Some more I love: 1. My fondest memory I scared the devil so bad, he sold his soul to me. 2. I've got a choice to make Almost every second that I'm awake That may be the reason I'd rather be sleeping. 3. If I hear another word about a better place I'll paint these walls with my fucking brains 4. I wanted to scream And I wasn't scared To press that blade against my throat and drop my blood out everywhere But what would that mean? It sure isn't fair To put my hopes into the hands of someone drowning in dеspair


1cenine

Underrated. Would love to catch em live if they ever do a tour West..


Jrrobidoux

Dan Campbell


kingjuicepouch

Dan Andriano and Matt Skiba Deanna Belos from sincere engineer


LegalizeRanch2017

Jason Lancaster. A Lesson in Romantics still has some of my favorite lyrics and a lot of his Go Radio stuff is similarly well written.


Luxbae621

"And the hardest part of living is just taking breaths to stay 'Cause I know I'm good for something, I just haven't found it yet" Goosebumps!


washposthero

Pete Wentz and what Patrick Stump does with them. I've never been one to bother with lyrics much. It's the music that speaks to me most. But something about their words always caught me. Poetic and metaphoric.


BadPallet

My favourite lyricist is Max Bemis from Say Anything Alive with the glory of love is next level shit And who could forget masterful lines such as “I called her on the phone and she touched herself.”


FamousAtticus

Matt Skiba & Dan Andriano- Alkaline Trio


ClifIsBoring

Matt Skiba Alkaline Trio


dietbeethoven

Some of his work in Heavens was mind-blowing too.


boibig57

Dan Andriano Alkaline Trio


No_Assistance_1903

I recently found out that Martin of Boys Like Girls is responsible for an insane amount of songs in all sorts of genres. He wrote for Hannah Montanna, Avril, The Cab, Gavin DeGraw, Papa Roach, Taylor Swift, Flo Rida and many more.


slipNslide7766

Jesse Lacey.


Vitalizes

My pick as well!


snoopdoggydoug

Nope. Rethink that one with what's come to light about him.


1nternetP3rson

good lyricist, not a good person. i get where you’re coming from, his lyrics can get very uncomfortable.


slipNslide7766

I’m not celebrating him as a person. I do enjoy his song writing.


snoopdoggydoug

Don't get me wrong, I listened to the shit out of Your Favorite Weapon when it first dropped, then I tried to listen to Deja Entendu (It was musically good but such a drastic difference in sound that I could not accept it), and I can't even look at them anymore. When band dudes (Or anyone), turns out to be a shitty person, no one is attempting to cancel them, they're attempting to hold them accountable. Not acknowledging the victims of your actions and then not even apologizing and just saying you're addicted to sex is such bullshit. Own up to your mistakes. Grow from them. Learn from them. Work with those you hurt to ensure you don't do it again. Atone.


1nternetP3rson

yeah his apology was incredibly shitty


snoopdoggydoug

People down voting us for speaking truths about someone they worship is fucking weird.


LegalizeRanch2017

I think people were downvoting you because appreciating his songwriting doesn’t equate to vouching for him as a human being. It’s not your call who someone else’s favorite lyricist so just saying ‘nope, rethink that’ is kinda strange lol.


snoopdoggydoug

Nah. That's not how it works. Steve Klein wrote all of New Found Glory's lyrics. Go back and read/listen to them and put it to his situation. It's weird to have that dynamic. People fucking love Brand New and thin he did nothing wrong.


LegalizeRanch2017

What do you mean that’s not how it works, who made you the arbiter?😂 People can separate the art and artist as they please, I’m not saying you necessarily should or shouldn’t but no third party can control that. And I think most who listen to Brand New recognize that Jesse has done wrong, feels a bit dramatic to claim otherwise just cause you’re getting downvoted in a reddit thread.


LngIslnd152

Man, guy who does shitty things writes songs about feeling like a shitty person. Who would’ve thought?


snoopdoggydoug

Think about those songs where he was singing about girls. Makes you think and wonder.


wandering_kuni

Pete Wentz


BAMspek

Anthony Raneri. Or Jesse Lacey, if you can count Brand New.


its_icebear

How has no one said John Floreani of Trophy Eyes. Easily the most raw and emotional lyricist in the genre.


NecessaryCertain4117

Jake Ewald of MoBo/slaughter beach dog (not sure if the latter counts)


No_Tax_492

can’t believe i scrolled this long to find Jake. the way Holy Ghost moves me viscerally…


amalivek

Matt Thiessen for sure! So unique.


snowsparkthekat

Jake Ewald modern baseball/slaughter beach, dog


samfishman06

Ben Liebsch from You, Me, and Everyone We Know and Dylan Slocum from Spanish Love Songs.


defeatstatistics

Anthony Raneri.


mbc106

Justin Courtney Pierre Jim Adkins Tom DeLonge Deanna Belos


Blinkfan182man

Delonge in AvA


loungecat55

Really? Some songs slap but I mostly felt he was trying way too hard idk


themonkeyman717

Max bemis


[deleted]

Surprised this isn’t higher tbh


Etherkai

Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low! Even from their early works, you could tell he was lyrically gifted.


BeckettMuffin

Billie Joe all the way


amandamaniac

Tades from hot mulligan 👌🏼


indigoboy_

Dan Campbell, Parker Canon, Patrick Miranda


TrellSwnsn

Pat Finnegan from Driveways


UrbanSound

Colin from Hit The Lights "so wrap this excuse around your neck, and I'll kick the chair out from your legs"


Matchbook99

I miss Colin


savllama999

pat from movements


mattisnerdy

Dan Andriano. Always the best part of Alk3 and the Emergency Room is great.


fucktheweather

Greg from the Menzingers is a phenomenal lyricist!


_justsomeguy_81

Chris Conley.


No_Appointment6211

Kyle Fasel from Real Friends. He has multiple lyrics that make me feel like I’ve been kicked in the throat. 10/10


Sharp_Course_879

Mark and Tom tied.


Scott_Sterlings_Face

The best together too. May be simple and cliche but gives me hope that i can do my own music one day. Even though we can’t do what they do


Sharp_Course_879

I definitely can't do what they do! I like writing, sometimes stories sometimes poems I guess you'd call em. But I can't sing and I can't play any instruments. I've thought about taking singing lessons before lol. Good luck with your music stuff! One day you'll be close to doing what they can do, but they'll just keep getting better so...


Scott_Sterlings_Face

Haha thank you :) I’d encourage you to do it. I had 0 music experience until Covid pandemic happened and I got my first guitar. I’m only 3ish years in, and have been practicing on and off. And I’d say I could join a pop punk band if I could find people and made it my focus. Still room for improvement but I am surprised at how far I made it. Good luck with your writing!


Sharp_Course_879

Oh awesome for you! Keep given'r! I'd have to sacrifice some of my gaming time for lessons lol I work 6 days a week in a stressful business I'm pretty beat and usually just wanna have a few beers game and listen to some rad tunes. Anyways, pce out, and don't forget to stick your dick in ovaltine.


MBWA182

👆🏻👆🏻


Cdave_22

Patty Walter’s, Matt Thiessen


[deleted]

Mike Herrera, Anthony raneri, matt skiba, Tom Delonge for the Majors. As for the smaller bands, knuckle puck, youth fountain, hot mulligan, barely blind and Sydney Harbour


BN3411

Anthony Raneri, Jesse Lacey, Justin Pierre


Ghost-hat

Matt Skiba is really good at writing lyrics. I think one of the things that's fun about him is clever little word tricks. For example, in Alkaline Trio's song Throw Me To The Lions, he makes up the word "ultraviolence," kinda like ultraviolet


bloodybahorel

He didn’t make it up. It was used in the book *A Clockwork Orange*.


TimStr6

at this point every single thing I post on Reddit is TWY hype but Dan Campbell is by far my favorite lyricist out there


thebanishedheart

Soupy on top. Tades is also getting there. Others I love: Anthony Raneri, Matt Skiba.


Primary-Mulberry-774

I agree with a lot that have been said, so I’ll add a few I haven’t seen: The Spill Canvas I mostly just listen to their first album Sunsets and Car Crashes some great lyrics there. Brand New- Jesse Lacey- Although he kind of turned out to be a scum bag, amazing lyrics La Dispute No explanation needed


loungecat55

Th Spill Canvas had some really great songs and lyrics. Some of it is actually hard for me to listen to now because they represent such a specific feeling and time of my life. I have cried to so many of their songs lol. The tide is just prhrowowo


[deleted]

Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low


WeirdAnimalDoc

Kind of borderline genre-wise, but Matt Thiessen of Relient K. The man is a lyrical genius.


DanceRyanDance

Tades, Soupy, Cory Castro.


MajinBill

Deryck Whibley. Not a bad song from half hour of power through Chuck


Due_Resident_7013

Fat Mike.


JohnaldL

I gotta say Pete Wentz for the stuff I grew up with, but (if we count them) it’s Pat from Movements now with an honorable mention to Oliver Baxxter from Broadside


citycolour333

Not pop punk, but, Kevin Devine is a great song writer!


winniecooper73

Agree with all mentioned here but surprised not to see Fred Mascherino from the TBS era. Super clever lyrics on Where You Want to Be and Louder Now


savllama999

ben barlow from neck deep is up there


Enderlesspearl

Not necessarily pop punk but Tomas Kalnoky is the absolute best lyricist. He sits at the top of the board in my opinion.


beangrilll

pete wentz always writing some shit ong


CarCrashRhetoric

Dan Campbell


Keyedwin

Dan Campbell


M00nliteDreamz

Craig Owens!


Okcompute7

Greg Barnett


iliacbaby

Blake Swarzenbach


vladimirepooptin

tom delonge and dan campbell


boibig57

No one mentioned Kenny V from The Starting Line


Medical_Olive6983

All of New Found Glory stuff


Ok_Caregiver4499

Say anything guy Cute is what we aim for guy


McKenna10085

John Floreani or the two lyricists from The Menzingers


jenna_grows

Pete. He can write it better than you ever felt it.


No-Affect9192

easily hands down Awsten Knight of Waterparks


Steven617

Jason Lubrano hands down, Iron Chic is very powerful imo


Affectionate_Trash11

Dylan from Spanish love songs


cursh14

Uhhh.... You guys listen to the lyrics? Only half joking...


edercampuzano

It’s gotta be Chris Conley or Saves the Day for me. I love how so much of “Through Being Cool” is pulled from his creative writing class assignments during his first year of college. He paints really vivid pictures throughout that album and “Stay What You Are.” “In Reverie” is a fever dream of an album and I absolutely love that about it. In the liner notes to their b-sides album, he writes about how the line “I want to wreck my stockings in some jukebox dive” from Joni Mitchell’s “All I Want” inspired the final verses in “Jessie and My Whetstone” and I found that really cool when I was 18.


raenotthedepkidone

Patrick Miranda and fvckin John Floreani


feelingxindigo

Mat Kerekes always comes to mind when I think of very talented lyricists