Sufjan's writing is so honest and vulnerable that some of his lyrics almost feel inappropriate and uncomfortable, haha. Truly one of the best of our generationm
Still my favourite Isbell stuff is on DBT albums to be honest. Outfit, Decoration Day, Danko/Manuel, Goddamn Lonely Love and The Day John Henry Died are the best songs he's ever written imo.
Just finding out about this now. Does it add to the album at all? I fell in love with Jenny from the first album and I don't want her to be ruined in my imagination so I'm afraid to listen to it 😂
Idk, haven't listened yet either. It's supposed to be a rock opera, but I've heard it's good. I was just glad to have a great song, and now an album, with my name that's not about a bathroom stall phone number 😅
I hate this phrase but... it's not even close. And such a huge back catalogue to choose from! My personal favorite is the first Mountain Goats album I ever heard, Transcendental Youth.
Transcendental Youth was my first and still my favourite album, too! Cry for Judas and White Cedar are two of my favourite songs from their whole catalogue.
i stay joined in this sub cause it cracks me up how 90% of the people just run to any thread regardless of topic to list their favorite random artists. it's actually difficult to discover music in here because of that. "hmm maybe i WILL try a modern country artist. \[copies an artist name to youtube, sounds like emo-Indie pop\]. bruhhhh..."
A million times yes. There’s still songs of hers that I’ve heard a million times over the years that, when they come on, it’s like I’m hearing for the first time and falling in love with all over again. She’s just magnificent.
I know it's not a competition between the boygenius boys and I love Julien too, but I just can't get over Lucy Dacus' poetry. Fuck me, Home Video is a hell of an album.
And unsurprisingly the first one of boygenius I came across was Phoebe Bridges and I loved her immediately because the concept and lyrics of Emotional Motion Sickness made me laugh.
All three of those arseholes are way too good at what they do. I've been listening to all their solo catalogues + boygenius on repeat for at least a couple years now.
I've only heard Historians, thanks to Nightshift, but damn... Her lyrics are beautiful. Body to Flame, Timefighter, Pillar of Truth, just to name a few
I don’t listen to most of their newer stuff, and that’s fine it’s just not my vibe, but Castaways and Cutouts and The Crane Wife are in constant rotation in my home. I just recently went back and listened to Hazards of Love for the first time in a while and it is still just a genuinely great album and a fantastic piece of storytelling.
I was scrolling until I found this because I was going to put his name out there. He’s another musician who has written multiple novels. Laika is making Wildwood into their next film.
Conor Oberst. Front man of Bright Eyes but he’s also had several other projects (Desaparacitos - punk, monsters of folk - folksy rock, better oblivion community center - indie collab with Phoebe Bridgers, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - rock/alternative, and his own catalog as a solo artist).
He’s probably put out about 20 full length albums. Best lyricist I know of.
Yep, Oberst for me as well.
When I was a teenager, circa 2007, I printed off all of his lyrics using the school printer (hundreds of pages), bound them together and kept that wad of beauty and joy in my school bag for years, reading them all the time. Imo there are very few lyricists whose lyrics are great to just read but Oberst is one.
I came here to say this. It's not even close tbh. Another good one is Will Sheff of Okkervil River. But there is a reason Conor was compared to Dylan so often.
I saw you standing all alone in the electrostatic rain
I thought at last I'd found a situation you can't explain
With GPS you know it's all just a matter of degrees
Your happiness won't find you underneath that canopy of trees.
Since no one has said it, TOM WAITS! TOM FUCKIN' WAITS! I think he is the greatest storyteller when it comes to music. His voice is very hard to get past but his lyrics are unreal. Very vivid imagery. His
Notable songs:
-Martha (if you listen to one song of his, listen to this one)
-I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You
-The House Where Nobody Lives
-Kentucky Avenue
-On The Nickel (live version on YouTube)
-Waltzing Mathilda
-Christmas Card from a Hooker.
-Down There By The Train
Anything from his Early Years Vol 1&2 albums (easier voice as well)
Other notable artists:
-Bob Dylan
-John Darnielle/Mountain Goats
-Josh Ritter
-Arlo McKinley
-Colter Wall
-J.D. Clayton is coming up there.
And just an excuse to say his name even though he's dead, Townes Van Zandt. Pure poet.
I love Charley because I listened to his Hard Times album in 2021, and genuinely believed it was from the 60s. Looked it up and couldn’t believe it had only come out like the year before. Man captures a great retro sound
It’s crazy to me that you’re the only person in this thread I could find who mentioned Adrianne. Big thief is an absolutely incredible band, and Adrianne is an amazing story teller.
I think she’s the best songwriter alive, but I’d still put other artists ahead of her specifically speaking as storytellers, because that’s not really her focus the way it is for some. I’d put Bon Iver in the same bucket - they both give us beautiful little glimpses of stories that feel cohesive and come together somehow, but it’s not a narrative thread the way it is for songwriters like Conor Oberst (who’d be my nominee for this thread).
To back this up.. I saw Cave’s solo (w/Colin Greenwood) tour in Detroit a few weeks back. The whole show was phenomenal. So many of his great songs presented in stripped back fashion on the piano. But the Mercy Seat was on a different level and the aura of the room was different for those 5 minutes. The entire set was well-received, but the Mercy Seat got the biggest reception and longest standing ovation. Captivating.
An argument
For consciousness
The instinct of the blind insect
Who never thinks
Not to accept
It’s fate that’s faith
There’s happiness in death
You give on to the next one
You give on to the next one down the line
Right now? Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem, The Horrible Crowes).
All time Jim Bob (Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine).
Cue lots of American people saying "who?!"
Look 'em up. Give 'em a listen.
People say oberst or Sufjan but I think James Mercer from the shins and Jeff tweedy are on par or better. Decemberists as well. I think red right ankle is one of the best story songs. And belle and Sebastian too. Piazza new york catcher.
Mark Knopfler. Maybe not technically "of today" -- his last album was 2018, and the last one I listened to was... jesus, almost 20 years ago now. But great story-telling IMO, often centered on historical periods and figures. Sailing to Philadelphia, Baloney Again, Song for Sonny Liston, Boom Like That. I assume he continued the trend in later albums. A bunch of Dire Straits stuff is great story-telling too -- Iron Hand, Tunnel of Love -- though that's definitely not "of today" by any stretch.
I know everyone is going to get on me for this but Taylor Swift actually has an amazing talent for this and it's one of the key reasons I became a fan.
Also shout out John Prine, Steve Earl, Margo Price, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zant.
Completely agree. Folklore and evermore are perfect examples. You may not like her but you can’t deny she is a great storyteller/songwriter.
I’d like to add that her most popular songs played on the radio often don’t show her best songwriting unless it’s like cardigan or all too well 10 min but she’s able to express herself very well in the rest of her discography.
I agree that her writing is very underrated. I think it's because everyone still thinks her songs are the same as they were when she was 15. Evermore especially is a storytelling masterpiece.
At this point, you can’t reasonably claim anything about Taylor is underrated. Her songwriting has been central to her marketing since before her debut album. It’s a well-known attribute.
Personally, I think her storytelling songwriting style is where she shines. She’s less impressive in songs that aren’t as narrative-driven.
Certainly as a celebrity, she is ubiquitous and as a musician that many "serious" music-lovers do not take seriously at all. All they think she sings about to this day is her boyfriends and many of them are unwilling to see her any differently. Those people might know her but they IMHO seriously underestimate her growth and development as a songwriter over the last decade.
I was going to say this. I'm not actually even a swifty. I hear her songs on the radio, but she does have very poetic writing and her songs pretty much always tell a story.
A lot of those folks in the Americana/Alt-Country scene:
Jason Isbell
Benjamin Tod
Arlo McKinley
Drayton Farley
Adeem The Artist
American Aquarium
Etc. Etc.
I'm trying to stick within the last 25 years (music today?) and have quite a few songs under their belt to back up the quality of their songwriting. I'm not totally sure what you mean by "storytelling"?
* Sufjan Stevens
* Phoebe Bridgers
* Ben Gibbard
* Mitski
* James Mercer
* Janelle Monaé
* Jose Gonzalez
* Ben Howard
Taylor Swift.
I know, I know
But she has great story telling songs.
Last Great American Dynasty
Ivy
Tolerate it
Clean
I could add so many more.
There's also a neat little game called Taylor Swift or Shakespeare
It's crazy the amount of hate she still gets! Everyone on this thread who has mentioned T. Swift has had to lead in with 'I'm gonna get downvoted by saying Taylor'.
I'm also of the ilk of just let people like what they like. Without judgement.
Taylor Swift is tops.
Sturgill Simpson
Lots of people have story songs. He's got a (killer) story _album_.
"And most of all he was my best friend and he's gone too soon"
Josh Ritter!
One of the greatest of all time! "The Temptation of Adam" is quite possibly one of the most perfect songs ever written.
+1 for Josh Ritter. The Temptation of Adam is a great example, but he has a lot of great lyrics. Watch his Tiny Desk Concert if you can.
In this same vein, Peter Mulvey, Slaid Cleaves, and Gregory Alan Isakov
Another New World is just fantastic. I prefer the Punch Brothers cover, but the storytelling in the song is just perfect.
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan's writing is so honest and vulnerable that some of his lyrics almost feel inappropriate and uncomfortable, haha. Truly one of the best of our generationm
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Absolutely. Fourth of July gets me too. So many really.
The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades for me, too
The GOAT
Jason Isbell
Came here to comment that, but seeing as you have I'll say Tyler Childers.
There’s Jason and there’s everyone else.
Isbell is so good I don’t have the words to describe how good he is.
His story telling is on a different level.
He wrote some great Drive By Truckers songs when he was with them, too.
Still my favourite Isbell stuff is on DBT albums to be honest. Outfit, Decoration Day, Danko/Manuel, Goddamn Lonely Love and The Day John Henry Died are the best songs he's ever written imo.
King of Oklahoma made me cry like crazy even though I don’t relate to it at all
Came to comment Jason. Such a goddamn gem of a writer
Same here.
Also gets a name-drop in another great story-telling song (Mr. Tillman by Father John Misty).
IMO, Jason is on a different level than any other singer-songwriters. Fantastic musician too.
He is the correct answer
There we go.
Or his good friend, Josh Tillman aka: Father John Misty
John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
All Hail West Texas is like one long story and it's beautiful..
This just reminded me that they released a sequel album in October.
Just finding out about this now. Does it add to the album at all? I fell in love with Jenny from the first album and I don't want her to be ruined in my imagination so I'm afraid to listen to it 😂
Idk, haven't listened yet either. It's supposed to be a rock opera, but I've heard it's good. I was just glad to have a great song, and now an album, with my name that's not about a bathroom stall phone number 😅
In addition to 600+ songs, JD has written three novels. The guy just works nonstop.
White Van is great, as is the Black Sabbath analysis (spacing on the proper titles for each).
I hate this phrase but... it's not even close. And such a huge back catalogue to choose from! My personal favorite is the first Mountain Goats album I ever heard, Transcendental Youth.
Transcendental Youth was my first and still my favourite album, too! Cry for Judas and White Cedar are two of my favourite songs from their whole catalogue.
I have several Mountain Goats songs on my running mix and they're great. His voice really keeps the tempo.
Came here to say this! Get Lonely, Tallahassee, We Shall All Be Healed… everything he writes is amazing.
ray wylie hubbard
Maybe throw in a little James McMurtry too
Lights of Cheyenne is fucking brutal!
I started searching these comments for McMurtry. He’s the best in my opinion!
Came here to say both of them. Just Us Kids and Snake Farm are great gateway songs. I’ve heard both 1,000 times and never tire of either.
This is a great call. Snake Farm!
It feels like people are getting confused between storyteller and a songwriter.
i stay joined in this sub cause it cracks me up how 90% of the people just run to any thread regardless of topic to list their favorite random artists. it's actually difficult to discover music in here because of that. "hmm maybe i WILL try a modern country artist. \[copies an artist name to youtube, sounds like emo-Indie pop\]. bruhhhh..."
Yeah but placebo has been doing it for like 20 years
Its so funny that beside ed sheeran I don’t recognize a single artist name from the comments
There is most def a difference, I agree
Jenny Lewis
My absolute favorite. Just saw her live last week for the zillionth time. She's amazing and keeps getting better.
A million times yes. There’s still songs of hers that I’ve heard a million times over the years that, when they come on, it’s like I’m hearing for the first time and falling in love with all over again. She’s just magnificent.
Underrated. Just an incredible songwriter and especially lyricist.
[Julien Baker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkot9YL3YyQ) is pretty amazing.
I know it's not a competition between the boygenius boys and I love Julien too, but I just can't get over Lucy Dacus' poetry. Fuck me, Home Video is a hell of an album. And unsurprisingly the first one of boygenius I came across was Phoebe Bridges and I loved her immediately because the concept and lyrics of Emotional Motion Sickness made me laugh. All three of those arseholes are way too good at what they do. I've been listening to all their solo catalogues + boygenius on repeat for at least a couple years now.
I've only heard Historians, thanks to Nightshift, but damn... Her lyrics are beautiful. Body to Flame, Timefighter, Pillar of Truth, just to name a few
Ben Schneider of Lord Huron.
His songs are breathtaking.
Todd Snider. His banter and set up stories are as good as the songs themselves, which are great.
Todd is the best ! Was sad he had to cancel his fall tour - hope he’s doing well & back out telling stories soon
Came to make sure someone said Todd. They even made one of his songs, Just Like Old Times, into a movie!
Robert Earl Keen
The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Umm…hello. The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy.
I don’t listen to most of their newer stuff, and that’s fine it’s just not my vibe, but Castaways and Cutouts and The Crane Wife are in constant rotation in my home. I just recently went back and listened to Hazards of Love for the first time in a while and it is still just a genuinely great album and a fantastic piece of storytelling.
One of my favorites.
Is it 2002 lol
I was scrolling until I found this because I was going to put his name out there. He’s another musician who has written multiple novels. Laika is making Wildwood into their next film.
Should be higher.
Dude can spin a yarn for sure
Conor Oberst. Front man of Bright Eyes but he’s also had several other projects (Desaparacitos - punk, monsters of folk - folksy rock, better oblivion community center - indie collab with Phoebe Bridgers, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - rock/alternative, and his own catalog as a solo artist). He’s probably put out about 20 full length albums. Best lyricist I know of.
Monsters of Folk is one of my favorite albums of all time, especially the song Ahead of the Curve.
Good answer! Temeszcal takes me to a place - so vivid. Four Winds? Lua? He’s a wildly talented songwriter.
A fellow connoisseur! That album is amazing. I got to see them live when they were touring.
I'm just here to make sure someone had Conor on the list somewhere.
Conor Oberst IS the best songwriter of our generation, whether we like it or not.
I like it.
In the same vein (and on the same label) is Tim Kasher… The Good Life and Cursive are next level song writing projects.
Mama, I’m Swollen blew me out of the water lyrically
Yeah I fuckin love Tim Kasher's work and the band him and Conor were in together is also great.
*Yeah Tim I heard your album and it’s better than good*
Yep, Oberst for me as well. When I was a teenager, circa 2007, I printed off all of his lyrics using the school printer (hundreds of pages), bound them together and kept that wad of beauty and joy in my school bag for years, reading them all the time. Imo there are very few lyricists whose lyrics are great to just read but Oberst is one.
I haven't listened to enough of his other stuff, but I'm Wide Awake It's Morning is pretty much a perfect album. So many lyrical gems throughout
I came here to say this. It's not even close tbh. Another good one is Will Sheff of Okkervil River. But there is a reason Conor was compared to Dylan so often.
Both Richard Thompson and Bruce Cockburn are still around and don't ng their respective things.
Try Andrew Bird.
I saw you standing all alone in the electrostatic rain I thought at last I'd found a situation you can't explain With GPS you know it's all just a matter of degrees Your happiness won't find you underneath that canopy of trees.
Since no one has said it, TOM WAITS! TOM FUCKIN' WAITS! I think he is the greatest storyteller when it comes to music. His voice is very hard to get past but his lyrics are unreal. Very vivid imagery. His Notable songs: -Martha (if you listen to one song of his, listen to this one) -I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You -The House Where Nobody Lives -Kentucky Avenue -On The Nickel (live version on YouTube) -Waltzing Mathilda -Christmas Card from a Hooker. -Down There By The Train Anything from his Early Years Vol 1&2 albums (easier voice as well) Other notable artists: -Bob Dylan -John Darnielle/Mountain Goats -Josh Ritter -Arlo McKinley -Colter Wall -J.D. Clayton is coming up there. And just an excuse to say his name even though he's dead, Townes Van Zandt. Pure poet.
Certainly Tom Waits. For me also Nick Cave. And if Leonard Cohen was alive today…
To be fair the post did ask “of today” and he hasn’t released a full album in 12 years.
Waits didn’t write Waltzing Matilda, thats a very famous Australian song. You’re thinking of ‘Tom Traubert's Blues’
Yea these are not "today"
I was introduced to Tom Waits through Tori Amos's cover of Time. Love the imagery.
Frank Turner is awesome
David Berman before he passed away. I would say Phil Elverum. I only know Sheeran's hits, where is his storytelling best exemplified?
Charlie Crockett.
I love Charley because I listened to his Hard Times album in 2021, and genuinely believed it was from the 60s. Looked it up and couldn’t believe it had only come out like the year before. Man captures a great retro sound
The Man From Waco 🎺
Florence Welch
Incredible!!
God yea.
Give Andy Shauf a shot.
Excellent suggestion. Wendell. Fucking. Walker. Wow.
Glen Hansard - probably the finest of the 2000s era. Just exceptional
Brandi Carlisle.
Sufjan Stevens, also Adrianne Lenker
It’s crazy to me that you’re the only person in this thread I could find who mentioned Adrianne. Big thief is an absolutely incredible band, and Adrianne is an amazing story teller.
I think she’s the best songwriter alive, but I’d still put other artists ahead of her specifically speaking as storytellers, because that’s not really her focus the way it is for some. I’d put Bon Iver in the same bucket - they both give us beautiful little glimpses of stories that feel cohesive and come together somehow, but it’s not a narrative thread the way it is for songwriters like Conor Oberst (who’d be my nominee for this thread).
Yeah, I agree with you, but nevertheless I had to mention her :)
Scrolled down to see if anyone would mention her, probably the best modern folk artist.
Ben Folds.
Finally saw him live this summer after 25+ years of being a fan. Absolutely incredible.
I haven’t seen anyone mention Sam Beam of Iron & Wine yet, so I will do that now. Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
He makes really weird things sound so romantic.
Naked as we came is hard to listen to it’s so sad.
"Endless Numbered Days" is one of my favourite albums of all time.
The devil makes three
Tyler Childers
Nick Cave by a mile.
Designed and directed by his red right hand!
Think his all time best storytelling was The Mercy Seat, absolutely incredible imagery and creativity
To back this up.. I saw Cave’s solo (w/Colin Greenwood) tour in Detroit a few weeks back. The whole show was phenomenal. So many of his great songs presented in stripped back fashion on the piano. But the Mercy Seat was on a different level and the aura of the room was different for those 5 minutes. The entire set was well-received, but the Mercy Seat got the biggest reception and longest standing ovation. Captivating.
Into my arms.
Amigo the devil
I can't wait to hear what he does next, he's far too clever for his own good.
David Bazan / Pedro The Lion
Ren. Listen to the London trilogy (Jenny's Tale, Screech's Tale, Violet's Tale,) or Hi Ren, or Money Game pt 3.
As long as Ray Davies exists on this plane, he’s the one
Josh Ritter
Conor Oberst, hands down.
An argument For consciousness The instinct of the blind insect Who never thinks Not to accept It’s fate that’s faith There’s happiness in death You give on to the next one You give on to the next one down the line
M Ward Jenny Lewis
Absolutely. Just saw Jenny a few days ago for the zillionth time (and also with The Postal Service in October). She always puts on an amazing show.
Kendrick Lamar doesn't fit the stereotype of singer/songwriter, but he is definitely a storyteller. Craig Finn.
Right now? Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem, The Horrible Crowes). All time Jim Bob (Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine). Cue lots of American people saying "who?!" Look 'em up. Give 'em a listen.
People say oberst or Sufjan but I think James Mercer from the shins and Jeff tweedy are on par or better. Decemberists as well. I think red right ankle is one of the best story songs. And belle and Sebastian too. Piazza new york catcher.
Mark Knopfler. Maybe not technically "of today" -- his last album was 2018, and the last one I listened to was... jesus, almost 20 years ago now. But great story-telling IMO, often centered on historical periods and figures. Sailing to Philadelphia, Baloney Again, Song for Sonny Liston, Boom Like That. I assume he continued the trend in later albums. A bunch of Dire Straits stuff is great story-telling too -- Iron Hand, Tunnel of Love -- though that's definitely not "of today" by any stretch.
Lyle Lovett
Amazed that Passenger is not here. I get it, most people only know him for Let Her Go, but I really appreciate his writing and singing style.
Not a singer but Kendrick Lamar
Josh Ritter Jenny Lewis Father John Misty
Hozier
I know everyone is going to get on me for this but Taylor Swift actually has an amazing talent for this and it's one of the key reasons I became a fan. Also shout out John Prine, Steve Earl, Margo Price, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zant.
No Body No Crime
Completely agree. Folklore and evermore are perfect examples. You may not like her but you can’t deny she is a great storyteller/songwriter. I’d like to add that her most popular songs played on the radio often don’t show her best songwriting unless it’s like cardigan or all too well 10 min but she’s able to express herself very well in the rest of her discography.
Definitely miles ahead of Ed Sheeran.
Taylor Swift is a fantastic storyteller. You are not wrong.
I agree that her writing is very underrated. I think it's because everyone still thinks her songs are the same as they were when she was 15. Evermore especially is a storytelling masterpiece.
At this point, you can’t reasonably claim anything about Taylor is underrated. Her songwriting has been central to her marketing since before her debut album. It’s a well-known attribute. Personally, I think her storytelling songwriting style is where she shines. She’s less impressive in songs that aren’t as narrative-driven.
Certainly as a celebrity, she is ubiquitous and as a musician that many "serious" music-lovers do not take seriously at all. All they think she sings about to this day is her boyfriends and many of them are unwilling to see her any differently. Those people might know her but they IMHO seriously underestimate her growth and development as a songwriter over the last decade.
I was going to say this. I'm not actually even a swifty. I hear her songs on the radio, but she does have very poetic writing and her songs pretty much always tell a story.
She definitely is! I’m always amazed at the story she tells in the 10 minute version of All Too Well.
Prine and Cohen are no longer “of today” unfortunately.
Joanna Newsom
Ian Noe might not be the best, but he's a way underappreciated one in my book. And I say that as someone who doesn't really even like country music!
Aesop Rock. Here’s a recent one from him [Aggressive Steven](https://youtu.be/Kwd9vYP59m0?si=Ef9Lim20sx1zURn8)
Sturgil Simpson wrote one album featuring a continuous story about attempted murder, and revenge in a turn of the 19th century style.
Todd Snider. Is this thing working? Is this thing on?
Lana Del Rey
First Arctic Monkeys album is some fabulous storytelling
Yep. Plus one for Alex Turner. All the albums.
Craig fkn Finn is the answer.
I know he died five years ago, but not enough people know about the poet Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit.
Gregory Alan Isakov Jason Isbell Sam Beam And despite his intense poppy popularity, Noah Kahans lyrics hit big
Father John Misty
John Mayer
John Darnielle
John Darnielle.
Drive By Truckers (both with and without Jason Isbell)
Peter Gabriel and Steven Wilson come to mind immediately. More on the way!
Todd Snider
Andy Shauf hands down
Jason Isbell is criminally underrated, and is (in my opinion) probably the finest songwriter of the 2000s.
We counting Eminem? Way better storyteller than Ed Sheeran. If not, would say Sufjan Stevens or Ben Gibbard
Ron Mael.
A lot of those folks in the Americana/Alt-Country scene: Jason Isbell Benjamin Tod Arlo McKinley Drayton Farley Adeem The Artist American Aquarium Etc. Etc.
Benjamin Tod is incredible. His songs about addiction are heartbreaking and real to life.
Hands down Steve Poltz.
[Kimya Dawson](https://youtu.be/SMZJt-BPLyQ?si=RAc-cQpnLUHUCfEz)
There aren't many better storytellers in music than Craig Finn. Lifter Puller and The Hold Steady are just asking bands.
Craig Finn/the hold steady. And it’s not particularly close. Novels to music.
Slug from atmosphere
B ,tx( zrdz22
Phoebe Bridgers
I think three are in a league of their own. Joseph D’Agostino of Empty Country (formerly Cymbals Eat Guitars) Alex G Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief
Sufjan Stevens, Connor Oberst, Todd Snider, Thom Yorke, Jeff Tweedy, Jason Isbell, Colin Meloy.
I'm trying to stick within the last 25 years (music today?) and have quite a few songs under their belt to back up the quality of their songwriting. I'm not totally sure what you mean by "storytelling"? * Sufjan Stevens * Phoebe Bridgers * Ben Gibbard * Mitski * James Mercer * Janelle Monaé * Jose Gonzalez * Ben Howard
For me, it's Hozier.
Ed sheeran, really?
Todd Snider
Colter Wall
Lana Del Rey
Taylor Swift. I know, I know But she has great story telling songs. Last Great American Dynasty Ivy Tolerate it Clean I could add so many more. There's also a neat little game called Taylor Swift or Shakespeare
It's crazy the amount of hate she still gets! Everyone on this thread who has mentioned T. Swift has had to lead in with 'I'm gonna get downvoted by saying Taylor'. I'm also of the ilk of just let people like what they like. Without judgement. Taylor Swift is tops.