25 modern bands that prove lyricism is not dead

Boygenius is made up of three incredibly talented singer-songwriters: Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. Their lyrics are poetic, reflective, and oftentimes self-deprecating — in the best way. They often paint a cinematic scene you can follow in your mind. 

This indie pop band is as dreamy and ethereal as it gets, and their lyrics match their sound. A sense of emotive longing is evident in nearly every track. I'd start with the song “Talk to Her,” as it includes a beautiful spoken word that will blow you away.

Searows is an indie folk project by singer-songwriter Alec Duckart. When I first heard a song by Searows, I was moved to tears. Alec's gentle, raw voice gives life to his honest and introspective lyrics.

Florist has quite a unique sound. This indie folk band is for the sensitive, overthinking dreamers who hold tightly to all they love. I’m convinced everyone should listen to “The Fear of Losing This” at least once.

Grayscale is an emo/pop-punk group that merges heartfelt writing with captivating melodies. The band’s lyrics are extremely vulnerable and personal, covering complex topics like grief, addiction, and death. “Tommy’s Song” in particular holds a special place in my heart.

This psychedelic rock band explores a variety of themes through its evocative yet sometimes indecipherable lyrics. Lead singer and primary songwriter Lila Ramani once revealed on a Reddit thread that she writes her lyrics “when I'm walking, or running, or moving through some sort of landscape. Something about how my blood flows when I'm walking helps my brain make nice words.”

If you’ve never heard of Sleep Token, take this as your sign to listen immediately. This genre-blending metal band includes some of the most beautiful lyricism you’ll ever hear. Vessel (lead singer’s stage name) is wildly talented in wordplay. 

You might not expect it coming from an emo band whose song titles include “How Do You Know It’s Not Armadillo Shells?” and “11 Second Burp,” but Hot Mulligan has some beautiful lyrics. The first song I heard by them was “Pluto Was Never Really A Planet Either Even,” and it somehow found a way to put depression into words. My favorite lines: “I've grown to fear the isolation I chose to take a part of. Now I get how cliches came to be, though I spent so much time thinking they were below me.”

Snail Mail is an indie rock solo project by singer-songwriter Lindsey Erin Jordan. She sneaks some profound lines into her hard-hitting songs. “Deep Sea” is an especially emotional track, and the lyrics are equal parts heartbreaking and encouraging. 

Third Eye Blind has been around for a while, but I’d be remiss not to add them to this list. In fact, I once even wrote a short story inspired by the band’s incredible lyricism, which reads more like poetic personal anecdotes and pensive prose than lines in a song. “Motorcycle Drive By” and “God of Wine” are two must-listen tracks that originally caught my attention. 

Many people have a love-hate relationship with The 1975 and the band's lead singer/lyricist, Matty Healy. However, there’s no denying he's extremely talented in the songwriting department. The 1975’s lyrics are like those handwritten love notes from your pretentious, emotionally complex ex that you keep hidden in a box under your bed.

This alternative/indie folk band is known for its captivating, relatable lyricism and upbeat sound. Word of advice? Start with the song “Mission to Mars” and stick to their older content.

Pleasure Systems is an indie-pop band with melancholic, figurative lyrics and a dreamy sound. Clarke Sondermann, the man behind the music, gives voice to the most haunting feelings, like deep grief and loss. Some reviewers have labeled his earlier writing vague and poetic, with more recent tracks being a little more explicit. 

Future Islands is a synth-pop band with poetic lyricism. Lead singer and songwriter Samuel Thompson Herring is also a rapper and actor based in Baltimore, Maryland. In past interviews, he mentioned that he started writing music at a young age, and it certainly shows through his profound lyrics.

Coheed and Cambria is a well-known progressive rock band from Nyak, New York. The group has been around since 1995 and is still putting out music. Their lyrics are known to be complex and often difficult to interpret, like the line in “Mother Superior”: “You're frightened of leaving this truly gone-fishing amalgam.”

Tow’rs is an American folk band from Flagstaff, Arizona. On their website, the members say, “We tell stories through music,” which is absolutely true. Their songs include beautiful lyrics with descriptive diction and clever metaphors. 

Turnover is the epitome of modern indie rock, and the band sets the standard high in terms of lyricism. Its poetic language and hypnotic sound are impossible to hate. Not to mention, the lyrics tackle some difficult yet deeply relatable topics, like internal conflict, social discomfort, mental health struggles, and loss.

This Australian indie rock duo is known for its thoughtful and oftentimes uplifting lyrics. In a Reddit AMA (ask me anything), the band's lyricist said he gets lyrical inspiration from various places. “Most of the time I write kinda like cryptic autobiographical type [stuff], but I'm trying to start writing more about people/characters that aren't me,” Liam Parsons wrote.

Men I Trust might sound like dreamy music you can dissociate to (in the best way possible), but the band’s lyrics are worth analyzing. Each song is like its own poem or prose. If you have your doubts, listen to “A Cycle.”

This popular indie rock band is as feel-good as it gets, and its lyrics are just as uplifting and inspiring. However, some tracks are also deeply emotive, with spiritual messages and references to universal themes. 

The Head and The Heart is an indie folk band formed in 2009. The band is still going strong, and fans love its uplifting sound. However, the group's lyrics also explore a variety of relatable experiences, like love, loss, and self-discovery.  

This metalcore band is well-known for its incredibly compelling lyrics. Not only do they explore deeply complex topics and themes, but they also tend to match the tone of the music. You can practically feel the vocalist's emotions as he delivers the lyrics.

If you haven’t already noticed from this list, many indie rock bands tend to have contemplative lyrics. Horse Jumper of Love is no exception. This slowcore group has a haunting sound, and its tracks tend to paint a picture through their descriptive lines.

It’s no shock that the emo king, Balance and Composure, has incredibly personal and pensive lyrics. In a Pitchfork review, writer Ian Cohen once compared their writing to “sensitive dude poetry.” While the band wasn’t necessarily happy with that description, I see it as a compliment. 

Movements is known for its spoken-word poetry, which deals with a variety of topics, from mental health to self-deprecation to heartbreak. This post-hardcore band is a must-listen for those who value lyricism.