Lamb of God vs. Saul Williams

One major problem with critics is that they have a lyrical bias.

Being writers and not musicians, they appreciate the skills it takes for Lou Reed to describe and convey New York City over the past few decades. But they can't comprehend Frank Zappa's artistic reinventions of electric guitar playing for rock, jazz, orchestral and electronic music, unless he says something funny.

Similarly, movie critics fawn over Charlie Kaufman's screenplay-driven works and scratch their heads over Robert Rodriguez, while book reviews will reliably favor Joyce's stylistic innovations and literary allusions to a rock solid Lovecraft tale.

Lyrics are important, no doubt. As moving and amazing as they are musically, it's hard to imagine that bands like Nirvana and Metallica would be nearly as effective without the brave, cerebral and even literary verses of "Heart-Shaped Box" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Of course, this helps account for why both bands have landed Rolling Stone cover stories.

"Heart-Shaped Box"


"For Whom the Bell Tolls"


Few others have been so well-received--Pitchfork will lather praise on twee, stilted and ironic lyrics from Vampire Weekend and Belle and Sebastian. But a search for "Pantera" on the corporation's website will produce zero results. No reviews, and even Dimebag's murder, easily one of the most devastating music world events of the decade, is ignored. I'd argue that Pantera have much stronger lyrics than the aforementioned hipster darlings, but I guess not having lyrics about the Oxford comma is grounds for expulsion by major publications.

"The Oxford Comma"


"Mouth for War"


As far as great albums go, I'll take music over lyrics any day. Check out any number of brilliant literature, poetry or nonfiction for outstanding prose, but we're talking about musicians here. That's what they offer us--music, with the occasional bonus of great lyrics.

Consider the case of Lamb of God vs. Saul Williams. Two absolutely amazing live acts who also write some incredible songs.

Williams started as a poet and writer, and it shows. His verbose, literate and provocative lyrics are more astute than anything by M.I.A., Zack de la Rocha or Common, but he can't bust a rhyme or a hook as well as any of them. His music is usually a nondescript, relatively enjoyable soundtrack that never overwhelms his lyrics, which are always the focus of his compositions.

His most recent album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust!, features his best music to date, thanks in big part to producer Trent Reznor.

"Convict Colony"


"DNA"




But still, the music here is just a platform for his poetry, which is all it needs to be. Niggy Tardust is a great album, but easily the best tune is the one written by Bono and the Edge.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday"


On the other hand, we have Lamb of God. Musically, they've taken metal to a new level, fusing thrash metal leads and blast beats into hooks that landed them in the Billboard Top Ten. By reinventing extreme metal into something fans outside the metal cult can bang their heads to, Lamb of God took metal to the masses in a way that was previously unthinkable, while giving modern rock a set of balls in the process.

Lyrically, they rely on simple, effective chants that are easy enough for fans to scream along to. Basic, tried and true themes articulated in a way that's neither embarrassing nor poetic, just there to supplement the music.

"Redneck"


"Ruin"


"Now You've Got Something to Die For"


Like Williams, Lamb of God address politics, inner turmoil and social injustice in their lyrics, which never rise above adequacy. But if a writer of Williams' quality were to compose Lamb of God's lyrics, the messages and poetics in his words would get tangled in the music. Similarly, Lamb of God would sound convoluted with a long-winded orator like Williams at the helm. Thankfully, Lamb of God's lyrics are there to showcase the music, Williams' music is there to showcase his lyrics, and both parties continue to make the great music that they should make.

But I know which one I'll listen to more often.