Richey's lyrics: Before or after The Holy Bible?

[Red]

Okay, I think most people here would agree that The Holy Bible was where he peaked. But, what for the nineteen or so songs we have from after his departure versus the 40 or so from before?

People of FD, decide!

[Pasquerel]

Interesting question. His post-THB lyrics were more mellow, tranquil, dare to say positive, less self hate, more observing, however these are less accessible than his pre 1994 ones. I see most of his post-THB lyrics as poetry, more than simple rock lyrics. Therefore they are in two different categories, which make it more difficult to compare.

[Flint]

I enjoy the dry black humour of his post-TBH (if we're judging by JFPL) works more than the bullshit sloganeering of e.g. GT. Still not flawless, but still.

[Manic Street Hippie]

Originally Posted by Pasquerel

Interesting question. His post-THB lyrics were more mellow, tranquil, dare to say positive, less self hate, more observing, however these are less accessible than his pre 1994 ones. I see most of his post-THB lyrics as poetry, more than simple rock lyrics. Therefore they are in two different categories, which make it more difficult to compare.

That's such a fantastic way of looking at JFPL, that it's poetry. I haven't been able to put my finger on it until you said it, but I agree with you.

[Mr Richey]

I think Richey's lyrics were beginning to show an increasing maturity with the EMG and JFPL batches. He was moving away from the cut & paste style (where some of the lyrics were awesome and others were, well, naff) and actually developing a fractured style of poetry. It's hard to really put it into words, especially without offending any CoR folks, but I guess my gripe with Richey's lyrics prior to THB was that they often did seem like he was just trying to sound clever. With the lyrics on THB, EMG and JFPL he was actually dealing with subjects as a whole throughout a lyric. There was less going off on a tangent and less thesaurus swallowing and just a markedly improved understanding of his own writing style.

[tzb]

Nothing to choose between them, some good and some shite. I'd say he had the same sort of percentage hitrate either side.

But yeah his peak was undoubtedly THB where he upped his game to like 95%.

[shakermaker88]

I prefer Nicky's lyrics to Richey's and they were on the same wave length pre HB, plus his pre-HB stuff is a lot more coherent. J4PL was brilliant but lyrically i think its more there to be admired than something you can relate to

[hummingbird]

i don't really know, i love both. i'm leaning towards JFPL for reasons given above but they're still really new so ask me again in a couple yrs

[Suicide_Riot_Junk]

now that is a really interesting & tough question. My vote goes for post THB, as his lyrics seem to have abit more inner peace/calm, but still managing to question alot of things. Don't get me wrong, I absolutly love ALL of his lyrics (his own and collaborativly with Wire), but personally for me, I think Richey's post THB lyrics just have the edge.

[Slideling]

The lyrics of the car mechanic Alan Edwards, clearly.