I don't need vocals or great lyrics to enjoy something. I own lots of jazz, instrumental soul and world music with vocals in languages I don't understand.

I generally absorb the mood, energy, texture, groove and hooks of the music first with any vocals being mostly the equivalent of another instrument. Over time though, assuming the vocals are in a language I understand, the lyrics and depth of the music take increasing importance. I find that few albums with lyrics I think are generally weak have much staying power with me.

Its not that I can't enjoy a song or two just based on the merits of the music alone, but bad lyrics interfere enough with my overall impression that I just probably wouldn't choose very often to listen to music that I think has subpar lyrics.

It depends for me as well. I agree that a bad lyric can ruin the catchiest of songs but even amazing lyrics can't save some artists for me. I find a lot of the more lyrically-oriented artists to be really boring a lot of the time. The artists that do both are the ones I like best.

I'd say my preference is:

(music > lyrics) >>>>>>> vocal performance

You like Dylan, don't you?

Of course!

Maybe I should rephrase. Music is more important to me slightly more often than lyrics. Bad lyrics can make music irrelevant nearly every time. Boring music can make lyrics irrelevant some of the time. I never like a song based on vocal performance alone.

Just to clarify my initial point, I think Dumpjack said better what I was trying to convey as my thoughts on the issue.

Had to give some props where they were due.

I may get crucified for this, but I really enjoy Darnielle's lyrics; however I can't really get into his music or voice.

In life, I love words.

In music, I love music.

I hear singing, sometimes even the words, but the meaning is usually lost on me.

Music

it's HOW you sing the lyrics that is important.

most of my favorite artist sing gobbaly gook, but then they will say one line in a perfect way and it sounds so incredibly important and beautiful.

(see anyone from dylan to GBV to tweedy to jay z to ghostface)

This is how I feel as well. It's much easier for me to listen to a voice as an instrument unto itself when it is not in English. There are relatively few albums that I can sing the lyrics to.

There are types of music where the words matter to me, like blues and punk but I'm usually more into the music itself.