Most definately agree on Bryan Ferry, Natalie Merchant, Patricia Barber and Michael Stipe. Would add Amy Winehouse as unique (and tragic). |
Natalie Merchant. One of the most musical voices out there.
How about Captain Beefheart? |
1. Rod Stewart
2. Cyndi Lauper
3. Ray Charles
4. Leo Sayer
5. Joe Cocker |
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My top three are Maynard James Keenan of Tool, Mark Lanegan ( Whiskey for the Holy Ghost is awesome) and Natalie Merchant |
Nadia, "Life of a Stranger" from the Transporter soundtrack. |
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Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy, or Palace ******) |
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Lisa Gerard of Dead Can Dance. |
-Peter Hamill, (Van der Graaf Generator)
-Robert Wyatt, (Soft Machine, Matching Mole)
-Don Van Vliet,(At times sounded like Howlin' Wolf, but you'd never mistake one for the other).
-Richard Butler, (Psychedelic Furs) |
It's been a while and this thread has survived a few years. I'll add a few I've learned of since last post, all of which I enjoy very much. There are a whole lot on here that I'd consider rather conventional myself, but I guess that's what makes a discussion.
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats
Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel
Nimrod Workman (a coal miner from Kentucky - powerful an unique)
William Fitzsimmons (Iron & Wine fans take note)
Vic Chesnutt (RIP) |
Tom Waits, Paul Kelly, Willie Nelson, Anthony and the Johnsons |
and, dare I say it, Ms. Britney Spears. |
Also Justin Hayward of "The Moody Blues" fame. |
Defining "unique" as instntly identifiable and a sound all their own....I agree with many mentioned but will need to add Leon Russell. Not only indentifiable audibly but visually! Don't have much of his music but when I do play my tunes in random and come across his old stuff I am instantly transported back to my teen years. |
Also of course Jon Anderson of Yes.
Someone mentioned Eminem earlier. He is pretty unique. |
Adrian Belew of King Crimson and other fame. |
Robert Smith of The Cure. Whether you love him or hate him, you know when you here him. Undeniably unmistakable. |
Linda Perry of "4 Non Blondes" fame. |
Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Aretha Franklin |
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Geddy Lee, hard to believe he hasn't been mentioned yet. |
Johnnie Bower (Toronto Maple Leaf's goalie in the 60's) singing Honky Honky the Christmas Goose. His first and last recording. Thank you Johnnie.
Billie Holiday. The Bee Gees. |
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family's roger chapman.....the strawbs' davis cousins |
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists has a "nasally" voice you either love or hate. I love it. |
Kasey Chambers
Emiliana Torrini
Zulya
Montserrat Figueras
Cristina`Branco
Iren Lovasz
Eivor Palsdottir
Souad Massi
Nynke Laverman
Kirile Loo
Antje Duvekot
Mariam Motassian
Lisa Ekdahl
Mari Boine
Maria Ana Bobone
Jane Siberry
Patricia Kaas |
All of the vocals on Beat Farmers "Pursuit Of Happiness". If that ain't "ugly" (in a strangely enjoyable way), I am at a loss. |
I vote for Bjork and Goldfrapp. Although many copy catters have come up since Goldfrapp's ' Felt mountain".. |
Karen Dalton, try "In my Own Time" an incredible folksinger. |
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dave thomas/pere ubu...roger chapman/family....terry reid.... |
Bjork, Snoop dog (in same sentence? :)). Eminem, Christina aguilera, Stevie nicks, Sting comes to mind. Unique. You can tell, 'they' are singing/rapping |
Here are a couple I don't believe anyone has mentioned but most would agree have distinctive voices: Patricia Barber and Tom Russell. |
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In recent years, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons is the most incredible voice I have heard. Hard to describe but has been compared to Nina Simone. His last album I am a Bird now is a really good album. |
The first ones that came to mind in terms of actual "unique voices" and not "unique vocal presentations" were Macy Gray, D.C. Dart and Nick Gilder. Unique vocal presentations would open up quite a few more doors...
I'm sure that most of you have heard Macy Gray before and i'm surprised that nobody mentioned her. I don't really like her stuff, but her voice does stand out from the crowd.
D.C. Dart sang for a couple different "punk" bands. His voice reminds me of a cross between Curly from the Three Stooges and a young slapstick Jerry Lewis. No real singing skills to back that "amazing" voice up, so it was strictly a matter of loving D.C. or hating him.
Nick Gilder sang "Hot Child In The City". Remember that song? A lot of people thought it was a woman singing, but it wasn't. At least, i think Nick is a "man" by most traditional definitions : )
As for Miner42's input, i'll have to check out Little Village. I've heard the name before, but never realized who was in the group. Hopefully, their output matches their credentials, as that should be one helluva band !!! Sean
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Ferron, Toni Childs, Greg Brown |
I think Steve Forbert sounds exactly like Eric Clapton especially in that song that goes..."meet me in the middle of the day let me hear you say everything's ok..." |
With documentary title in parentheses:
Jandek (Jandek on Corwood)
Wayne Coyne (Fearless Freaks - The Flaming Lips)
Daniel Johnston (The Devil and Daniel Johnston)
Benjamin Smoke (Benjamin Smoke) |
Janis Ian, Pheobe Snow, Rod Stewart, Burl Ives, Burton Cummings, Allison Krause, Tiny Tim, Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot....i'll think of more as soon as I post this. |
Wow, unless I missed it, this thread went on for a year without a mention of:
Bjork |
Ian Dury, Roger Waters, Rod Stewart, Chris Cornell, Seal, Prince, Michael Stipe, Thomas Dolby and Ferdie Pacheco. |
Well, to be honest, I like the 'special' voice of Marianne Faithfull, smokey, raw, used... Barb Jungr is another chanteuse that I can highly recommend. Great voice, wonderful sense of humour. A great entertainer. Then again, Chris Isaak is one of my favourite male singers, as is Vitas, the Russian 'singing wonder'. |
Nelly Furtado.
Noosha Fox.
Marianne Faithfull.
Yma Sumac.
Bon Scott. |
How could I have missed this thread...?!
Let's see aside from Tom Waits there is:
From my far past:
Glen Danzig (Danzig) - Forget about Johnny Cash, Rubin produced better singers before
Andrew Eldridge (Sisters of Mercy) - And he's back with his favorite drummer
Geoff Tate (Queensryche) - Operation Auditory Crime
Bono (U2) - One ?
Syd Barret (Pink Floyd) - Astronomy Vox Domine
Roger Waters - Not amused to death ?
Jim Morrison (Doors) - Even Oliver Stone thought about that one...
From my other worldly side:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - if it has to be devotional...
And some unique female voices:
Cassandra Wilson - Tupelo Honey
Natalie Merchant - See Cruz' comments
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing compares...
Dolores O'Riordan (Cranberries) - No need to argue...
And my all time favorite female voice:
Eddie Reader of Fairground Attraction - It's got to be "Perfect"
I'll know that one from a hundred voices :)
Oh, well. Maybe not quite according to Marcos intentions, there might be some pleasant voices included above.
Enjoy!
Rene |
Returning to the original intent of this topic (unusual vocal quality), I haven't seen anyone mention Beth Orton, a favorite of mine. Her latest is a gem. |
