Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 10121

Continuing a #wota chat...

Thinking about this last night while seeing Uncle Kracker on a Leno repeat. He was doing "Drift Away" with Dobie Gray...

I lost touch with contemporary music quite a while ago. Some of it was the advent of rap and hip-hop, but what bothered me about listening to that show last night (and music over the last decade) was his (Matt Shafer's) voice was crap. I'm not talking about style or lyrics, I'm talking about his musical skill - basics. The guy couldn't stay in key for more than a couple bars.

I'm perfectly willing to accept this is simply a lack of familiarity on my part with current musicians. And the past certainly had its fair share of crap vocalists. Three that come to mind: Cher, Bob Dylan, and Mick Jagger. They may have had a message, or poetry, or glitz or appeal, but they couldn't sing.

On the other hand, you have an artist like Celine Dion (or Barbra Streisand into the 80's) who do have that skill - more pure musicians, who get panned widely (nothwithstanding other factors that make them irritating.)

So, who are today's "real" vocal musicians?

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35568

I wish that I had been old enough to appreciate the Motown heyday. It was a 'hit factory' sure, but there was some great singers on that label.

(a repeat of what I said in #wota, I am afraid).

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35568

I saw Seal singing live on TV and he was really very good, singing wise.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 6569

This just made me realize how few great vocalists there are in rock bands nowadays. Check out the "Best/Distinctive" thread for some names. Off the top of my head that I personally like:

Chris Robinson, Lajon Witherspoon, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, and completely unrelated musically, Rufus Wainwright.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Baba Kueria
Posts: 3146

well G, you already know my answer, which is Mike Patton.
He is still around and making new music, but IMO he hit his peak in the 90's. you would probably like the faith no more albums "king for a day, fool for a lifetime" and "album of the year" and mr bungle's "california"

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 10121

I'll try them.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 9355

i was thinking yesterday as i walked home from work that the guy from the dears, murray lightburn, has an awesome voice when he really goes for it. most of the music i listen to appeals to me because i like the vocalist, but that's often just a tone or lyrics or something. rufus wainwright is a good suggestion, i love that guy's voice. i'll try to think of others as the day goes by.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: toronto
Posts: 1612

Murray Lightburn has a good voice, although his inflection makes me think he tries too hard to be Morrissey.

Best classical voices - Jeff Buckley is the obvious one.
Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips stands out.
Jim James of My Morning Jacket.
Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Females - Sarah Harmer, Julie Doiron, Norah Jones' is really sweet too.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 9355

bah to morrissey. i've never been able to listen to the smiths so i do not care for your odious comparisons, sir.
i just like it when he sings real loud.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 6569

quote:

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Originally posted by slight
well G, you already know my answer, which is Mike Patton.
He is still around and making new music, but IMO he hit his peak in the 90's. you would probably like the faith no more albums "king for a day, fool for a lifetime" and "album of the year" and mr bungle's "california"

---

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Bangor, ME
Posts: 10157

California wasn't as eclectic as earlier Bungle, but Mike Patton has one of the best voices I've ever heard. Faith No More's versions of The Commodores 'Easy' and Black Sabbaths 'War Pigs' are better than the originals IMHO.

Pattons voice box recordings also show this.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
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Ignore Vegas. He's too into alt-hardrock. Fucks with his head. Though Rufus is good. Cornell is good too, and has some range on him, but the others ones aren't what I would call very "technical" singers. Good enough at what they do, and some have cool voices, but not the sort that I think G is asking about.

I should kick my own ass for this, but, despite the fact that TOOL SUCKS, Maynard can sing. At least when he wants to. Which is some of the time. And when it isn't ruined by the music. Which is most of the time. But download "Sober", for instance.

I'm wondering if Coldplay counts or not, whatever that guy's name is. A bit on the whiney side though. Barenaked Ladies?

I don't know. I suck at questions like this. "Best voice" is a lot easier for me than "vocal muscianship".

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 6569

You follow this comment....

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paint CHiPs
Ignore Vegas. He's too into alt-hardrock. Fucks with his head. Though Rufus is good. Cornell is good too, and has some range on him, but the others ones aren't what I would call very "technical" singers. Good enough at what they do, and some have cool voices, but not the sort that I think G is asking about.

---

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: toronto
Posts: 1612

Vegas, I disagree about Maynard, and I can't believe I'm doing this but he's got a really great range.

Chris Robinson? Of the Black Crowes? Half-assed Robert Plant knockoff, we're talking about good singers technically, not about delivery quite so much.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 10121

Got a bunch of Faith No More - like it a lot - excellent voice. Going back for others.

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Registered: Oct 2001
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Glenn Danzig really had an amazing voice. I heard a thing he did from the Less Than Zero soundtrack the other day that was pretty incredible. He sounded like Elvis, but better.

Mike Patton, yes. Album of the Year is great.

I like Calvin Johnson precisely because he sings a little flat.

There are some decent vocalists these days. But it's just not a focus at the moment in most cases. For the same reason, we have fewer of the "guitar gods" that we had in the late 70's early 80's, thank the Lord. Enough gratuitous noodling to show off yer technical skills. It's about the songs in most cases, and not how good you are.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Oregon. America.
Posts: 2076

Thom Yorke - Radiohead
Maynard James Keenen - Tool
Mike Patton - Tomahawk, Faith no More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, etc.
Scott Weiland - Stone Temple Pilots.

Those are the best of what I listen to, anyway.

G, Faith no More grows on you like mold. Which of their albums/songs did you check out?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 10121

Epic (4:53)
Evidence (4:50)
Ashes to Ashes (3:37)
Caffeine (4:16)
Easy Like Sunday Morning (3:07)
Edge of The World (5:50)
A Small Victory (4:56)
Falling to Pieces (5:15)
I Started a Joke (3:00)
War Pigs (7:45)
Last Cup of Sorrow (4:11)
Midlife Crisis (4:19)
Midnight Cowboy (4:12)
Mouth to Mouth (3:48)
Ricochet (Live) (4:18)
She Loves Me Not (3:29)
Surprise! You're Dead! (2:27)
The Morning After (3:43)
The Perfect Crime (4:25)
Underwater Love (3:52)
We Care a Lot (4:01)
Faith No More and Yayatribe - Another Body Murdered (4:17)
Hippie Jam Song (4:57)
Crack Hitler (4:39)
From Out Of Nowhere (3:20)
Be Aggressive (3:42)
The World Is Yours (5:52)
Zombie Eaters (5:58)
Got That Feeling (2:20)

Playing right now (on the link below)

Last edited by MstrG on 06-19-2003 at 06:30 PM

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: my mother's bloody womb
Posts: 7136

i think maynard sings better with a perfect circle. you might like them better g.

i think sarah mclaughlin (sp?) has a beautiful voice. and tori amos may not be technically perfect, but she's very emotive, you can hear what she's feeling through every note. but her newer stuff sucks.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Oregon. America.
Posts: 2076

Try "Helpless," "Last to Know," "Just a Man" and "King for a Day."

All very good songs.

And Morgana's right about "A Perfect Circle." Try "3 Libra's." It's a fantastic song and a good exploration of Maynard's vocal range. "Magdelena" is my other favorite on the record.

And I'll check out the asylum radio deal when I get home. BTW, thanks for setting that up. I'm still extremely impressed by all that you and the other administrators do for this website even with assholes like the Wraith and what not.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 10121

Need to give credit where it's due: RiZZ is fronting the Shoutcast server and bandwidth, along with being our lone on-air live personality so far. Thanks. Am going to find some more tunes...

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: All over the place
Posts: 2803

The best vocalist singing in an 'alternative' rock band today is Cedric Bixler, formerly of At The Drive In, and now doing stunning things with The Mars Volta. Those of you who like the bizarre intricacies of Patton's work (the latest Tomahawk record is awesome) should get 'De Loused In The Comatorium'. The vocals are stunning and the musicianship is amazing.

I used to work with Uncle Kracker, or Matt, and he would be the first to agree he is not the most talented guy in the vocal department. But he is a good egg all round.

Other pretty amazing vocalists in alt rock land:

Davey Havok from AFI (former choirboy don't you know - has a three octave range, which is pretty fucking incredible considering the gymnastics he puts it through)

Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees / Queens Of The Stoneage. Another utterly distinctive and incredible set of pipes. Makes the QotSA records for me.

A singer/songwriter called Tom McCrae from the UK. Amazing singer.

Have to agree with Thom Yorke being up there - ugly bastard, but what a voice.

But Cedric from The Mars Volta. F*** me he can sing.

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Registered: Oct 2001
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at the drive in was great. and from Texas, btw. don't forget that.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Bangor, ME
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I always wondered what happened to At