Music's best voice

[CURVE]

Not many male voices I can think of, but Otis Redding is definately top of the list.

As for females, I find it hard to go past Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Ann Wilson (Heart). All three have a tremendous range, and can hold a note for some time. Deborah Harry also has a voice that suits her musical styles, whether it's pop, rock, reggae or jazz.

 

[WKB]

Well were do we start?

I guess it all comes down to you musical preference but I find it Impossible to choose between MELISSA, HOLLY VALANCE, THE RAPPING GUY FROM EAST17, SINITTA OR ANYONE FROM INDECENT OBSESSION.

 

[lovebuzz]

My fav's would have to be:

Ed Vedder
Layne Staley

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by Stevo
Emperor's "Prometheus" is to black metal what Beethoven's 9th symphony was to 19th century orchestral music. A vast and intimidating shadow. It's easily one of the best metal albums ever, if not the best ever.

My least favourite of theirs to be honest. Technically brilliant, but doesn't have the feeling that the others have (Anthems is their best IMO).

Most black metal just plain blows though. Emperor had all the tricks, whereas most black metal bands don't.

True - I'm more of a DM fan truth be told, and just cherry pick the BM scene. Maybe that's why I only really like the 'produced' and/or technically proficient BM.

German band DornenReich have released three excellent black metal albums and are one of the better metal bands going around.

Don't know 'em - will keep an eye out.

And Hansi Kursch has to be one of the better metal vocalists around. He's got all the tools. "Nightfall in Middle Earth" is a pinnacle of progressive power metal. Pity that "A Night at the Opera" was so ordinary.

Hate 'power metal'. sorry. It's just too homoerotic for my liking thanks! haha.

As for growlers, it's hard to go past Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity. I was rather disappointed that he didn't pursue his clean singing after "Projector". There were some very promising moments there.

Lost interest after the 'Minds Eye'. The Gallery was brilliant though.

Mikael Akerfeldt often gets mentioned as a great singer because he does both clean and harsh vocals, but he's really a jack of all trades, master of none. His harsh vocals lack clarity and his clean vocals lack projection.

Like his harsh voice, but not really a fan. 'Damnation' had moments.

But as for metal, I'm still listening to Italian band Novembre and their most recent album "Novembrine Waltz". Staggering piece of work. Hovers in between doom and death metal to reach something quite unique. Fantastic drumming.

Only heard snippets - can't really comment.

Currently going through my 15th annual Coroner worship stage.
The best technical death band.
Ever.

(Not the greatest singer though if I get back to the thread at hand!)

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Originally posted by bragg
You B#stard !!!! I need to get these posts in before you !!!!

Sorry Bragg .... bloody selfish of me, I know.

Must admit, I've always been a bit of a fan of Keef's and Pete Townsend's voices too, despite their roles as 2IC in the vocals department.

 

[mantis]

To all the people nominating Jeff Buckley, wonder if you have heard his father Tim's voice, he was awesome, far superior to Jeff, was also better looking than Jeff, unfortunately, he also died tragically at the same age.

 

[Mobbs]

I dunno who's alive and who's not anymore, but :

Louis Armstrong,
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Farnsey / Jack Jones
The bloke from Noiseworks
Chris Cornell
Lisa Loeb
Tori Amos
Kate Bush
Joan Armatrading
Billy Vera

 

[fitzmantle]

jeff Tweedy - Wilco
Sice - Boo Radleys
John Lennon - ?
Debbie Harry - Blondie

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Stevo

And Hansi Kursch has to be one of the better metal vocalists around. He's got all the tools. "Nightfall in Middle Earth" is a pinnacle of progressive power metal. Pity that "A Night at the Opera" was so ordinary.

Great call. I nominated At Vance's Olli Hartman earlier in the thread, but Hansi's not far behind. But I thought "Nightfall..." was pretty bloody ordinary. Not as heavy as previous releases, and not as many proper "songs" as there should have been. "A Night At The Opera" was little better IMHO, with a return to the old formula but not the old form.

I reckon Hansi's voice is best on "Tales From The Twilight World" and "Imaginations...".

The two earliest albums were fantastic in terms of material, but very raw... it'd be interesting to see what they'd have sounded like with the improved production that the band had since "Tales...".

 

[Mog]

But I thought "Nightfall..." was pretty bloody ordinary. Not as heavy as previous releases, and not as many proper "songs" as there should have been. "A Night At The Opera" was little better IMHO, with a return to the old formula but not the old form.

That's my only gripe with Nightfall - the little bits of crap in between the songs. But that's only because I rather like the songs themselves and would have preferred more of them.

Never really GOT Darkthrone to be honest. The whole grim grim grim thing never really did much for me (I think it was the production to be honest). I liked Soulside Journey (sounds like 'Left Hand Path' to me), but that was prior to their BM reinvention.

Black metal for me is as much about atmosphere as aggression or anything else. Darkthrone do that fairly well, as did Varg from Burzum before he became a tool.

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Mog

Black metal for me is as much about atmosphere as aggression or anything else. Darkthrone do that fairly well, as did Varg from Burzum before he became a tool.

I don't reckon anyone could beat Burzum for eerieness. Then again Count Grizzy was a bit of a wacker! These days there's a German band called Nocte Obducta who do it pretty well, but aren't into all the Collingwood face paint and stabbing their mates to death.

 

[Mog]

There's a Swedish band called Abruptum that do a good job of atmospheric and creepy. Plus long song titles in latin...

 

[Goldenblue]

Male: Freddy Mercury

Female: Marcella Detroit

 

[Darealrath]

Michael Stipe, Chris Cornell, Thom Yorke, Noel Gallagher, Chris Isaak, Paul McCartney.

 

[Jabso]

Phil Jamieson can sing a variety of different styles.
Josh Homme is one of my fav's and Greg Graffin is pretty good too.

 

[raskolnikov]

Even though I'm not a huge fan of their music I think both Marie Friedricsson and Per Gessle from Roxette have awesome voices.

Van Morrison would probably get my vote for men and Bonnie Tyler for women.

 

[Darealrath]

Originally posted by DonFan

Van Morrison would probably get my vote for men

Great call. He's a legend.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Must also drop in Jeremy Oxley (Sunnyboys) and Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction) too ....

 

[SonOfScray]

Freddie Mercury for mine

 

[Mr Chuckles]

Gruff Rhys
Jeff Tweedy
Thom Yorke
Michael Stipe
Freddie Mercury
Paul Simon
Brett Anderson
Mark Lanegan (Unbelievable at the QOTSA gigs this year)
Chris Cornell (Not really a fan of Soundgarden/Audioslave, but must admit his voice is amazing)
Paul Banks (Interpol)
and I'm sure many more that I can't think of right now.

But I notice no-one's mentioned any hip hop artists, and surely you've got to appreciate a great rap vocalist too. Some of my faves:

Chuck D
The dude from Jurassic 5 with the really deep voice (name: no idea!!)
2pac
Snoop Dogg
Del Tha Funky Homosapien
Jay-Z
Eminem (he deserves his popularity - the man has talent).

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Originally posted by WKB
, THE RAPPING GUY FROM EAST17,

Bloody oath!

Tony Mortimer, the KING of Deadpan Rapping!

And SydneyBomber - Shagrath is slightly better than Dani Filth. I find I can listen to him more than Dani. Don't ask me why, I just find Shagrath's more convincing!

 

[Damp Squarie]

Freddy Mercury by a street

 

[B2..]

Art Garfunkel or David Crosby.

 

[Hungry29]

I can't believe no one else has metioned Chris Wilson. If he is ever at a venue near you, as Molly would say - "Do yourself a favour" - and get along and see him.

You WILL NOT be disapointed!

 

[lioness]

Originally posted by mantis
To all the people nominating Jeff Buckley, wonder if you have heard his father Tim's voice, he was awesome, far superior to Jeff, was also better looking than Jeff, unfortunately, he also died tragically at the same age.

I've heard him before, first time was at the end of a Monkees episode, and I heard a bit more. He had a nice voice.