Comments on: Voices you either love or hate...

Question: Voices you either love or hate...

grumblebee — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:26:33 -0800

I like singers with strange voices. I don't like novelty songs (e.g. Betty Boop) and I don't like "songs" that are so avant-garde that they're basically noise (e.g. someone screaming into a microphone). So I'm not looking for strange music. I'm looking for traditional (melodic) music sung by singers with non-traditional singing voices. Examples of what I like: Joanna Newsom, Leon Redbone, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Elaine Stritch.

This is obviously a matter of personal taste and interpretation, but I want to find singers with a lot of eccentric character -- not singers that are just putting on a weird act.

By: Saucy Intruder

Saucy Intruder — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:33:35 -0800

Blossom Dearie.

By: jayCampbell

jayCampbell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:37:12 -0800

Janis Joplin - Summertime, Gröna Lund 1969

By: Ugh

Ugh — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:37:57 -0800

Tom Waits is an obvious choice.

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:40:44 -0800

Leonard Cohen

By: phrontist

phrontist — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:40:48 -0800

Tom Waits, though I'm not fond of his stuff at all, seems like the archetypal example. Bjork is another mainstream example.

Tiny Tim! In the that vein, how about a castrato?

By: notjustfoxybrown

notjustfoxybrown — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:40:59 -0800

Alice Smith

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:41:24 -0800

Nina Hagen and Lene Lovich.

By: aparrish

aparrish — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:42:34 -0800

In the vein of Joanna Newsom, you've got your Antony and the Johnsons and Marissa Nadler and Devendra Banhart. Oh, and Nick Drake of course.

Your criteria seems specifically designed to exclude Bjork, so I won't list her here...

By: kimdog

kimdog — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:43:37 -0800

Victoria Williams
Malcolm Holcolmbe
Antony and the Johnsons (and while we're at it Klaus Nomi ). Neither of these are traditional per se, but they certainly are mesmerizing.

By: Clyde Mnestra

Clyde Mnestra — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:48:34 -0800

Chocolate Rain! I cannot google for the link, for fear that it will start playing.

By: ericb

ericb — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:49:06 -0800

Leon Russell -- videos.

By: amethysts

amethysts — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:49:56 -0800

The Decemberists! Definitely a love/hate kind of voice. Also they have covered Joanna Newsom so you might be digging the style.

By: ericb

ericb — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:51:00 -0800

Joe Cocker.

By: Prospero

Prospero — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:51:31 -0800

Talking Heads, or David Byrne's solo albums.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:54:25 -0800

Howlin' Wolf. Here's a great video of the man performing.

By: Sticherbeast

Sticherbeast — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:55:50 -0800

Current 93 (for the most traditionally musical material, check out Thunder Perfect Mind, All The Pretty Little Horses, or Of Some Ruine Or Blazing Starre)
Legendary Pink Dots
Emiliana Torrini
Earlier-era Björk
Daniel Johnston
Nick Cave (sometimes he sounds like a natural crooner/rocker, other times he sounds like a pretty unusual front man)
Jello Biafra

By: hexatron

hexatron — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:59:13 -0800

Bob Dylan?

By: desuetude

desuetude — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:02:23 -0800

How is possible no-one mentioned Joni Mitchell yet?

Also Sally Timms, possibly best-known for her work with the Mekons.

Karen Dalton (little-known, but rather the archetypal singer of this type. I particularly like "In Her Own Time.")

By: librarina

librarina — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:04:10 -0800

Bobby Bare Jr.! Your Favorite Hat comes to mind as one of his most weird-voice-y songs.

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:06:09 -0800

Daniel Smith, a.k.a. Danielson Famile.

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:08:13 -0800

Forgot the link! Danielson Famile. Falsetto fantastico.

By: nebulawindphone

nebulawindphone — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:11:29 -0800

Lots of great weird voices in the blues and old-time canon. Some of my favorites are Skip James, Roscoe Holcomb, Dock Boggs, Blind Willie Johnson and Charlie Patton.

Nico also comes to mind.

By: rabbitsnake

rabbitsnake — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:12:03 -0800

Neutral Milk Hotel
Man Man (similar to Tom Waits, especially on Six Demon Bag and Rabbit Habits)
The Twilight Sad (the singer has a thick Scottish brogue)

By: EarBucket

EarBucket — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:13:20 -0800

Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan are kind of the holy trinity of this kind of thing. Lou Reed and Cat Power, too.

By: geekyguy

geekyguy — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:14:34 -0800

Dengue Fever

By: EarBucket

EarBucket — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:16:07 -0800

Mrs. Bucket says Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing.

By: EarBucket

EarBucket — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:16:49 -0800

Oh, and on the Americana side of things, Gillian Welch and Ralph Stanley.

By: merocet

merocet — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:20:24 -0800

Seconding Lou Reed and Nick Cave and throwing in Placebo (seen here live with Bowie). Brian Molko seems to split people into camps of lovers and haters.

By: elmer benson

elmer benson — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:33:22 -0800

Sometimes Richard Buckner's voice is really bizarre-sounding to me. Actually, I love it, but Mrs. Benson thinks it's weird.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:33:47 -0800

The Cure. Only up until 1992, though.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:36:23 -0800

Robi del Mar

By: interrobang

interrobang — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:37:23 -0800

...also streamable here.

By: Dreamcast

Dreamcast — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:37:38 -0800

Perhaps Stan Ridgway (of Wall of Voodoo)? He's somewhat known for his odd, "carnival barker" (not my words) vocal style. From Wikipedia: "a flat, uninflected, nasal Western drawl that combined the stoic ballad-style Sprechgesang of Johnny Cash, the declamatory theatrical delivery of Ethel Merman, and the ironic, clenched-jaw voice of a wisecracking ventriloquist's dummy doing James Cagney impressions and carny routines." Though, it's not nearly as "unorthodox" as Joanna Newsom's or Klaus Nomi's vocal style(s).

I also second Klaus Nomi.

Those are the only two I can think of.

By: mpls2

mpls2 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:40:46 -0800

Regina Spektor

By: dahliachewswell

dahliachewswell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:45:22 -0800

I think Iris Dement has a really interesting voice, yet beautifully traditional music.

Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley might be categorized as just having a twee-y, immature vocal affectation, but I would say it is unique, more so on earlier albums.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:45:53 -0800

Eugene Chadborne

By: dahliachewswell

dahliachewswell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:48:30 -0800

Oh, I forgot Coco Rosie

By: kitty teeth

kitty teeth — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:49:17 -0800

Beat Happening
Blonde Redhead (vocals on their earlier stuff are a bit more rough around the edges)
Carla Bozulich/The Geraldine Fibbers
Will Oldham/Palace/Bonny Prince Billy
Grace Braun/DQE (the album "The Queen of Mean" by DQE is excellent
Kimya Dawson/Moldy Peaches
Deerhoof
José González
Hefner
Herman Düne
Jana Hunter
Takako Minekawa
The Mountain Goats
Scout Niblett
Old Time Relijun
The Raincoats
Reverend Beat Man
Patti Smith
Solex ("Pick Up" is my favorite album)
Wesley Willis

By: greenland

greenland — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:50:20 -0800

Dan Bejar (Destroyer/The New Pornographers)

By: ascullion

ascullion — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:50:44 -0800

camille

By: Caduceus

Caduceus — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:53:15 -0800

I don't know if she qualifies as having an "unusual" voice, but Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls isn't afraid to let her voice go out of key when the music calls for it.

All my other suggestions have been put up already.

By: greenland

greenland — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:53:32 -0800

Oh! And John Vanderslice. Although he swings from crackly to normal. Since Tom Waits has been mentioned, I'll throw in The Eels, as well.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:53:51 -0800

Ingrid Lucia alone or with Flying Neutrinos.

By: danb

danb — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:55:33 -0800

Early David Gray, before he lost his accent and edgy voice.

By: mykescipark

mykescipark — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:56:06 -0800

Well, there's Stina Nordenstam, Meredith Monk, Robert Wyatt, and the Roches.

Once you leave behind Western music, of course, this sort of thing becomes much easier:

Galina Durmushliyska, Bulgaria
Fairuz, Lebanon
Umm Kulthum, Egypt
Sussan Deyhim, Iran (Warning: worst video accompaniment ever)

These are all top-notch singers within their own respective cultures, of course, but among Western ears, they can polarize a room.

Here are some decent choices from folks mentioned above: Richard Buckner, Grace Braun, The Raincoats.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:58:45 -0800

Cocteau Twins
Associates
Camille
Blonde Redhead
The Knife
Arab Strap
Bloem de Ligny

By: mumkin

mumkin — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:08:18 -0800

I'm looking for traditional (melodic) music sung by singers with non-traditional singing voices.

I know it sounds like you don't want Björk, but her early Gling-Gló album may be the exception. It's quirky Björk vocal goodness applied to solidly traditional jazz standards. Give the samples a listen.

By: pupdog

pupdog — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:11:21 -0800

Shane MacGowan in most other situations would have never been allowed to take lead vocals for a band, but it comes off wonderfully with the Pogues (and his 'Popes' material as well - I love "The Snake With Eyes Of Garnet")

By: thisjax

thisjax — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:14:01 -0800

El Perro del Mar
Beirut

By: Precision

Precision — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:14:26 -0800

For something pretty modern, try out Conor Oberst.

By: the Real Dan

the Real Dan — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:18:10 -0800

Jimmy Scott, Sycamore Trees

By: loiseau

loiseau — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:21:59 -0800

Some of these suggestions have quite normal and conventionally appealing voices, in my opinion.

Anyway, I'll throw in J Mascis/Dinosaur Jr, Ariel Pink, Mia Doi Todd and Picastro.

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:27:12 -0800

A lot of these suggestions are people with totally normal or just slightly quirky singing styles, especially compared to someone like Joanna Newsom. Devendra and Antony are good suggestions though.

John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats isn't super-weird, but I will second that suggestion. He's got a very distinctive nasally and extremely passionate howl. I guess you can include Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel in the same category.

Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown and Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs have some pretty idiosyncratic vocals.

By: hexatron

hexatron — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:30:58 -0800

Yma Sumac.

By: ifjuly

ifjuly — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:39:12 -0800

kristin hersh. kate bush.

By: minus zero

minus zero — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:52:37 -0800

Recently out in this part of the world are Gin Wigmore and Dudley Benson.

By: jtron

jtron — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:57:23 -0800

Mia Doi Todd, Dame Darcy, Tullycraft, the Slits, certain songs by the Ex, Dog Faced Hermans, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cub, Divine, X-Ray Spex, Essential Logic, Edith Massey, Lydia Lunch (including her early projects Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and 8-Eyed Spy), Half Japanese, 5-6-7-8's, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth/Free Kitten/Ciccone Youth), and the soundtrack to Forbidden Zone are all worth checking out.

By: netbros

netbros — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:06:50 -0800

Corinne Bailey Rae

Put Your Records On
Like a Star
Trouble Sleeping
Enchantment

By: puritycontrol

puritycontrol — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:09:49 -0800

Mark Kozelek, aka Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon
Frightened Rabbit

By: TedW

TedW — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:11:50 -0800

John Prine

By: Class Goat

Class Goat — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:21:17 -0800

Louis Armstrong!

By: nicwolff

nicwolff — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:28:50 -0800

Biz Markie
Lucinda Williams
Jón Þór Birgisson (of Sigur Rós)

By: unmake

unmake — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:32:05 -0800

Via Tania

By: archimago

archimago — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:34:40 -0800

Emmylou Harris

By: grumblebee

grumblebee — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:50:41 -0800

This is awesome. I have a ton of listening to do. Thanks. Keep 'em coming.

By: symbollocks

symbollocks — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:04:48 -0800

Jeffrey Lewis
Matty Pop Chart
Rosa
Barry Bliss
Plus a lot of bands on Plan-it-X records.

By: jeffmshaw

jeffmshaw — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:06:24 -0800

It surprises me no one has mentioned Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals. Another suggestion: Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal.

By: Opposite George

Opposite George — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:10:03 -0800

Del McCoury
Howlin' Wolf
Sara Carter

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:14:26 -0800

Beirut

By: diamondsky

diamondsky — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:45:01 -0800

Iris DeMent
Kasey Chambers
Ramsay Midwood
Nanci Griffith

By: lottie

lottie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:54:50 -0800

Arthur Russell - the voice used, truly, as an instrument, and a musician who spent his entire, short life reconciling his avant garde sensibilities and his love for pop music and melody.

The film Wild Combination will give you a great introduction.

By: Rain Man

Rain Man — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:55:52 -0800

Fred Eaglesmith - href="http://www.fredeaglesmith.com/">

By: Rain Man

Rain Man — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:02:09 -0800

Or maybe: Fred

By: ardgedee

ardgedee — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:11:18 -0800

Jimmy Scott is a jazz singer with total mastery over the standards. The combination of his boy's voice and eccentric phrasing puts some people off, but he brings life to songs you would have dismissed as overplayed.

K. McCarty is mostly known for singing in Glass Eye and doing a (very good) album of Daniel Johnston covers. She's a natural alto with a vibrato that seems to crop up at random.

Diamanda Galas would probably qualify as "screaming into a microphone" by your terms, but she can do the blues.

Mimi Goese was the singer for the short-lived Hugo Largo, where she honed an idiosyncratic voice, alternately murmuring and swooping up and down. After the band broke up, she's worked regularly in other groups as well as on solo projects. There isn't much by her to find on YouTube except this, which is interesting but doesn't exhibit the sort of thing she was doing back in the day.

By: applemeat

applemeat — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:13:13 -0800

Helen Shapiro

Betty Davis

Catpain Beefheart

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Laura Nyro (Late 1960's, very early 70's only)

The Smiths (Morrissey)

By: elle.jeezy

elle.jeezy — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:58:50 -0800

Nina Simone, Macy Gray, Nell Carter, Eartha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing

By: moof

moof — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:40:48 -0800

As a rule, Broadway is full of these singers. The "non-traditional" voice creates character in musicals branching out beyond the "pretty". I love the richness and expression of these singing voices.

By: TedW

TedW — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:05:07 -0800

Jimmy Scott is a jazz singer with total mastery over the standards

Glad you thought of him; I saw him in Augusta a few years ago at a screening of this film a friend of mine made. It was a great experience.

By: Gianna

Gianna — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:59:06 -0800

Robyn Hitchcock.

By: extramundane

extramundane — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:04:02 -0800

Chin Up Chin Up - breathy, husky vocals, catchy songs.

Maybe The National?

Seconding Wolf Parade.

By: arianell

arianell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:24:29 -0800

Seasick Steve is my new obsession.

The female vocalist from DeVotchKa has a "love it or hate it" kind of voice, although I personally don't think it's that strange.

(this question rules, by the way.)

By: booth

booth — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:45:57 -0800

kimdog: Malcolm Holcolmbe
That guy makes me think of John Hiatt.

Hear also: Jimmy Dale Gilmore.

By: saucysault

saucysault — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:32:05 -0800

Great suggestions here. I love Mary Margaret O'Hara (best known song Bodies in Trouble). I don't love Issa (Jane Siberry) but you may like her.

By: kjs4

kjs4 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:24:12 -0800

Little Birdy

By: btkuhn

btkuhn — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:21:47 -0800

Blind Melon.

By: ethel

ethel — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:24:39 -0800

The Dezurik Sisters!

By: McBearclaw

McBearclaw — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:11:27 -0800

Man, this is an eye-popping list. I can't believe nobody has mentioned Neko Case yet, though. Her voice is more eccentric the further back you go: really bizarre in Maow, a lot smoother on Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. I think Furnace Room Lullaby and Blacklisted are the happiest medium... mediums... media. Um, I like them the best.

By: Slap*Happy

Slap*Happy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:09:14 -0800

Two artists that have spent a lot of time on my playlist recently -

Gary Numan
Skee-Lo of "Gnarles Barkely."

Weird looking dudes who sing weird... tho Skee-Lo has a mastery over his scratchy-high pipes that's jaw-dropping.

By: Slap*Happy

Slap*Happy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:11:15 -0800

(Ummm... Cee-Lo, I meant Cee-Lo. Skee-Lo was the nerdy rapper guy with the "Wish I was a little bit taller" song.)

By: jeffmshaw

jeffmshaw — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:52:55 -0800

I forgot to mention Cloud Cult, whose record The Meaning of 8 is great and whose singer has a high-pitched, melodic and distinctive feel.

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:30:11 -0800

Cliff Edwards (aka "Ukulele Ike") had a distinctive and unusual voice. Though he did do "novelty songs", he also recorded many pop/jazz standards. He's perhaps best known as the voice of Disney's Jiminy Cricket in Pinnocchio.

By: whir

whir — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:43:35 -0800

Frog Eyes.

By: carmelita

carmelita — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:08:43 -0800

You gotta try The Tom Fun Orchestra.

By: jenbeee

jenbeee — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:20:01 -0800

Bettye LaVette

By: rabbitsnake

rabbitsnake — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:26:25 -0800

Calvin Johnson has a very deep, droning voice that grows on you. His early partner in crime, Doug Martsch, has a high falsetto. Listen to any Halo Benders album and you'll get the idea.

By: cashman

cashman — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:40:35 -0800

Tim Fite (I don't have a link to it but 'the more you do' is a song I like).
Ane Brun.
Nellie McKay.

By: spiderskull

spiderskull — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:31:39 -0800

Basia Bulat

By: SageLeVoid

SageLeVoid — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:11:52 -0800

The drones
Clap your hands say yeah !
The Rapture

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:41:26 -0800

Seconding Regina Spektor — link goes to a Mefi post I did on her which has some investigative links.

I've also got a song fragment in the back of my head of someone who I think has a distinctive voice — if I can tease it fully out, I'll post the name here.

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:46:34 -0800

WCityMike: "I've also got a song fragment in the back of my head of someone who I think has a distinctive voice — if I can tease it fully out, I'll post the name here."

I was thinking of Leslie Feist; the song fragment was from "Mushaboom."

By: papafrita

papafrita — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:07:20 -0800

My favorite rock'n'roll voice is Jason Lytle's from Grandaddy, but yeah I might be biased because I love that band to fucking death. Not sure if eccentric, but definitely peculiar and, yes, amazing.

By: owtytrof

owtytrof — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:12:33 -0800

Did anyone mention Tim DeLaughter of Tripping Daisy and Polyphonic Spree?

Also, John McCrea of Cake has a pretty unique voice.

By: flibbertigibbet

flibbertigibbet — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:28:30 -0800

Most of the ones I know have already been mentioned, and I might be in the minority on this one, but I find M.I.A.'s voice falls into this category.

By: cashman

cashman — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:43:18 -0800

Sia Furler

By: SansPoint

SansPoint — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:18:23 -0800

(Very Late)
David Thomas and Pere Ubu!

By: gcat

gcat — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:38:31 -0800

(and even later)

dang, i cant believe no one said billy corgan.