# Bands you'd like (more) but for their lousy singing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384 "2005-03-01T03:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/1 "2005-03-01T03:08:29Z")
Good music and maybe decent lyrics, but the singing drops my view of them a couple notches: – Get Up Kids. Several excellent songs and good energetic music. But the guy can’t carry a tune for the life of him. – Hotwater Music. This one is even worse. I’ve never even heard anything by them on any sort of media, just seen them in concert twice, but the singer that sings _most_ of their songs is too gutteral and offkey for my tastes. Plus, he spits into the microphone. The singer they had for two of their songs is better, i would probably buy something by this band if he sang all the songs. I don’t remember who sang the last song by them last week, but it ended with the only true emo hook I’ve heard in concert, despite having seen many with that label live (including the godfather of the emo hook, Promise Ring.) Damn, hadnt heard that song before but I was swaying my head in the middle of the crowd with my eyes closed in ever fiercer swaying, uncontrollably, to that hook. But still, the freakin singing _sucks_! – Agnostic Front. Good full-on punk music, but the singer is not only guttural and off key but also sounds like he has a perpetually phleghmy throat and mouth full of spit. Coincidentally enough, he spits even worse in concert than Hotwater Music. When I saw a band with him as the lead singer in concert, I commented to myself “hey, that sounds like Agnostic Front!” The weird thing is, I had _never heard Agnostic Front before_ it was just a random thought that popped into my mind, only later to find out it was true! But no matter: every line he uttered _literally_ formed a cloud of spit around the microphone about a cubic foot in volume! And it gets better: I found a CD of Agnostic Front at a used CD store and popped it in: despite the fact the singing was pretty bad, I was on the verge of buying it due to the music and energy of it. But then, one of the tracks started, I kid you not, with a sample of a man spitting. No thanks, I don’t need to be reminded of the singers concert habits! ---
**Author:** ![Leroy\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Leroy\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leroy_Brown)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/2 "2005-03-01T03:59:07Z")
The Darkness. They really are talented musicians, and after watching a 30 minute special on them, my opinion of them changed 180 degrees. I thought they were pulling a mocking retro kitchy glam rock thing (enough adjectives?), but they seem to actually stand for something worthwhile. To paraphrase, they’re responding to all the fake rage in hate metal these days and are about having fun with rock music and getting the audience involved too. It’s just those Freddie Mercury notes that Hawkins hits just make me laugh too much to see them as anything but a Queen tribute band. I’m not saying he’s a bad singer and I respect what they’re up to. I wish them the best, but after listening to their CD in the store just had to put it back. I really do wish I could like them, oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/3 "2005-03-01T04:13:03Z")
I like a lot of bands with singers that are technically bad. One of my favorite things about Pale Blue Eyes is that Lou Reed can’t really hold the notes out when he sings “linger on” I like Prince’s songwriting, but I don’t like his singing. Maybe I’ll eventually come to appreciate it though. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/4 "2005-03-01T05:42:50Z")
I was just thinking of this very topic earlier today! The Red Hot Chili Peppers. It didn’t really hit me until the first time I got one of their CDs. Each track is great on the radio, but that voice, back to back to back, is just unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Westphal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@James\_Westphal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Westphal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/5 "2005-03-01T06:40:51Z")
> [@Leroy Brown](#): > > The Darkness. They really are talented musicians, and after watching a 30 minute special on them, my opinion of them changed 180 degrees. It’s just those Freddie Mercury notes that Hawkins hits just make me laugh too much to see them as anything but a Queen tribute band. > I’m not saying he’s a bad singer and I respect what they’re up to. I wish them the best, but after listening to their CD in the store just had to put it back. I really do wish I could like them, oh well. I don’t see how they sound like Queen, they’re more hair metal. His voice doesn’t have Mercury’s power behind it, and the guitar solos are more mindless and less melodic. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/6 "2005-03-01T09:29:22Z")
Counting Crows. Music sounds allright, but that singer just rubs me the wrong way. He as one of the most annoying voices in music today. It doesn’t help that he is a depressing ass as well. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/7 "2005-03-01T09:46:23Z")
I don’t know if this qualifies, but I could see myself liking Limp Bizkit (god I hate that name) if it weren’t for Fred Durst’s lousy singing/song writing. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/8 "2005-03-01T11:12:40Z")
I would probably own at least a few Led Zeppelin albums if not for Robert Plant. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham were collectively brilliant. Plant, on the other hand, sounds like 10,000 cats-in-heat scratching on chalkboards. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/9 "2005-03-01T12:45:52Z")
**The Godfathers** **Birdland** **Jesus and Mary Chain** **Social Distortion** **The Cult** ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/10 "2005-03-01T13:06:05Z")
+1 for Counting Crows - I call his style “whine rock” Neil Young - his idiosyncratic voice is a well-known source of debate. Not for me, but I respect him +1 for the Darkness. **Leroy Brown** summed it up best except for one thing - the “Freddie Mercury” bit. Freddie doesn’t hit many of the high notes for Queen - his drummer, Roger Taylor, did that. The “for me, for me, for meeeeee” in Bohemian Rhapsody was Taylor… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/11 "2005-03-01T13:35:23Z")
I’m going way back with this one: **the Yardbirds!** Keith Relf’s wimpy, whiny vocals were all wrong for the bluesy songs the Yardbirds played. I mean, NOBODY could proclaim “I’m a Man” more feebly or boast “I make love to ya, baby, you can’t resist” less plausibly than Relf. In his defense, however, I thought he did a very nice job singing with the band Armageddon, shortly before his death. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/12 "2005-03-01T13:59:11Z")
I like Guns ‘n’ Roses, but I’d like them a whole lot more without Axl Rose’s screeching. Rush is made up of amazing musicians and have some good songs, but Geddy Lee’s voice is practically a deal-breaker. For a long time, I thought Rush had a girl singer, and a bad one at that! That said, I’m a huge fan of Social Distortion (going to see them on Friday for the first time!!!) and The Darkness, but to each their own. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/13 "2005-03-01T14:05:46Z")
I’m pretty sure I read that the Darkness got its start when the lead singer did a Queen song at a karaoke bar. Before that they had a different style of music, but just weren’t able to hit it big. After the karaoke, they decided to change their modus operandi and go arena rock style. I, personally, like his voice and the band. For me, I’d have to say Leo Kottke. The man’s a brilliant guitar player, his lyrics are fun, but his voice just bothers the hell out of me. I think it’s because the first time I’d heard him sing was on 8 Miles High. Before that I’d only heard his instrumentals, but when he started singing on 8 Miles High I was shocked, shocked! I tell you. I’ve even seen him live, but his voice just really bothers me for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/14 "2005-03-01T14:07:55Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I like Guns ‘n’ Roses, but I’d like them a whole lot more without Axl Rose’s screeching. > > Rush is made up of amazing musicians and have some good songs, but Geddy Lee’s voice is practically a deal-breaker. For a long time, I thought Rush had a girl singer, and a bad one at that! > > That said, I’m a huge fan of Social Distortion (going to see them on Friday for the first time!!!) and The Darkness, but to each their own. Ah, **BBVLou** - once more we find where our tastes intersect then diverge!! I am a complete sucker for Axl’s voice - hurl any insult at it you want, and I am probably going to reluctantly agree. It IS caterwaulingly screechy. However, when he sings Sweet Child - and yes, the lyrics must’ve been written by a 9-year-old with his first Valentine’s Day crush - I still adore the song. As for Mike Ness of Social Distortion - well, I wouldn’t call it “singing” per se, but I love his voice. His punk-a-billy “I been down so long it looks like up to me” songs with their 3 chords and no changes are completely addictive. Live he is wonderful - his Les Paul '54 Goldtop Reissue with screaming P-90’s gets tone for days. If you don’t have their Live at the Roxy CD you should get it before you see them - their live version of Prison Bound is a personal fave. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/15 "2005-03-01T14:21:07Z")
Babyland. I really like the beats and the synths they use, but I have trouble getting through an album because of the singer’s “I-sound-like-I’m-16-and-my-voice-hasn’t-quite-changed-yet-and-also-I-can’t-really-sing-so-I’ll-just-scream-every-word” voice. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/16 "2005-03-01T14:36:13Z")
Dream Theater. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/17 "2005-03-01T14:41:02Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Ah, **BBVLou** - once more we find where our tastes intersect then diverge!! I am a complete sucker for Axl’s voice - hurl any insult at it you want, and I am probably going to reluctantly agree. It IS caterwaulingly screechy. However, when he sings Sweet Child - and yes, the lyrics must’ve been written by a 9-year-old with his first Valentine’s Day crush - I still adore the song. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I do like G’n F’n R! “Sweet Child O Mine” is a triumphant song! But Slash was the main draw of that band for me, and even though Axl’s voice works with the music more often than not, he just doesn’t have the kind of voice I usually like. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/18 "2005-03-01T16:15:50Z")
Cosign on that Counting Crows comment. Exceedingly irritating. “rouuund here, we stay up very very very late”. _gag_ I’ll add Kyuss. Great great music, but Garcia’s vocals were sorely lacking for the caliber of music they were playing. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/19 "2005-03-01T17:23:49Z")
Bob Dylan at his peak was a fantastic songwriter, but what moron told Dylan he could _sing_? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384/20 "2005-03-01T17:34:32Z")
I’ll have to say Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. I can take each song they do individually, but a whole album drives me bugnuts insane. One song sung by a guy with a goofy voice is a novelty. A whole album is torture. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-youd-like-more-but-for-their-lousy-singing/292384.md?page=2)