I’d have to say Jerry Garcia (listen to Ramblin’ Rose from Europe '72) and Willie Nelson (Poncho and Lefty)
Did I ever tell you guys that my mom looks just like Willie Nelson? Its kinda freaky, but so is she.
peace,
JB
80 replies so far and the most praise Eddie Vedder has gotten has been that he “…deserves a mention”! The man deserves much more than a mention. He has one of the most versatile voices in all of music. He can scream out a total rock song like Spin the Black Circle one minute and then the next minute he’s sounding incredibly passionate on a song like Black or Yellow Ledbetter. No wonder so many of the radio rock bands going today try to sound like him. Often imitated but never duplicated indeed.
And for all of us Canadians, Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip has a great voice. Even more so when you get to see him live, thrashing around like a madman.
Pete Yorn. What I’ve heard so far (Life on a Chain and For Nancy) sounds pretty good.
Peace,
mangeorge
I’m putting in another vote for Adam Duritz here. I can’t help but be moved when I hear this part of “I’m Not Sleeping”:
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again some other day,
'Cause I’ve got all this shit to say
And I’ve gone back to find my way.
I also highly enjoy Thom Yorke’s voice. Though it can get just a tad whiny at times, “Fake Plastic Trees” makes up for it entirely, especially the last few lines.
Oh yes, pick up musicforthemorningafter. Best Buy, $9.99
“Lose You,” “Sleep Better,” “On Your Side,” and “Simonize.”
All around, a great cd and worth the low price.
Elizabeth Fraser. Her voice is so beautiful in “Teardrop” in Massive Attack’s album, Mezzanine.
Here are the vocalists that get to me. I love their voices.
Allison Krauss
Peter Gabriel
Sarah McLachlan
Martina McBride
Elvis
Hmm, a few people who’ve been forgotten in this thread…
Mercedes Sosa
Cesaria Evora
B.B. King
Fritz Wunderlich (Best. Singer. Ever.)
Barbara
Jacques Brel
And sereval other fine musicians who have already been mentioned.
Genseric wrote:
You have got to be kidding me.
I just listened through Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush, and it was like listening to falsetto fingernails being scraped across a helium-filled chalkboard.
A few months ago on the Tribute to Brian Wilson special thingy, Vince Gill sang I forget which Beach Boys song, but I pretty much fell out of my chair at how he sounded. I had NO idea he sang like that! I could babble on for awhile about the clear, perfect, sweet quality but I won’t.
I also think that Iris Dement on her Infamous Angel cd singing Our Town is wonderfully moving. She sang this song at the end of the last episode of Northern Exposure.
Nanci Griffith and Suzanne Vega have always been able to stop me in my tracks. Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins has been able to cause potentially fatal heart palpatations if I catch her at the right moment…
The guys who’s voices have left their marks on me would be Bob Mould, Tim Buckley, Gram Parsons, Alex Chilton, and Paul McCartney.
chris whitley
every album is has a different sound than the last, and his voice is one of a kind. i’d know it anywhere.
Can’t believe this is the only mention of Eva Cassidy.
Other faves:
Nina Simone
Janis Joplin
Karen Carpenter
kd lang