On the classical front, Peter Pears and Kathleen Ferrier had extraordinary-sounding voices. And Cathy Berberian, who I’m sure I mentioned yesterday in another thread, who had one of the most versatile voices on the planet.
I’ll second Macy Gray and Tom Waits (and I’m going to hear the new TW album tonight! Woohoo!).
Ferron. I’ve always found it hard to describe her voice without giving up and playing a song. (“Ain’t Life a Brook” subscription required I believe for sound clips.)
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell
I despair of this act ever getting the recognition that they deserved, but:
If you enjoy listening to the singing of Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, get a hold of Geneva’s first album, ‘Further’. In particular I recommend the track ‘Worry Beads’.
C’mon people. This discussion begins and ends with Geddy Lee.
Alex Lifeson: “When we started people didn’t know what to make of us. We were just sort of known as this band that ripped off Zeppelin and had a singer with a crazy voice.”
Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) has a pretty unique voice.
Paul Robeson.
Can a human voice go any deeper?
Aimee Mann has an unusual voice. It’s either very deep or very high.
Kate Bush was the other lady who comes to mind. Unlike fishbicycle her voice didn’t grow on me. I still think she sounds like Minnie Mouse on helium.
Lucinda Williams.
While she doesn’t a classically beautiful voice, I find her very compelling and soulful. Kinda like a female Willie Nelson.
King Diamond has a pretty unique operatic falsetto. His albums are pretty unique too, they tell spooky gothic horror stories as a whole. Makes for some Hoary Halloween Headbangin’-- The album Abigail was my favorite.
Liz Phair has a bizarre voice. But it works.
I always thought Sinead O’Connor has a weird singing style (she has a beautiful voice). She hits her notes straight-on, without vibrato. I think that is pretty cool. Bjork and Laetitia Sadier (from Stereolab) also do this.
How could we go this far in the thread without mentioning Janis Joplin?
If you are interested in groaners, try Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. Mahlathini is a famous South African groaner, singing in front of the lovely soprano Mahotella Queens. Try the song “Thokozile”, one of the happiest songs ever.
Neil Young has one of those voices where you could credibly argue that he can’t sing at all. I generally don’t like his solo work, though I think he sounds good when singing with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash.
Pete Townshend also has one of those voices. But I love to listen to him.
Diamanda Galas. Her version of Amazing Grace is simultaneously painful and astounding to listen to.
John Prine
The lead singer for Sparks
I suppose Warren Zevon might qualify.
Louis Armstrong, Tone Loc, Michael Jackson, the recent late great Barry White.
I don’t know if he should count because it’s an affectation but Les Claypool of Primus sounds like a cartoon hillbilly.
Victoria Williams’ voice is thin, strained, and high.
Well, to be fair, her voice did get deeper as she got older.
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues. If he isn’t drunk, he’s on the way there.
You lucky person! Please tell us all about it! Start a new thread! Tom Waits is my favorite musician. When is this new album coming out for the rest of us proles?
Trent Reznor - Nine Inch Nails. The man has an ear-bendingly nasal TWANG to his voice BUT what he DOES with that voice is what makes his vocal performance perfect for getting his lyrics across.
There’s Jon Anderson of Yes. And it’s his actual voice, it’s not a falsetto thing. Quite enjoyable in the right setting.