# Unique mainstream music artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041 "2004-11-28T22:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041/1 "2004-11-28T22:15:04Z")
In the world of mainstream rock, country, R&B, or whatever, what artists are out there that have a pretty unique sound to them? For me, I mostly listen to rock or easy listening. Well, I haven’t heard much new easy listening lately, but as for rock, I can think of two bands and one artists that I don’t think sound too much like anybody else I haven’t heard a single from these first two in a while, but they’re still worth mentioning. 1. **Beck** - Singer of such songs as _Looser_ and _Devil’s Haircut_. About the only song I’ve heard from him that sounds mainstream (I’ve only heard his songs on the radio) was _Sex Laws_. 2. **Cake** - Except for _The Distance_ I find there sound very unique, and my wife has one of their albums, so I know that’s what they sound like in general. And finally, a band that actually put a single recently: 1. **System of a Down** - My wife noted that they have a unique way of harmonizing, and I have to agree. Also, I also find that the way the lead singer himself sings is somewhat unique, in my opinion anyway. So, what singers or bands do you like, that get mainstream radio airplay, and/or get their music videos played on MTV/M2/VH1/Fuse, or whatever, but yet, still don’t sound like all the rest? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041/2 "2004-11-29T03:39:38Z")
Wow, nobody knows of any artists that stand out from the rest? On **The Soup** they showed a clip from the Country Music Awards of 6’5" rapper Cowboy Troy. Now, I don’t listen to country, but even I know that that’s pretty unique in the world of country music. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041/3 "2004-11-29T03:44:47Z")
**Beck Beck Beck** (we call him Beck Beckwall in our home) He does it all. Last concert we saw of his (besides Coachella, which was a bit of a nightmare scene), he actually sang “It’s getting hot in heeeeere” or whatever the song is called, and he did a great job of it. My favorite lyric of his has to do with _hepatitis contact lens_. Can’t wait for his next CD. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041/4 "2004-11-29T04:30:09Z")
Macy Gray and Norah Jones are both pretty distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-mainstream-music-artists/277041/5 "2004-11-29T04:50:41Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Macy Gray and Norah Jones are both pretty distinctive. I’ve heard a Norah Jones song and…well, I’ll be nice, she is distinctive.