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how many times did they play on top of buckingham palace whilst the singer was alive?
I rest my case

lol

However, I think I might like these new puritans, were it not for the vocalist.

Whatever. If you like Plant's voice, good to you.

STOP IT Efrim.

Hopefully they sort it out for the next one.

Stock answer for this question.

Quite a lot of indie band singers have shit voices, all weak and wobbly - Ian Brown springs to mind. But this is what makes them unique, the Stone Roses would be shite if they had some perfect X Factor singer who could hit and hold notes like noone's business.

they're great but I can listen to a couple of songs before vocals start to grate. I have the same problem with Belle & Sebastian.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaah!
XD

"Depends on definition of poor really"
Let's say annoying voices.

but his voice was perfect for those songs

Guy's great though and is one of my favourite singers.

would be a very valid answer. Even if one doesn't get put off by Stuart's voice, there is only so much you can take before it grates.

And I like B&S!

I tried to like Dirty Projectors' music. The vocals...

But on some of the slower ones like Birthday Pony and Shut The Door, I find it really grating.

Anything annoying repeated enough times become pleasant...

True story.

Ian Brown had the presence and charisma, and he's a great lyricist. But he's a decent singer at best - he has far more self-belief than talent or technique. The other three in the band are all geniuses at their instruments, though, so they probably make him look worse than he is.

But it sounds good enough.

By poor vocalists I meant more like annoying vocalists. Great instrumentals, annoying voices. Ian Brown's voice is definitely not annoying.

ahahahaha this board

But on some of their songs his voice doesn't really work.

I just can't tell what he was trying to achieve with the bad American sneer and terrible tuning, and it was much much worse for being thrown over thoughtful and well-produced music like an afterthought.

99% of the hatred I feel for this band can be chalked up to Axl Rose's voice.

Even if you find early Thorpe too much, he toned it down and was quite gorgeous on Smother. And there's always the Fleming songs.

wish he just left it all to Liam, and any songs that would have sounded shit with Liam singing he could have just saved for his solo stuff. It was an odd setup in a way, Liam just had to sit down or play a tambourine during a load of songs.

And I have no idea why.

Sometimes his weedy voice works perfectly with the songs, other times you wish someone with a pair of lungs and/or balls would have a crack at it.

Still I don't find Noel Gallagher's voice to be annoying. For example, it fits very well on his collaborations with The Chemical Brothers: "Let Forever Be" & "Setting Sun".

17 x a
14 x h
2 x l
1 x o

Total: 34 characters

is so amazing too

i got on with his voice eventually but man what a band behind it

The band would be so much better with a better vocalist. The instrumental part of their songs is well done.

I can like some of the music but the vocal 'grunting' style or the full on screaming does my head in.

I find them to be annoying. In my opinion. Your opinion could be different, of course.

Neutral Milk Hotel's vocalist is fairly horrendous but I think that's where the charm lies.
Also Win Butler struggles to sing with Arcade Fire, but then again, on tracks like Tunnels, that's the beauty of it, the cracked vocal.

Too much screaming/grunting/growling = crap.

Bad voice, godly lyricist, totally bad shit crazy.

Their singer (the very cute Eva Spence) has a nice voice. But instead singing she mostly screams/growls like she saw the devil. Too bad, because I like the instrumental of their songs. I know that is supposed to be in their music genre, but still... I hope that they will move to a softer sound (less screaming) in the future.

sha-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-knees as good as him

really?

Can't wait

They wouldn't be the same band without it.

I think the fact that you express such a strong preference for either vocal-less electronic music or impassive vocals (Ladytron, Depeche Mode, etc) suggests you have a problem with expressiveness or emotional deliver in music. I remember feeling that way as an awkward teenager.

Put on some flamboyant clothing and try Wild Beasts. That'll sort you out.

whilst thinking that Robert Plant is bad? I'm not sure if you could be MORE wrong. Liam Gallagher is one of the worst things about Oasis, and Oasis are horrendous.

Him, matt berninger and daryl palumbo have written some of my favourite lyrics.

"you express such a strong preference for either vocal-less electronic music or impassive vocals"

Please, don't get me wrong. I listen also to music where the vocals are in foreground (Pink Floyd, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kasabian, Goldfrapp, Massive Attack, Crystal Castles, Garbage, LCD Soundsystem, School of Seven Bells, The Kills, Metric, The Cure, The Knife, Robyn, Curve, Oasis, Blur, The Stone Roses, Lacuna Coil, Metallica, Deep Purple, Guano Apes, Arcade Fire, The Horrors etc). To be in foreground, these vocals must sound good to me. I'm pretentious when it comes to vocals.

And the vocalists of these bands mentioned above are expressive and deliver emotion. The same could be said about Depeche Mode & Ladytron, despite appearing as emotionless on a quick listen. The emotion is just more hidden.

matt bellamy would've known to reign it in

just always found his lyrics to be fairly weak/embarrassing

tf?

Different brains, different opinions.

Ian Curtis's voice is the only reason I don't like them. I should like them, but he stops me.

"But instead singing she mostly screams/growls like she saw the devil"

You seem to be under the misapprehension that this is somehow a bad thing.

incredible vocal work in the Dirty Projectors

;)

He's clearly a good singer but he *definitely* knows it and tries too hard. It gets annoying, I usually end up wishing he'd shut up and let the women sing.

I mean I've got used to them but

over-enunciated suvvern accent+speech impedimentxinability to hit notes=ugh

Why would I listen to music that it's unpleasant to my brain? I don't want to prove anything, I just want to enjoy my music, not to make me want to throw the TV...

You'll be very sad. No fun for you.

XD

Now there's a vocalist I don't like

Can't listen to more than one and a half songs before her voice makes me want to kill myself. Or her.

Although they're probably not that good a band anyway. Mediocre with the odd decent single.

Almost so bad it's good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJQk0jDZx8o

His voice fits very well the song. It's hard to not like this song. I'm serious.

I have no idea where I got Daniel Radcliffe from either...

Easy target. I don't care what others think about them.

Just like Muse, I still think they would be better with a better vocalist.

Didn't bother me that much all those years ago. Find it unlistenable now.

STOP SHOUTING!

Yeah.

Would put a bit more effort in some times. E.g. Harry patch or *controversial* motion picture soundtrack.

His voice is PERFECT for that song.

I feel like the only thing I have to contribute to this thread that hasn't already been said is my opinions on why people are crazy for their opinions.

In any case, I think Longstreth and the girls have AMAZING voices. And Bitte Orca highlighted all of it.

All my favorite singers couldn't sing.

I think he's wonderful. Sometimes I wish his band were as good as him tbh.

I like Thom's vocals

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/and-not-a-single-fuck-was-given-that-day-guitar-war.jpg

Bullet with butterly wings etc.

Do you see words like hot, sexy, gorgeous, etc? Just a plain "very cute". Now, you're telling me that she's not cute? ;)

not that funny

nope

you big fucken Zeppo lol

XD

This is a weird one - her voice is kinda underwhelming I suppose (especially live) but it doesn't really seem distinctive enough to be suicide-inducing.

...but unfortunately acts like MUSE must exist... my reasoning being that we need the diabolical in order for us to appreciate that which is not diabolical... hence MUSE and many like them fulfill that pivotal 'necessary evil' role. and in fairness to MUSE, they are very good in that role... oscar worthy, even.

Her voice is fucking gorgeous, especially on the last album. Listen to Away With Murder for example, an average song turned into a great one by her vocal performance.

Kick-ass rhythm section, then that prick Weller comes in honking all over it like a teenage Arthur Mullard.

I HATE that caterwauling of hers!! Seems to me Dead Kennedys had a horrible vocalist too, Pudding Somebody, don't remember, couldn't be bothered to listen. David Thomas of Pere Ubu. And as of about 2 years back, that Bjork guy gets on my nerves.

All manner of wrong here.

Jello Biafra has an absolutely incredible voice. David Thomas' voice suits Pere Ubu perfectly. Corin Tucker is great.

She had a voice coach, I think. On the first song on The Hot Rock, she holds these clean notes for ages to show off how nice and non-screamy it is.

Then she went mental again on The Woods. LaAaAaAaAaAand HO!

a band who belong in that genre, its like moaning that cannibal corpse growl

that bjork guy

:')

I saw Mangum play last year. I thought it might be weird without the band, but it really wasn't. In fact, it made perfect sense, in a lot of ways. What I realized is that the only thing in that band that is truly, unquestionably necessary is Jeff. This is why everyone loves "Oh Comely", because it's probably the most stark song in their catalog.

To be honest though I was talking about songs like Where Boys Fear To Tread, Tonight Tonight...

(on record)

Jesus! They have one of the best female vocalists ever (Shirley Manson). Are you deaf or you're trolling?

This is the first time I see Garbage mentioned at "poor vocalists" category. I suggest you to listen again (at least their singles).

Watch these videos (btw, I can give you tons of examples):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LlfiBL0ED4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkV7pw3prD0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2SzUSgzXo (there's a bit where she sings while she's running! also Eric Avery plays bass)

Poor vocalist, eh?

Carry on.

What If Rolo Tomassi were more like an alternative rock band (The Kills, Garbage, The Joy Formidable, Yeah Yeah Yeahs etc) with normal singing (with occasional screaming allowed)? They have potential.

I can't stop laughing

Continue your idea. What would happen next?

In retrospect, she's maybe not a poor vocalist. I just find her voice unbelievably grating. Others don't.

I guess you didn't see my post on that NIN topic. I said that I like both bands a lot.

That means I know all their discography from A to Z (incl. rare songs). You recommend me Curve and they're one of my favorite bands of all time...

Why should you compare them? Why not listening to both? It's like you can't listen to Blur because you like Oasis. This kind of thinking is retarded.

Plus their sound seems similar on a shallow level. Here's again the main differences between these bands:

"Drums: the drums in Curve songs are much faster, powerful and repetitive. They seem more electronic and generated mostly by drum machines. Definitely influenced by industrial-rock bands like Front Line Assembly, KMFDM, NIN etc.
Bass: the Curve's bass is very prominent and throbbing. The bass in Garbage's songs is less prominent.
Guitars: very shoegaze-style, wall of sound, tons of effects for Curve (MBV-style). Garbage's guitars are much more clear and diverse in tone.
Synths: Curve used different kind of electronic sounds than Garbage. Compare for example "Coming Up Roses" with "Milk". Curve definitely used more exotic sounds, while for Garbage is more piano-sounding.
Voices: quite similar, but Shirley showed a wider range of emotions.

Conclusion: Curve are more on the industrial, shoegaze, electronic-ambient side (yes, check their ballads), while Garbage more on the alternative rock, post grunge, pop, trip-hop side."

The fight against ignorance and bad faith is tough...

Eva Spence's voice fits that perfectly.
Besides, if she sang all the time, it would detract from the completely feral aspect of the music.
Plus, it's well fun to scream along to.

"An older music fan would take pity on you..."

Since when that older music fan must necessarily take pity on me because I like other band (the irony is that I like both bands)?

Why that older music fan should like Curve and hate Garbage? Because Curve were more underground and Garbage more mainstream?

Also since when the taste in music is 100% objective and beyond any doubt?

What if that older music fan is wrong? What if that older music is biased?

DaddyorChips, pal, you seem a hipster undercover. No offense.

For you Garbage are shit and for me they're great. Deal?

Terrific band sidetracked by some of the most nasal vocals this side of your man from JJ72. I can tolerate him, just about.

Jimi Goodwin doesn't exactly have the most velvety larynx to rule them all, but at least his vocals are warm and pleasant, with an almost soulful quality to his voice. It's the aural equivalent of a bear hug. Andy on the other hand... eugh. Shrilly, stringy, whiny and borderline obnoxious. Assuming Doves haven't split up by now - please stop letting him take lead vocals, even if it's just for a couple of tracks.

Wrong on all levels:
1. "just seems like 3 industry types". Yeah right. A band that is still going strong after almost 20 years is manufactured/fake. There's a documentary on their Absolute Garbage DVD; watch it and you'll see that they are a real band. With real problems.

2. "making calculated pop music". Calculated? With what? iMac? XD

3. "...pop music". They have some pop music elements but they're not pop. A lot of their music is more rock than the usual rock bands. Just listen again.

You see, you're a typical hater that knows nothing about the band and yet you spill here your "expert" opinions. They SEEM to you "like 3 industry types making calculated pop music" but the truth is different. Don't be fooled by illusions... Cheers.

You first posted "ahahahahahahahaaaaahhahahahahah"
and below "lol"

Do you think we're stupid and we don't understand that "ahahahahahahahaaaaahhahahahahah" means laughing ("lol")? Do you really think we need translation for "ahahahahahahahaaaaahhahahahahah"? Eh?

thank god

XD

in fact owned and liked the first two albums
but i'd be pretty embarrassed to still listen to them now

You have pre-recorded patterns and standard answers. True?

Then go back and listen to your Merzbow collection. Or to non-calculated pop music. You're wasting your time on this sub-topic.

I will not tell anyone. *psssssst*

is that they *gasp* LISTEN TO MERZBOW!!!

Even if they've given no indication that they've even heard of him. And the fact that Merzbow literally doesn't have anything to do with thread.

;)

The last 25 years of noise music would like to have a word with you, I think

i don't like people who shout or are noisy

i don't like people who shout TOO MUCH or are VERY noisy (aka style over substance).

His voice has the same effect on me as someone scraping their fingernails down a blackboard

VERY

brilliant.

You are too much

Johnny "Two Note" may give the band a LOT of character with that voice of his, but it sure makes it hard to listen to a whole album.

(I like them)

that have a chance to get over 50 replies

XD

Der singer carnt even sing!!!11 Hes quiet fuinny though isn;t he!!

So, at least he's not annoying...

Also Joe Strummer from The Clash wasn't a very good singer, but his voice was good enough for the kind of music his band performed. The same for Bernard Sumner from New Order.

prolly got his feet up on the desk, smoking a cigar

Maybe I should post less...

Ian's got absolutely zero range which works for some of the angrier stuff or when he was in Minor Threat/Embrace but at times the music seems completely beyond his voice and all he does is a slightly annoying Bark.

Picciotto's voice however is always up to the challenge whatever the band throw at him, this becomes more and more evident the later they went on

Marvin Gaye
Michael Bolton

always thought Mascis had an angelic, dreamlike croon akin to a heroin chocolate christmas, whatever that might sound like (surely a good thing).

but he suits the music, so that's fine

Early Ride, anyway.
Everything was poor after about '92.

...not technically good, but yeah, his tone fits the sound like a warm glove (surely the most important thing).

I just meant technically good. We have enough technically good singers, though.

One of the best DM ballads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65PQiFfsrU

I don't think that his voice sounds "as someone scraping their fingernails down a blackboard".

My new checking into hotel pseudonym

home is so great

...'this temporary life' quoting David Berman, i would certainly agree.

a heart has never been stolen by something 'definitively good' (or at least mine hasn't...). we can all admire something technically proficient, but can you love it? i know i can't.

so yeah, enough technically good singers already!

Character and depth can be found in both types of singers imo. Technically great whilst being unique in tone/timbre seems harder to come by but I love plenty of singers that do both.

Blue Dress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZrOZBDFiMg
Judas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3phAqQeMMcc
A Question of Lust http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8iFrnGoXI
The Bottom Line http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7NXI5RCNw4
The Sweetest Perfection http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_14UyytkcM
Somebody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05qcA4KPI0k

All, wonderful songs. I don't find anything annoying with Martin Gore's voice. In fact, sometimes it sounds a lot like Dave Gahan's voice.

...but i suppose i mean that i can't love a singer just because they're technically excellent. i might love them, but it would probably be in spite of that fact, as opposed to because of it.

------------------- S E C U R I T Y B A R R I E R D O N O T C R O S S -----------------------

Freeze!

Like arguing about favourite bands on the school playground.

That's kinda exactly my point. When I think about my FAVORITE singers, I think about singers who, by all rights, aren't very good. I think about Isaac Brock, and Jeff Mangum, and Bjork. Those three are yowly. Dave Longstreth comes to mind, who I have heard described as "a cat having an epileptic seizure."

But that's what is so endearing and wonderful about them. Those people fit the music perfectly, to the point where, if replaced by someone who is TECHNICALLY great, it wouldn't sound right. I think Adele has a great voice, but I don't want her singing my Pavement songs. I want Malkmus singing them, because it makes sense.

Technically good is all well and good, but it's not everything.

This thread is excellent because a lot of it has involved examining the concept of what it is to be a good singer, in the context of a band.

Wheeler's early Ash voice is brilliant.

Just one example, "Return of White Rabbit": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dm2q2MIHnY

My favorite Ash song, by the way.

I guess I was right about Bjork tho, huh?

maybe a duet lp with him & Corin Tucker

The Evens, dude.

his singing voice is quite pretty in a simplistic, humble way.

(switched note for 'immense'. that's range!).

he's the whole point of the band. it's his voice plus accompaniment.

I think his vocals work really well with the music (on Hidden).

(especially live) but I never thought the early stuff sounded bad.

Really pains me to say it as they're one of my favourite bands, but Sarah Cracknell could only hit about half the notes when I saw them last Christmas.

Still an incredibly fun gig though. And it doesn't affect their albums, unlike the bloke from Hope of the States...

but his voice has clearly been auto-tuned to buggery on a lot of those songs

Brian Molko isn't a bad singer exactly: it's the pitch and tone. Every You Every Me is a great tune, but I really don't like the 'every meeee' bits in it, which is like every other line. But then, the fact he isn't a power singer means the band had to work around it and write better songs in order to rock - Pure Morning, Scared of Girls etc.

I'm basing this entirely off their first three albums, by the way - he could sound like Barry White now for all I know.

And the things his says/sings with it.

:(

Brilliant band, but the guy's screaming does my head in after a while. Obviously it's very emotive an' that, but it still sounds a bit shit.

That dude can't sing properly. I'd say his voice is quite annoying.

faris badwan otherwise known as the foghorn - how can people enjoy that noise?
radiohead - everything post kid a. his voice makes everything a pile of ear hurting shrill crap

The Cure
Hot Chip