General Kenobi Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Ok, the music forum needs help! I thought we could make a thread for the female vocal fans, something that could be bumped with new stuff as time goes on. To keep this easy on the eyes and those who are looking to find some new female vocal music let's limit the number of artists/bands that you recommend to a total of 5. I'll set up a format that can be pasted so we have a bit more than a list of names and albums. Artist: Album: File Under: Recommended For Fans Of: Artist Website: Sample Listen: Music Best For: Reviews: My Thoughts: Artist: Splashdown (aka Melissa Kaplan) yes some of you know my love for her voice from another forum Album: Blueshift, Possibilities, Stars and Garters File Under: Electronic/Rock/Chill/Something really cool I don't even know about Recommended For Fans Of: Beth Orton, Jem, Imogen Heap, Poe Artist Website: The band has since broken up but good news is you can legally download all their stuff for free http://www.sadena.com/music/splashdown/index.html Sample Listen: See above and check out Mayan Pilot, Sugar High, and 50% Music Best For: Anything! Reviews: Hard to find but they were a much loved underground band with a very unique flavor My Thoughts: My #1 favorite female vocalist, she sounds like no one else and I never get sick of listening to her. Her voice is very diverse and she has an amazing variety of dynamics. She now sings for Universal Hall Pass http://www.universalhallpass.com/sounds.html Artist: Jem Album: Finally Woken File Under: Rock/Pop/Acoustic/Alt Recommended For Fans Of: Splashdown, Rachael Yamagata, Poe Artist Website: http://www.jem-music.net/ Sample Listen: Amazon.com: Finally Woken: Jem: Music Music Best For: Anything! Reviews: see link above My Thoughts: Refreshing! Wonderful voice with catchy melodies and a good variety of tracks that rock and sooth. Artist: Clare Fader & The Vaudevillains Album: Seventh and Trade, The Elephants Baby File Under: Jazz/Blues/World/??? Recommended For Fans Of: Katie Melua, Janet Klein, Artist Website: http://www.clarefader.com/listen.html Sample Listen: see above Music Best For: It's pretty mellow so good for background and relaxed listening Reviews: check amazon My Thoughts: Different but very addictive! A++++ for style, mood, variety, and dynamics! All list a couple more later, what can you share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 I will definitely be contributing to this thread (I agree, the music forum needs help), but just wanted to pipe in for now and say I really dig that Jem album -- so much so that I went and saw her live. Pretty snappy live. Will probably post some of these: Beth Gibbons...Halou...Feist...Sigur Ros (J/K)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Kenobi Posted March 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 It takes a little time to copy, paste, and add all th info so it is a minor PITA but this could be a good female vocal resource. Something that goes beyond a list of names and albums that have no genre or real meaning to readers trying to sift through what they may like or dislike. So do come back and add your favs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 Artist: Jenifer Smith (also records as Code Mesa) Album: Code Mesa (most easily obtainable album; recorded as Jenifer Smith [note: only one 'n' in Jenifer]...yes, it's confusing -- link is to half.com, whereat one can obtain the album for 0.75 + shipping -- it's worth it) File Under: alternative, pop Recommended For Fans Of: "Where Hides Sleep" by Alison Moyet; Remain In Light-era Talking Heads without the percussion and David Byrne; Philip Glass as performed by vocalists Artist Website: http://www.codemesa.com/ Sample Listen: Plague Dogs, others (directly from the source, so legal) Music Best For: listening Reviews: My Thoughts: Completely under-rated -- you can only get her one album easily -- I was lucky enough to get CD Select 1 & 2 directly from her (my "reward" for "finding" her, she says -- really nice and humble), so effectively only have two albums by her, but need to get everything else she's ever recorded. If you're in the Rhode Island area, she collaborates a lot, and is an active member of the local music scene there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Artist: Sarah Slean Album: Night Bugs File Under: Jazzy weird piano babe rock Recommended For Fans Of: Cute Canadian singer chicks Artist Website: http://sarahslean.com/ Sample Listen: There's some on her site, but they're off another album Music Best For: Chillin' relaxing, letting your thoughts wander Reviews: http://www.newbeats.com/sleaninterview.html My Thoughts: She writes timeless music and has a pretty unique voice. Like Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan, you're not going to mistake her songs for anyone else. See if you can find a sample of "Sweet Ones" somewhere, even if you have to piss off the RIAA. Did I mention she's cute? She's cute. Mmmmm...Sarah.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 Artist: Elysian Fields Album: Elysian Fields, Dreams That Breathe Your Name, Bleed Your Cedar, Queen of the Meadow File Under: Noir-Rock Recommended For Fans Of: Dark, moody music with sultry vocals... I can't think of another band quite like them. Artist Website: http://www.elysianmusic.com/ seems to be the best choice. Sample Listen: ?Black Acres? from Queen of the Meadow Music Best For: Relaxing, driving or plugging away at work. Reviews: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:6xkzu3tgan6k My Thoughts: Jennifer Charles? voice over Oren Bloedow?s music creates an atmosphere hard to find anywhere else. Also worth checking out is her work on Chris Vrenna?s project Tweaker, where her work on ?Crude Sunlight? from 2 A.M. Wakeup Call is a highlight of the album. Artist: Nina Nastasia Album: Dogs, The Blackened Air, Run To Ruin File Under: Sparse and haunting Recommended For Fans Of: Patty Griffin, Mazzy Star, Neko Case I guess... Artist Website: http://www.tgrec.com/bands/band.php?id=15 Sample Listen: ?A Dog?s Life? & ?Nobody Knew Her? from Dogs, ?Run, All You?? & everything else from The Blackened Air Music Best For: Anything, really.. Reviews: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:t2ke4j874waq My Thoughts: Some of the best productions I?ve heard, the instrumentation and vocals are perfectly suited to the songs. I would have to say The Blackened Air kind of feels like a companion piece to Bonnie ?Prince? Billy?s (Will Oldham) I See A Darkness, where there is endless beauty to be found in the dark and ominous songs. These take longer than I thought... I'll put some thoughts together on some more and write them up when I have a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 Thanks for the recommendations guys I'm going to check out some of these albums, keep em coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessingx Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 I'm a bit lazy to cross-reference bands, etc. So ignore if you want, but my big finds over the last few years are: Kate Rusby - Little Lights, Ten Hem - Rabbit Songs, Eveningland Cesaria Evora - self-titled, Very Best Of Gillian Welch - Time (the Revelator), Soul Journey Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, Blacklisted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiWire Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Jane Monheit... both her current Sony album and her back-catalogue, including the new hits collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Artist: Madeleine Peyroux Album: Careless Love File Under: jazz, easy listening Recommended For Fans Of: Billie Holiday, Diana Krall Artist Website: madeleinepeyroux.com Sample Listen: artist website Music Best For: pretending you're a fan of Billie Holiday Reviews: google for it My Thoughts: I don't typically like this genre of music, but something about Madeleine Peyroux really struck something...I don't know, listen for yourself, judge for yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Artist: Halou Album: Wiser, or the soon to be released Wholeness & Separation File Under: indietronica Recommended For Fans Of: mellower Lush, poppier Seefeel, Curve, Lamb, et al Artist Website: pretty straightforward, also myspace Sample Listen: new album (see either of the above sites, they're pushing it pretty hard) Music Best For: late night headphone listening My Thoughts: her voice makes my toes curl -- in a good way. I love that "girly" kind of voice. Plus, they write the greatest alterna-pop songs. Note: they're doing a live show in Frisco on 4/1 -- if you're in the area, go, I will envy you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Artist: Artemis Album: Gravity, Undone File Under: Trip-Hop, Electronica, Down-tempoish Recommended For Fans Of: Music, life, love, hot chicks singing about mystical universe ype stuff, Portishead, Daughter Darling Artist Website: http://www.artemis.fm/ Sample Listen: "Undone," "Fountain of Life," "Angel," "Beautiful Life" Music Best For: Chilling out and relaxing Reviews: My Thoughts: I heard this album at Hirsch's place and fell in love immediately. Her voice is heavenly and the soundscapes are wonderous....or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Artist: Patty Griffin Album: Living With Ghosts, Flaming Red, 1,000 Kisses, Impossible Dream File Under: Folky Singer-Songwriter Recommended For Fans Of: Strong character-based songs with stunning vocals with a folk/blues/alt-country edge. Artist Website: http://www.pattygriffin.com/ (official), http://www.pattygriffin.net/ (unofficial) Sample Listen: ?Forgiveness? from Living With Ghosts, ?Change? and "Blue Sky" from Flaming Red, ?Rain" and "Making Pies? from 1,000 Kisses, "Useless Desires" & "Top Of The World" from Impossible Dream Music Best For: Relaxing, or just settling in for some great listening. Reviews: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jqk0ikz6bb69 My Thoughts: Patty Griffin is an amazing songwriter. Everything from her acoustic tracks to full-on rockers hits with an emotional intensity that's difficult to describe. Perhaps her strongest asset is her voice, which can go from innocent and vulnerable to angry and full of intensity on command. I cant' stand don't care for Dave Matthews, but I do have to thank him for signing her to his label, ATO, after she was dropped by her previous label. The two albums she's recorded with ATO are stunning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.