Which artist do you listen to for the voice?
 

Which artists have amazing voices? Not that the lyrics necessarily suck, but their voice is so amazing that you don't care what they are singing because of how they are singing it.

I'll start... Carole King.

I can't just name one:

Alison Krauss :up:
Bjork
Sade

Two voices pop into my mind off the top of my head, but in general one thing that can "qualify" a band for me (hell, one of the most important things) is that the voice be at LEAST tolerable. More often than not I'd prefer the singer to be exactly that...but listening to today's metal that's a roll of the dice. The two names who came to mind:

Mike Patton - Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, etc.
Brandon Boyd - Incubus

Both artists are awesome to me in that they have a great range in their voice...not necessarily in octaves, but in variety of how they sing. Both can croon/sing high end notes if need be, both can scream like it's bloody murder. So I suppose what I mean is that rather than having range/pitch/musically, they have range emotionally.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Velocity Girl...Julie Plug...

Nat King Cole :drool:

neko case

Serena Matthews.


Here is a link to my favorite song of hers (free mp3):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...56863?v=glance

I don't kow what it is about her voice, but I could listen to it for hours on end.

Ville Valo - HIM
Cedric Bixler - The Mars Volta
Chris Corner - Sneaker Pimps
A handful of female vocalists from bands such as Mazzy Star, Frou Frou, Massive Attack.

Tom Waits

Eva Cassidy

Mike Matijevic of Steelheart :D

Chris Cornell...
Harry Connick Jr.....
Sting...
That chick from Evanessance...

Josh Groban

Queensryche (Geoff Tate)
Dream Theater (James LaBrie)
Mad Season (Layne Staley)
Kenny Wayne Sheppard Band (Noah Hunt)
Ambeon (Astrid van der Veen)

Julee Cruise
Jeff Buckley

Matchbox 20 (Rob Thomas)
Mike Ness (Social Distortion)

Raul Malo (Mavericks, Los Super Seven, solo).

Not necessaraly just for the voice but boy does it play a big part.

Rob Halford - Judas Priest, Fight, Two, Solo stuff especially "Resurrection" what a great cd.

Ronnie James Dio - Black Sabbath, Rainbow and of course his solo stuff.

Bruce Dickinson - Iron Maiden, Solo stuff

Rod Stewart

Bryan Adams

Eddie Money

Amy Lee - Evanescance

Alannah Myles

Stevie Nicks - Fleetwood Mac, Solo stuff

Layne Stayley - Alice In Chains, Mad Season

C.J. Snare - Firehouse

Gwen Stefani - No Doubt, Solo stuff

Steve Perry - Journey, Solo stuff

Michael Sweet - Stryper

Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin, Solo stuff

Lionel Richie

Sade

Jimi Jamison - Survivor

David Coverdale - Whitesnake, Coverdale/Page

I don't listen to anybody JUST for the voice but here are some amazing voices:

Julee Cruise (already named. An amazing voice on this woman. It is like listening to air it is so breezy).

Nina Simone (this woman just melts me in her vocal range and how it quivers on some notes)

Eva Cassidy (again, already mentioned but damn! Her version of Over The Rainbow is stunning)

Chet Baker ('nuff said)

Freddie Mercury (take a listen to You Take My Breath away or some of his solo stuff to see why)

Johnny Cash (the best country voice out there, in my opinion)

Maria Calas (opera at its best)

Tom Waits (more the early stuff...think Ruby's Arms)

Emily Sailers or Amy Ray (amazing harmonies!)

Simon and Garfunkle (see above)

Others that spring to mind:

Sinatra

Nick Cave

Leonard Cohen

Joni Mitchell

Nick Drake

Billie Holiday

Maria McKee

Sting
Barry White....no one can beat his voice.Is he talking or singing :)

Eddie Vedder
Heather Nova
Nicola Hitchcock (Mandalay)
Dido
Layne Staley (Alice In Chains)

Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Nina Simone
Diana Krall
Sarah McLachlan
Tori Amos
Bjork
Jonatha Brooke

Don't get me wrong, the music is what makes it, but the voice completes it.



Martin Sexton
Alison Krauss
The Sundays
Norah Jones
Dolly Parton
Rob Halford


and that she-male dude or whatever from American Idol. ;)