Those Voices

[schmerica]

New music post, inspired by the fact that I seem to be falling under the spell of Joanna Newsom's weird-ass music!

Of course, Joanna Newsom is notorious for having one of Those Voices -- that is, the really divisive kind. The kind that makes people automatically sort themselves out into two categories: those who think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, and those who would rather stab themselves in the ear with a spoon than be forced to listen to it ever again.

Those Voices are also noted for frequently making people react by, when you try to pimp to them, apologetically telling you that it seems like really good music underneath, but that VOICE--

The first, most classic example for me is Bob Dylan, probably due to my dad's loud complaints and developed mocking voice throughout my childhood. I think Corin Tucker's vibrato is a thing of beauty, but it seems to be too much for a lot of people -- especially if you start them with Dig Me Out. For me, personally, I tried listening to the debut album from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah a couple of months ago, during the height of their indie hype, and got through about a song and a half before the shuddering got to be too much and I had to give up.

Who else would you guys put in this category? Colin Meloy, Rufus Wainwright, Kimya Dawson? Many, many, many people who are NOT indie folks from the 90s and I am totally blanking on, so I will feel like a total idiot as soon as you mention them? Educate me, please, friends list!

Comments

[runpunkrun]

Definitely Dar Williams, possibly The Nields, maybe Aimee Mann.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Dude, I had no idea people got worked up over Dar Williams' voice! For some reason I always just assumed she was in the "neutral/pretty" category.

[runpunkrun]

I had to get over her voice before I could like her. I'd put it on the far end of "screechy/baby voice." A little too nasal to be neutral.

Ah, speaking of screechy/baby voice, add Bree Sharp to that list. Though probably only former X-Files fans actually know who she is.

[visionshadows.livejournal.com]

Robert Plant and Dave Matthews are my big ones. I can't stand either of them AT. ALL. I'd rather stab myself in the ear many, many times instead of listening. I really have a hard time listening to Loreena McKennitt, Stevie Nicks, and occasionally Wayne Coyne.

However, I love people like Erin McKeown, Patti Smith, and Thom Yorke, all of whom I've had people ask me to turn off very, very quickly.

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

What's odd about Kimya Dawson's voice?

When I think of voices that are unique I think: Kate Bush (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wxWatcP8Mao&search=kate%20bush%20wuthering).

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I totally only included Kimya Dawson because of how bugfuck crazy people get over Moldy Peaches. I guess that's less voice than the whole package, though.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

David Byrne! The Johns of TMBG. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats.

[ngaio]

Johnny Cash when he covers things, I love it but one of my collegues thought it was awful.

[lorem_ipsum]

Bjork. She makes me want to kill things.

[miriam-heddy.livejournal.com]

ditto

[karabou.livejournal.com]

Bright Eyes, Placebo, The Decemberists - the singers, of course, whose names I can't come up with at the moment because I am dead tired. I love them, though.

Weird voice I can't stand is the singer of Blink-182, not indie, no, but his voice is so frelling awful.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Singer of the Decemberists is Colin Meloy -- I mentioned him in the post, actually!

[karabou.livejournal.com]

XD Well, there you go. *reaffirms*

[spainja.livejournal.com]

People I like: Kim Richey. Smashing Pumpkins. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.

People I sometimes like, depending on the song: Rachel Yamagata, Sarah McGlaughlin, Ani DiFranco

People who make me reach for the spoon: John Mayer. Tori Amos. Ani DiFranco. Five for Fighting (and any other helium-voiced male)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

See, I think of Ani Difranco as one of the people who are just super divisive in GENERAL -- like, not so much just the voice as everything about her music and performing.

[janet-carter.livejournal.com]

Alanis Morissette. Neil Young. Leonard Cohen.

(Huh, I'm thinking Canadian this morning).

[brooklinegirl.livejournal.com]

the nields, definitely: a TON of people find their voices grating, which I just DO NOT GET. Kasey Chambers, weirdly: a few people I have tried to turn on to her music cannot get past her voice. They call her whiney. People have no fucking taste. Losers.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I think some people are also put off by how slightly young and cutesy Kasey Chambers sounds sometimes, which. Whatever!

[miriam-heddy.livejournal.com]

yoko ono.

[tingler.livejournal.com]

Edie Brickell is one. It's not that I can't stand her voice--I actually like it and most of her music--it's just that I don't want to hear more than one or two of her songs in a row. My boys were making me listen to Eisely the other day and I liked them just fine, but really, about three songs were enough.Bright Eyes definitely falls into that category for me as well. My boys were making me listen to Eisely the other day and I liked them just fine, but really, about three songs were enough.

In fact, there's a *bunch* of singers I like that fall into that category, most of whom are listed in these comments. I guess that's why God made Sirius radio.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS. Oh, John Darnielle.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Hmm, someone already cited the Johns from TMBG, so...Tom Waits, Diamanda Galas, Thom Yorke.

[sloganeer.livejournal.com]

macy gray. that she became mainstream with that voice, i still don't know how.