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spacedye
11/02/2007, 01:04
The music scene seems to be populated mostly by male performers. Sure, you get your chicks on occasion, but those usually fall under the pop genre anyway. There are quite a few leading ladies, however, that switch their style up and go head to head with whatever else the genre holds.

So the point of this topic is to reveal and discuss your favorite female vocalists. Feel free to post samples.

Joanna Newsom

I know I've mentioned her a few times, but I'll still start with her because she's #1 to me. Not best ever of anyone, but rather the #1 girl performer and still one of my favorite in any category. For the opening section of her career it was just her and a harp. I have a lot of respect for people who can do it all themselves and Joanna definitely falls into that category. Lately she's thrown other members into her music and it still sounds fantastic, but the raw feeling of her early stuff is what I love; her and a harp in her apartment, all recorded on one layer with basic equipment.

Note: Some may be turned off by her voice, especially the first track here. Her voice progresses and becomes more controlled later and it changes the feeling of her music a lot.

Sadie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvSMfhjt4A)

Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVx_kVtFI9E)

Monkey & Bear (with band) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZvLwMWh3Y0)


Tilly & The Wall

Another band I've mentioned once or twice is Tilly & The Wall. Not a single performer, but rather a group of mostly girls. They fall into the indie/pop genre, I'd say, but they sound different than any other band I can think of.

The biggest draw may sound like sort of a gimmick but it works greatly. What I'm talking about is the percussion; tap dancing. Most songs do away with your standard drum kit and instead have a tap dancer providing the beat. It really adds another layer and a ton of uniqueness to their music. Very happy, very upbeat and makes you want to dance, even if you hate dancing.

Rainbows in the Dark (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZCZRTcY3uA)

Fell Down the Stairs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cShC3JJdgGk) (dumb video, but the only good one of the song I could find)

Pash/ABF incoming in 3, 2, 1...

Red_Skull_XIII
11/02/2007, 14:30
Heart. Plain and simple.

Though Grace Slick and Sandy Denny were good too.

BudPalmer
11/02/2007, 14:35
Aimee Mann

Liz Phair (before she tried to sell out)

The BoyBlunder
11/02/2007, 15:19
Mimi Parker

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uvufaL5B_iM

lensnart
11/02/2007, 17:07
I linked it up for y'all so check it out.


Carrie Brownstein (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beuJhQMf1U8) and Corrin Tucker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FryjeOwBbvQ) from Sleater Kinney, top any list I make.

though here they are closely followed by:
Alison Shaw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5sJVXXYVPA) of the Cranes and Kim Gordon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4BsnXmJaI) of Sonic Youth

I also really like:
Amiee Mann, Tori Amos, Liz Phair (on Exile in Guyville) and Kate Nash and Lily Allen (because I dig the accent)

SaferSephiroth
11/02/2007, 20:34
M2M tie for my favorite, if they count as separate entities.

Drunky
11/02/2007, 22:04
Janis Joplin. And if dead ones are not allowed, I'll go with Jefferson Airplane's singer, whose name I can't remember right now (IIRC, she's still alive).

Pashmina
11/02/2007, 22:47
From last fm, all the female vocalists in my charts.

Björk, Garbage, Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Hole, Regina Spektor, Madonna, No Doubt, Siouxsie Sioux, Blondie, Joanna Newsom, Deborah Harry, Dragonette, Kelly Clarkson, Bat For Lashes, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Fiona Apple, The Sugarcubes, Catatonia, M.I.A., Rihanna, Cansei de Ser Sexy, Delta Goodrem, Imogen Heap, Feist, Joni Mitchell, Kate Nash, Mutya Buena, PJ Harvey, P!nk, , Shakira, Amy Winehouse, Róisín Murphy.

Generally everyone amazinf. If they're bolded, they win basically.