Ravenheart's Top 20 singers.

[Ravenheart]

Here's something I've been wanting to do for awhile. It wasn't easy compiling a list, and it was even harder putting them in order. I wish I could put all of them at number 1, but scholars speculate that this is usually an ineffective way of showing off your tastes. It's about as "all-time" as I can make it, until my tastes radically change thus engaging my future refusal of acknowledging lists such as this because I was just a dumb teenager back then and how could I be so stupid to ever like any of these artists theyre all so awful


Let's begin:

20. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)



While some people may loathe his throaty whimper, I personally think it's a brilliant style. Conor Oberst isn't ostentatious in his singing, but his vocals perfectly fit the context of his typically dark, moody lyrics that are glazed over his delicate folk/electronica/whatever he's playing. It's a unique style that can be instantly recognized in any song. But originality doesn't count for much if the singing isn't good. Conor, however, makes the originality work.

19. Garm (Ulver)



What can be said about Ulver? Their music is difficult to classify - electronic, jazz, trip-hop, avant garde, spoken word; it's all there. But Garm's vocals don't seem to get talked about a lot when Ulver is mentioned. That's a shame, too, because his vocal talents are amazing. Distinct? Maybe not, but his tenor and baritone vocals are hauntingly gorgeous. Just listen to his melodic, almost pleasant, vocalizing on Nowhere/Catastrophe, or his deep, mournful crooning on EOS, or his wacky, schizophrenic wails on Christmas. This man can do a lot with his voice, and is one of the many testaments to the quality act that is Ulver.

18. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)



Another love/hate singer. I find a lot of beauty in Thom's despondent, groggy voice that could only match the music of Radiohead. There's not an excessive amount of variety to be found, but his vocals pack punch and emotion every time he belts out. His vocals on Climbing Up the Walls are just plain creepy and send shivers down my spine, and How to Disappear Completely perfectly captures him in one of his loneliest, most somber moments. Those are only 2 examples out of the many fantastic choices I could pick from, of course.

[Gorille85]

Three EXCELLENT singers right there! I will follow for sure!

Hoping to see Leïlindel somewhere in the list!

[Volk9]

I'll be following. Nice mention for Ulver too

[ScioPath]

 

[The Degenerate]

Mentions Ulver in a positive way so is immediately the best list ever

[ClairvoyantCat]

I will follow this list until the very end.  You have my word.  

Also, 3 fantastic singers already.  I would actually put Garm even higher, personally

[Gorille85]

I will follow this list until the very end.  You have my word.  

Also, 3 fantastic singers already.  I would actually put Garm even higher, personally

This.

[LeeHarveyKennedy]

*Waits for the inevitable Emile Autumn*

[Ravenheart]

I would totally put Garm higher, but the other 17 have just affected me more.

Also, this list isn't really indicative of how I'd organize my 20 favorite bands/artists. And a few that aren't included on this list would otherwise make my hypothetical 20 favorite artists list. Just thought I'd point that out.

And, LeeHarveyKennedy, I expect you to follow this, you sumbitch. For life. For love. For justice. For me.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I am follow.

[Portrucci]

I am follow.

[Gadough]

Interesting choices. Will follow.

I WONDER WHO NUMBER ONE WILL BE LOL

[Sigz]

in b4 Emilie Autumn

[Kosmo]

Casey Crescenzo better be on this list.

[ariich]

Garm is amazing and Yorke is very good too. Can't say I'm a huge fan of Orberst's vocals, though.

[Zantera]

I will follow with huge interest, though I know there will be several choices that I dislike.
Garm and Thom Yorke makes me happy to see, when it comes to Bright Eyes I have only heard The People's Key, which is a decent album, but nothing that really stood out to me personally.

[Gorille85]

wuuuut The People's Key is awesome!!

[Zantera]

I spinned it maybe 5 times during a week, and nothing really clicked.
It's solid indie-music, but nothing I found to be interesting.
Maybe their older stuff is better, I wouldn't know.

[ariich]

I like Bright Eyes a lot, and the vocals fit the music, I just don't think they're anything special.

[mizzl]

Expecting myself on nr1

[jsem]

As always, a bunch of forum favorite bands end up in these threads...

[Zantera]

As always, a bunch of forum favorite bands end up in these threads...

They are favorites for a reason.
Though I think a lot of these threads have their own identity, I know several different choices in the different threads, so even though some picks are the same, some are not.

[Ravenheart]

As always, a bunch of forum favorite bands end up in these threads...

This post is so pointless, it  isn't even worth giving a proper response to :

Also, Jimmy, try out Digital Ash or Lifted. They might be more your style. They were mine, anyway. The rest of their discography just seemed to click after those 2.

17-15 AWWWWWWWWWWW YEEEAAAH.


17. Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, solo, IEM, Bass Communion, No-Man, yadda yadda yadda)



It's probably safe to say that everyone here on the forum knows this man, and mostly everyone knows what he sounds like. I was listening to Insurgentes last night, and it was a strong reminder of how much Steven Wilson's voice gets to me. His somber vocals just seem to perfectly fit whatever dark, cryptic lyrics he's singing. Nothing about his voice particularly stands out, but it's always packed with emotion and conviction; his vocals on Sleep of No Dreaming sound like a broken man recovering from a hangover after a miserable night, and his lonely whimpers on Feel So Low always tug at my heartstrings. He's just an all-around great vocalist. A shame I couldn't rank him any higher.

16. Chuck Schuldiner (Death)



Death metal vocals? Maybe. Whatever the case, Chuck Schuldiner's throaty, raspy vocals were always 100% comprehensible and added a viciousness to whatever innovative, esoteric lyrics he was singing. Normally, lyrics like these wouldn't work at all with a screamer/grunter/rororooarer/squealer/whatever, but Chuck's distinct snarl always gave them a new attitude and somehow just worked. He was incredible in so many departments, and his death was a tragedy. RIP.

15. Emileigh Rohn (Chiasm)



Chiasm, a project by one person, is a band that I've been a big fan of for some time now (even though none of you assholes will listen to her music despite my attempts to plug her foreveralone.jpg). Emileigh Rohn is the mastermind behind it. The assault of grating gothic electronica wouldn't be as effective without her disaffected, gorgeous, haunting vocals that suit her introspective, hopeless lyrics. Her brooding vocals on pieces like Still and vicious sneers on Delay always stop me in my tracks and demand my full attention. Nice to look at, and even nicer to listen to.

[zxlkho]

CHUCK WAS SO AWESOME! RIP. FUCK YOU CANCER

and Steven Wilson should be higher imo.

[Quadrochosis]

Steven Wilson should be number 1

[mizzl]

Hmm, I'm 99% sure emilie autumn is nr1

[Kosmo]

Nah, there's going to be a curveball and Emilie won't even be on the list.

[Zantera]

Steven Wilson! 

No idea who the others are.

[Tomislav95]

Steve only after Russell Allen and James Labrie IMO
BTW, Chuck is my fav growler RIP

[Kosmo]

Steven Wilson! 

No idea who the others are.

You don't know Chuck? 

[Zantera]

Nope, should I? 

[ClairvoyantCat]

I don't think you'd like him... it's just a bit surprising that you don't know who he is. 

[Kosmo]

I don't think you'd like him... it's just a bit surprising that you don't know who he is.  

Yes, this. I mean, everyone knows the Chuck.

[zxlkho]

Nope, should I? 

Listen to Death's Symbolic right now.

[Tomislav95]

Nope, should I? 

Listen to Death's Symbolic right now.

And then Sound of Persevance, and then you will become crazy about Death