Top 10: Unique Voices in Indie Music
“Whoa, now I have never heard a voice like that before.” You’ve said it, and I’m sure you’ll say it again. But today were rounding up those rare vocalists who don’t sound like another person on the planet. I had a very hard time with this list. There are so many unique voices out there to limit it down to ten was unbelievably difficult. I cried, I bled, went into denial, had a mental collapse, and this is what came out. Ground rules: No vocalists who I find to be weird for the sole sake of being weird. Also, being an accomplished songwriter helps a whole hell of a lot. Those are my rules and that’s how we’re playing. Ready, set, vocals!
10. Kristian Matsson (The Tallest Man On Earth) – I don’t think I’ll ever forget hearing Kristian’s voice for the first time. His tenor is unmistakably true and never sounds as though he’s trying to sound the way he does. There’s no gimmicks here. He opens his pipes and that’s what comes out.
The Tallest Man On Earth / King of Spain
9. Matt Berninger (The National) – Our love of The National here at Draw Us Lines has been clear and evident and Berninger’s vocals have a lot to do with that. Deep as the day is long, smooth as a baby’s bottom, and for some reason it reminds me of whiskey. Not the cheap stuff, I’m talking a fine 18 year scotch that is smooth the whole way through. Matt, you are my Johnnie Blue.
8. Alec Ounsworth (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) – Trying to describe Ounsworth’s voice has me a bit stumped. Two parts nasally wail, one part yelp, one part crooner…that’s what I hear. Maybe it is the complexity of Alec’s vocals that make his voice so unique, and so good.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah / The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
7. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) – When you hear Yorke’s voice you know who it is. Not because you have every lyric of every Radiohead song memorized, but because his crackling voice could never be mistaken for another. Falsettos like you’ve never heard, rage that you feel with his words…let it out Thom. Let it out.
6. Chan Marshall (Cat Power) – Not just unique, but oh so good. Marshall’s voice is soft when it needs to be, and gets raw, dirty, soulful, and damn near heart-wrenching in nearly every song. Her voice cries out like no other female vocalist out there.
5. Jonsi Birgisson (Sigur Ros) – Most of what he sings isn’t English, hell it isn’t even Icelandic! Describing Birgisson’s voice as an instrument is far fetched in the slightest. He uses his voice more as a melodic instrument than he does as a means of lyrical expression. Belt it out Jonsi, belt it.
4. Tom Waits – A legendary artist with a legendary voice. Take it or leave it, whether you like Waits‘ voice or not, it’s unique. Tom’s growl is a reason to listen to music…period.
Tom Waits / Jockey Full of Bourbon
3. Bjork – The second Icelandic artist on the list. It would be a sin to not include Bjork and I’m sure the comment section would have been full of people saying “AH, how could you forget Bjork?”, “Where’s Bjork?”, “Bjork, duh!”. That isn’t happening on my watch partner, Bjork‘s voice is what really makes her Bjork.
2. Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons) – There is so much emotion and heartbreak and power in Hegarty’s voice that it hurts to listen to his band at times. Antony’s voice is operatic while still having some kind of throw back to the classic jazz vocalists of old. Unique doesn’t begin to describe this one.
Antony & The Johnsons / Thank You For Your Love
1. Joanna Newsom – Every person on this list has a voice that has never been replicated by anyone else, but Joanna takes the cake. Her voice has changed slightly from album to album, but it’s always still Joanna. I don’t like how most other critics try to label her singing as “screeching” or “squeaking” because that isn’t what it is. Her voice just might be so unique that we don’t have the right words to sum it up.
Did we miss one? Do you disagree? Did we piss you off? Tell us who you think has the most unique voice in music in the comment selection below. Go on! Do it! Let’s have a discussion.
Filed under: Lists, Mind Blowing
I whole heatedly agree that Tom Wait has the most unique voice on the planet, but I’m not sure I’m 100% on board with the “indie’ thing, but I digress. Semantics, really.
Will Johnson from Centro-matic has a pretty unique indie rock voice. We did a song diary on it here. http://www.drawuslines.com/song-diary/song-diary-11-17-2010/ . I wouldn’t say it’s in the top ten, but it’s up there.
What about Justin Vernon from Bon Iver? His falsetto’s gotta count for something.
James, Will Johnson actually came to my mind, too. But yes, I’m not sure if I would put him in the top then.
I would throw Jim James of MMJ into the mix here, but I suppose it’s not the most unique anymore (coughFleetFoxesandBandOfHorsescough). Amazing voice, but, alas, not so unique.
I am pretty sure Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids should be on this list, though. Isaac Brock also has a pretty crazy howl.
Very cool little piece, B-lake. Helped get my morning going.
Oh shit – good call with Isaac Brock. He should be way up there.
The Cold War Kids dude is also very unique. Like a screechy banshee type thing…but also a dude. He’s got a lot of expression in there for sure.
Well done Matt.
Big miss – Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. Not only is he a songwriting genius but if Jesus Christ was from the Seattle area, he would sound like this –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVcdhUptwDY
@Matt: Isaac Brock was a good call; I can’t imagine anybody else singing/yelling “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes”.
I like your picks, Blake. Tom Waits‘ voice is so unique that it doesn’t even matter whether he’s “indie”. I can think of a handful of singers from current bands that are pretty special: Dylan Rau from Bear Hands, Alex Maas from The Black Angels, Micah Middaugh from Breathe Owlbreathe, etc. But none of them really feel like “top 10 material”, you know?
There are some more classic voices that might classify, though: Kim Gordon’s husky female vocals are an essential ingredient in some Sonic Youth songs, J. Mascis’ deep growl really made the last Dinosaur Jr. album my fave, and HOLY SHIT HOW DID WE MISS JEFF FUCKING MANGUM!
I can’t for the life of me get by Joanna Newsome’s voice and appreciate her music. I’ll definitely throw in on the Isaac Brock bid. I think there are a couple of important Canadian names to throw in on this list. Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) and Dan Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers) both have an unmistakable timbre and inflection and I think it’s part of what defines their music.
If we want to go back a generation or two we can’t forget Black Francis and Morrissey!
Spencer Krug – for sure. That’s a good one.
@Brendan – yeah, JM. What a voice. Probably the most honest voice in Indie Music for sure.
@Tyler – it took me some serious time to get my head wrapped around Newsome. I feel like her older stuff was a lot crazier sounding when compared to the newer releases, but now I find myself liking the older stuf better. It takes some investment of time.
@Tyler: Ooh Dan Bejar, good call!
Also, it’s kinda easy to go along the Jonsi / Bjork / et al. route and pick some other Scandinavian voices, but I really really really enjoy Josephine Olausson from Love Is All (check out “”)
Whoops, messed up the link for that song.
What about Colin Meloy of The Decemberists? I hope I’m not alone on this one!
I think Sam Prekop (The Sea and Cake) could easily fit in this list. I think his voice is so breezy, it is often forgotten for how unique it is. Might be worth throwing in Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, and Death Vessel. Enjoying the discussion!
http://www.myspace.com/deathvessel
Oh and probably should have said Satomi Matsuzaki from Deerhoof! Love her voice.
I couldn’t be more agree with the number 1, Joanna Newsom, I think her voice is so unique and perfect, her last record, Have one on Me, is a master peace, her voice has change a little like the article said but has change in a good way, I love her, you have to listen her right now!
Such a great idea to make a list like this! I like the list a lot but I gotta throw Neko Case in the mix.
@Jessica – Neko’s voice is beautiful and incredible. Maybe one of the few best voices in music, IMO, but beautiful doesn’t make the voice overly unique. But hey, maybe the next list should be a “Best” voices list. She would surely be near the top of that one.
http://soundcloud.com/toffeecookies/sunrisesunset
Nice post! I’d definitely add James
Mercer and Ben Bridwell (band of horses) to the list.
Light asylum?
cocorosie?
Great call Claire! There have been enough suggestions and artists I have since found that I think “Unique Voices Part Deux” is needed.
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