Top 10 male vocalists, part II

Round 2.

6) Jeff Buckley
Why do the good ones always have to die? Either that or they’re gay, hehe. Anyway, Jeff Buckley died way too young, and it’s really a shame because he was just starting to come into his own with his songwriting right before he passed. To put it simply, he had the voice of an angel. And what an angel! I’m sure he’s singing with the choirs of heaven nowadays. : ) Buckley’s voice was not a baritone, but it was so full of soul and heartache. His voice makes me weep at times, I have to admit. I dare you to listen to “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” and not want to cry. And personally, I think his version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” trumps Rufus Wainwright’s cover. Sigh, I hate Wainwright…

7) Van Morrison

This guy. Much like Eric Burdon, he’s a 40-year-old black man trapped in a white dude’s body. Need I say more?

8) Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys)

My hope is that one day, Auerbach’s voice will be considered to be almost as great as Burdon’s or Morrison’s. The bluesy singer for the Black Keys definitely has a voice not common among most indie bands, which is why he stands out in my mind. And if you thought he had a limited range, you’re sadly mistaken. Listen to the latest album by the Black Keys and you’ll realize he can pull off a falsetto quite nicely.

9) Nick Cave

His voice is very…cavernous. That’s one way to put it. He has the voice that can make you piss in your pants if he wanted to scare you so bad. No matter what you may think of his dark, almost dreary music, for he’s virtually the Prince of Darkness, you’re immediately drawn to his voice. It can be angry, menacing, melancholy, heartbreaking, or rejoicing. He can firmly make you believe that “people ain’t no good” as well as the pining present in “Into My Arms.” His voice isn’t perfect, but as you can tell by now, I like imperfect voices.

10) Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

Alright, before you roll your eyes at this one, take into account that I had a bunch of others in mind. I didn’t put them in the #10 slot because of a few factors. If you’re looking at (or listening to) Thom Yorke’s voice as purely a singing voice, it’s pretty interesting. The guy can convey so much with his lazy-sounding, almost sleepy falsetto. The guy is good, real good.

And that’s my list. But there are honorable mentions. I guess it really should’ve been more of a top 20 list. Honorable mentions include:

• Ian Curtis of Joy Division- talk about cavernous vocals
• Marvin Gaye
• Gerry Roslie of the Sonics – that man can scream!
• Jim Morrison
• Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy
• Bill Callahan a.k.a. Smog
• Tom Waits – as far as unique goes, he’s set

Top 10 male vocalists, part I

I know, I know, I’ve been neglecting my blog. But no more. Not that many people read it anyway. I’ve got a bit of listomania tonight, so here are my top 10 male vocalists of all time. Disclosure: these are purely based on my tastes and opinions, and you do reserve the right to agree or disagree.

I need to start off this list by saying that I have a certain affinity for voices of lower registers. This goes for both men and women. I can’t deny it, I like my baritones and altos. There are exceptions, of course (aren’t there always exceptions?), and I’m also intrigued by unique-sounding voices. I just wanted to point this out because I feel like it’s a part of who I am. It’s interesting that when I become attracted to someone, sexually or not, it usually first happens due to their voice. Eyes? They’re overrated. Build? It’s gonna fade some day. But voice…voice is something musical and enchanting that can’t be forged–unless of course you’re Humphrey Bogart or Lauren Bacall. Anyway, without further ado, here are my top 10 male rock/soul/pop vocalists of all time, in no particular order.

1) Eric Burdon
There are many things in life one can argue about or contest. Is smooth peanut butter better than crunchy peanut butter? Is my mom better than your mom? Does God exist? But the talents of Mr. Eric Burdon, former frontman of the Animals and War, cannot be disputed. Unless you’re tone deaf or something. I mean, the man is blessed with an incredible voice. It’s expressive, bluesy, unmistakably unique, and most importantly of all, full of sooooouuul. He’s essentially a white dude with the voice of a soulful black man. The guy has certainly led an interesting life. He was good friends with John Lennon and once scared Jim Morrison with a .44 magnum (which is funny because I believe Burdon was chased off by Phil Spector with a shotgun once…?). Anyway, to further prove something which is already a fact, I’ve included an amazing video of him doing a cover of “Hold On, I’m Coming,” where he’s also introduced by Otis Redding, another singer who makes an appearance on my list.

2) David Bowie

David Bowie’s an interesting one. Not only is he one of the greatest chameleons of rock n’ roll, but he also has a pretty wide vocal range. You gotta admire him for that. Compare “Changes” to “Heroes.” Two exceptional songs from the same decade, but he doesn’t sound the same in them. “Changes” displays a higher register, though not quite a tenor. “Heroes” has deeper vocals, with an almost Scott Walker-like quality–not surprising, since Scott Walker is one of his biggest influences. Which leads me to…

3) Scott Walker (no, not the governor)

Let’s just say that if I were a guy, Scott Walker’s voice is the one I’d want to have. I decided that a while back. If for some strange reason I’d ever get a sex change (why would anyone WANT to be a guy?), I’d totally ask if they can give me his voice. Many people don’t know who Scott Walker is nowadays, except for music aficionados like me and people interested in less mainstream music, but if you were around in the 60s, you’d be somewhat aware that he and the Walker Brothers were at one time bigger than the Beatles in the UK. Hard to believe? Well it happened. Songs like “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” and “Make It Easy On Yourself” took over the charts. He rejected the pop star image though, and he’s been paying for it ever since. He’s become an enigmatic figure, practically reclusive. However, he’s also become one of the most respected and influential vocalists of all time. He’s influenced the likes of Bowie, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, Goldfrapp, Radiohead, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, among others. He possesses a magnificent baritone, as you can hear.

4) Otis Redding

It’s really a shame that Redding’s presence had to be taken away from us so early. Despite his premature death, he has become known as one of the greatest singers of all time. I think the magic of his voice lies in the expressiveness, the soul, and simplicity of it. What woman wouldn’t want to be crooned by his rendition of “Try a Little Tenderness”?

5) Leonard Cohen

Cohen’s definitely an odd choice, as most people acknowledge his intelligent and profound songwriting more than his vocal talents. He’s never had much of a range, and that’s because he’s more of a poet than a singer. But his monotone is alluring and soothing, it’s quiet and at once emotional. Like dark honey.

I’ll continue this list tomorrow in part II.