Jason Moyer on 4/5/2008 at 21:23
Tom Waits ftw. Especially once he started messing around with homemade instruments (that said, I still rate "Small Change" as one of his best).
Vivian on 4/5/2008 at 21:39
Why does everyone love Van Morrison so much? I always thought he was just this fat old guy who looked like gadget boy, but a lot of people apparently think hes awesome. Whats the deal?
PS Nick Cave, I resisted buying his new bad seeds album because I was sick of his maudlin crap (grinderman aside), but I just heard it at a mates house and its fucking GREAT
PPS Tom Waits, but 'blood money' is still the only one of his records I dont skip tracks on
Ben Gunn on 4/5/2008 at 21:47
Quote Posted by Vivian
Why does everyone love Van Morrison so much?
Astral weeks
Veedon Fleece
Moondance
....are my 3 reasons.
heretic on 4/5/2008 at 22:17
Quote Posted by Ben Gunn
Astral weeks
Veedon Fleece
Moondance
....are my 3 reasons.
Not to mention Gloria and Brown Eyed Girl-
Also, his Big Joe Williams and Muddy Waters covers like Baby Please Don't Go and 'Aint no Sunshine are sublime IMO...
piano-sam on 5/5/2008 at 16:02
There are few better lyricists than Dylan, and few worse singers.
Vernon on 17/5/2008 at 08:00
No Willie Nelson mentioned? Definitely agree on most of the singer/songwriters thus far mentioned (esp. Cohen and Cave).
I'd like to get into Waits (have 'Rain Dogs' and like it) but don't really know where to go next. I didn't really like 'Alice' tbh.
If we are going to throw in people like Jack White (who I think is wonderful), let's throw in Stephen Malkmus and Isaac Brock as well (though I think they are both far better songwriters than Jack White).
Also, I think it is kind of an oxymoron to say Dylan is a bad singer, because Dylan wouldn't be Dylan if he didn't sing what he wrote. He is the perfect singer for his songs and if some Sinatra wannabe stepped up and sang Dylan this debate would never have occurred.
Ben Gunn on 17/5/2008 at 08:39
Quote Posted by Vernon
I'd like to get into Waits (have 'Rain Dogs' and like it) but don't really know where to go next.
I think (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordfishtrombones) 'Swordfishtrombones' will be your best next step.
Aja on 19/5/2008 at 01:35
How about Elliott Smith? He wasn't the best singer, but he always sounded good on record, and he wrote some amazing songs.
Turtle on 19/5/2008 at 04:17
I can definitely get behind that.
Phydeaux on 19/5/2008 at 12:42
I can tolerate Dylan's singing. No, he's no canary, but his singing fits his music. Nobody who plays a Dylan song can play it like Dylan and have it sound right, because he's not singing it.
Neil Young however, sounds like somebody torturing a cat who can't meow on key. I have no objection to his songwriting or even his lyrics, but his singing is fucking awful.
Think of it this way: Somebody can do a Dylan song like Dylan and parody Dylan's singing...and it's funny. Somebody can parody Neil Young, do the worst singing they can...and it sounds the same: horrible. It's not funny, it's intolerable.
Dylan: Bad voice but it fits his music. If his singing was better, the music wouldn't be as good.
Tom Waits: Bad voice, but it fits his music. If his singing was better, the music wouldn't be as good.
Captain Beefheart: Bad voice, but it fits his music. If his singing was better, the music wouldn't be as good.
Neil Young: Bad voice period. If his voice was better, maybe I could listen to his music.
