[Closed] Please recommend me some female vocalists

Cat Power/Chan Marshall
Gillian Welch

They are pretty much thin on the ground I reckon. Check out the late Janis Joplin for a raw sound (not laid back though).

Kathryn Williams
Juliana Hatfield

I went though a female vocalist phase recently and can recommend:

Martha Wainright
Cat Power
(Leslie) Feist

Camera Obscura

Tompaulin

(BTW - try to get onto Spotify if you havent already)

Ricky Lee Jones
Diamana Galas
Bjork
Enya (1st album only, mind...)
Nina Simone
Joni Mitch.... oh.

2nd Gillian Welch

Portishead

Sam Fox

Brandi Carlile is one of my best musical discoveries of the last year. Try http://www.brandicarlile.com/ for sample tracks, Late Morning Lullaby, The Story and Turpentine are my favourites.

oh, and I forgot Amanda Palmer.
great lyrics

Definitely worth checking out Roisin Murphy. She's done some great stuff

some noisier than others, but:

mazzy star
pj harvey (how very dare you exclude !)
giant drag
yeah yeah yeahs
duke spirit
belly/throwing muses/kristin hersh
breeders
mary margaret o'hara
diamanda galas (not entirely laid back 😉 )
liz phair
pretenders/c hinde
patti smith

err, ...

Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Sia Furler (Solo and with Zero 7)
Skin (Skunk Anansie)
Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine)

That should do you for starters.

Emmy the Great
Regina Spektor (slightly too keen on wailing and yelping, but very good when she just sings)
And I might go to hell for this, but Lady Gaga. Not the recorded versions, her live tracks... Paparazzi from Glastonbury (youtube it) or the Live Lounge version of Poker Face show off a pretty fine voice.

+1 for Kathryn Williams, as well as being rather good she was good friends with my missus when they were kids.

Lots of Welsh language female vocalists like Meinir Gwilym, Fflur Dafydd, Elin Fflur etc. 😉

+1 for Roisin Murphy.

Also try Lou Rhodes (Lamb) or Nouvelle Vague for a little "Fronch" flavour.

da funk

Cat Power (the [i]adorable[/i] Chan Marshall)
Beth Gibbons
Gillian Welch
Bjork
Hope Sandoval
Rachael Yamagata
Joni Mitchell
PJ Harvey

Turn to all of 'em, regularly.

Candice Night has a lovely voice and hubby helps out on guitar

Quite a few names I recognize so far - many I now remember I have in my collection but finding them will prove more difficult. Bjork, Portishead, Garbage. Florence etc

Its been a long time since I saw the name Juliana Hatfield - is she similar to PJH? And, whatever happened to Natalie Merchant? I have been promising myself some Mazzy Star/ Hope Sandel for a long time

I should have added that I have just ordered a new NAIM power amp and pre to follow so looking for stuff that will stretch it.

As for Lady Gaga, I remember seeing her perform on the TV probably from Glastonbury earlier this year - can't really remember the music but I do remember those come to bed thighs.

Bjork, obviously. Vespertine live is my favourite, captures so much of her talent
Cat Power, as above.
Beth Gibbons (Portishead) - solo album is great.
Laura Viers
Mimi Parker (Low), but only if you like slow, some would say miserable. Early stuff esp.
Laura Marling
Liz Green, but she doesn't have much out
Feist
Jenny Lewis
Amy Millan (Stars)

There are loads, but they do seem to take a bit of a low profile. Shame

Aimee Mann
Nina Persson

And, whatever happened to Natalie Merchant?

She was on R4 Today a few mornings back.

For the past five years, Merchant has been researching, writing and recording a collection of songs adapted from the works of various classic and contemporary poets. She is currently in the studio preparing this project, her first studio album in seven years, due for release in the spring of 2010.

Tia Maria
Julie London

GJP Lady GAGA is a Tranny Just incase you dont know

Julianne Regan - All About Eve: [url]

Elizabeth Fraser - Cocteau Twins: [url]

I should have added that I have just ordered a new NAIM power amp and pre to follow so looking for stuff that will stretch it.

Hooray, cheers fella 🙂 What did you get? Also, have you ever done a factory tour? Very interesting, in my obviously biased opinion. At the moment, you might get a chance to listen to some unreleased stuff as well.

Lydia Lunch... 😉

Noisettes or Florence and the machine

At the moment I'm loving Hannah Shark, and her band, Arthur.

Dirty Revolution have a female vocalist, I'm enjoying them too.

Others off the top of my head:
Regina Spektor
Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeah's)
CSS ladies
Tori Amos (surprised not mentioned already)
Erm, Bonnie Tyler
Stevie Nicks?

[i]RichPenny - Member
I should have added that I have just ordered a new NAIM power amp and pre to follow so looking for stuff that will stretch it.
Hooray, cheers fella What did you get? Also, have you ever done a factory tour? Very interesting, in my obviously biased opinion. At the moment, you might get a chance to listen to some unreleased stuff as well.[/i]

I have most likely settled on a 202/155XS combination. I listened to the NAIT XS, 152/155, 202/200 and 202/155 all in conjunction with a CD5 XS. I dared not listen to a CDX2 or whatever it is.

I couldn't really stretch to the 202/200 knowing that I will need to replace my CD player soon to really get the most out of it. IMO the 202 is a really big step up from the 152, the 200 vs the 155 less so but if I had the money I would have bought the 200 without a moments thought. But no new bikey bits for 2010.

Suzanne Vega (esp. 1st 2 albums)
Tori Amos
Ella Fitzgerald
Kate Bush
Tracy Chapman (1st album)

[edit]...and Sinead O'Conner
[edit2] Michelle Shocked (Short Sharp Shocked)

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Sill[/url]

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Dalton[/url]

Dusty Springfield

Thea Gilmore
Bif Naked

Vaya Con Dios

Belguims finest female vocalist called Dani Klien

GJP/Metalheart - I saw Natalie Merchant playing at the Freeworld Centre a couple of days ago - that voice is absolutely mindblowing live. She talked about her latest project for a bit, and had a Q&A session afterwards - totally commanding stage presence.

Judie Tzuke.

[i]Thea Gilmore[/i]

Played a great set at Glastonbury.

2nd Tracey Chapman.
Also Beth Orton and V V Brown.

The Bellrays

The Donnas
The Dixie Chicks
Juliette and The Licks
Are all in my library and worth a listen.

Fiona Apple - "When the pawns hits..." is one of my favorite all time albums. Her others are good aswell.

Emily Haines (singer from Metric) - "Knives don't have your back" - is a cracking album if a bit of a grower.

Lhasa - "Lhasa de Sela" - she sings in spanish, english and french and her music is in a similar vein to Nick Cave and Tindersticks.

Alela Diane - Pirate's Gospel & Emily Jane White are both worth a listen (similar to Moriaty).

had to come back to this thread as I've realised it has a major omission...

Annie Lennox

okay - she might not be 'cool' but she is a great female vocalist

Also, before she started licking lead paint...

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Imogen Heap

indigo girls

Tanya Donelly has a great voice.

if you like joss stone I reckon you absolutely love duffy - amazing voice

Not mentioned yet?

Florence and The Machine
Sarah Maclachlan
KT Tunstall
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lee Richards
Early Maria Mckee, esp the Gotta Sin To Get Saved album

and for some unknown reason Taylor Swift has several great tunes......

Emily Hayes
Aimee Mann
Emma Pollock
Kris Delmhorst
The Wailin' Jennies
Jackie Oates
Karine Polwart
Siobhan Donaghy
Cerys Matthews
Little Boots
Gemma Heyes
Erin McKeown
Taken By Trees
Shawn Colvin
Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions
Dot Allison
Polly & The Billets Doux
School Of Seven Bells
Howling Bells
Imogen Heap
Auf Der Maur
Heidi Talbot
Inge Thomson
Goldfrapp
Joan As Policewoman
Baskery
Lisa Hannigan
A Camp/The Cardigans (Nina Persson)
Tegan And Sara
The Like
Sam Phillips
Maria McKee
Inara George
Kate Rusby
The Joy Formidable
Lou Rhodes
Shelby Lynne
Eddie Reader
Emmylou Harris
Dar Williams
Camille
Courtney Tidwell
Eileen Rose
Siobhan Maher-Kennedy
Joan Osbourne
Alison Krause
Mindy Smith
Kasey Chambers
Me'shell N'degéocello
The Indigo Girls
Linda Ronstadt
Patty Griffin
Feist
Star 69
Beth Neilsen Chapman
Voice Of The Beehive
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Sandy Denny
Macalias
Jennifer Warnes
Cara Dillon
Scarlett Johansson
Stephanie Dosen
Fever Ray ( Karin Dreijer)
The Smoke Fairies
The Unthanks
Beccy Owen
Neko Case
Polly Scattergood
Eleanor McEvoy

That's by no means a complete list, I'm sure I've left loads out, but it'll do to be going on with. 😉

GJP - Member

I should have added that I have just ordered a new NAIM power amp and pre to follow so looking for stuff that will stretch it.

Shush, or the STW piranhas will strip you limb from ear...

Talk about it here:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/48019385 😉

Xipe Totec - Thanks. Are they just random names with a few artistes thrown in - fairly sure I have heard less than one in 10 of those 😳

Mr Woppit - I joined that NAIM forum a couple of days ago (shame).

It seems fairly active - but makes us STWers look like the most normally balanced group of people ever to have walked on our good planet earth. Bike obsessiveness is nothing compared with those Hi-Fi chaps

Alice Russel, in her own right and also pops up on a lot of tru thoughts other artists stuff

Lisa Hannigan, the lovely voice from alongside Damien Rice, good videos too

Mara Carlyle, plays the saw

Imelda May, got some go

They are not random names, they were obtained from the stacks of cd's sitting just behind my head while I was tapping out the list on my phone, but if I was to drag my laptop out and have a rummage through the 8000 or so tracks in iTunes I'm sure there are plenty more, like Mary Hopkin, who's album 'Earth Song Ocean Song' is rather lovely. I've been buying records since the late 60's, cd's since '82, and going to concerts since '73, and I have an insatiable thirst for discovering new music. Try buying [i]The Word[/i] magazine every month, it has an excellent free cd on the front with sample tracks from their reviews, and Cery Matthews on 6Music plays lots of really interesting new stuff.
Of the list I put up, you'd be surprised how many I've actually seen, and of those, how many I've had the opportunity to meet.

Laura Marling
Emmy the Great
Peggy Sue
Pearl and the Puppets
Polly Scattergood
Kirsty McColl
Ida Maria
Dot Allison
The Beautiful South

another vote for Alison Krauss , shame she has a face like a bag of hammers

Mayra Andrade

Lisa Hannigan + 1
Jesca Hoop

Alison Moyet - The Voice album

Eva Cassidy....

Here's one or two more:
Shivaree
Hem
Pentangle
Lush
Curve
Eliza Gilkyson
Blood Red Shoes
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Altan
Kathleen Edwards
Sheryl Crow
Cowboy Junkies

The last one in particular would be good on your system; their first album, [i]The Trinity Sessions[/i], was recorded in an old church with a single suspended microphone, so the acoustics are superb. Don't bother with Fairground Attraction's [i]First Of A Million Kisses[/i]. It's a lovely album, to be sure, and all the instruments are acoustic, and Eddie has an incredible voice, but the mastering sucks, it's like a mirror covered with dust, and really disappointing when heard on a quality system. Eddie's album [i]Driftwood[/i] is much better, a beautiful recording. The track [i]Old Soul[/i] has an amazing acoustic drum, possibly a bhòdraìn, that has real deep bass that moves serious air.
I have a feeling that your bank account could be under a degree of pressure for awhile... 😀

Gin wigmore- one of the most original voices to appear for a long time.
Fuzzy
Jale
heather Nova
Goldenhorse
Fur Patrol
Holly Smith
Anika moa
The Geraldine fibbers
Horse

Nina Simone

barb jungr

Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions is a quite brilliant albumn. For more up to date stuff I like HMS Ginafore

Susan Tedeschi
Lorna Fothergill

Thanks for all the suggestions - plenty for me to research. Just been down to my local HMV for a look around - not the widest selection but couldn't wait until the middle of the week if I were to order on-line.

Came back with

Duffy
Mazzy Star
Some early PJ Harvey (only £3)
Er and somehow a James Morrison album slipped into the mix.

Will try some find some Gillian Welsh, Cowboy Junkies and that Cash Cow or whoever she is at the start of the thread. Nothing going cheap in HMV though today.

Don't recall Kate Bush appearing the lists - not that I was ever a huge fan. Don't think anyone has mentioned Tracey Thorn either - is she still going?

would second or third imogen heap, cat power.
coco rosie i havent seen mentioned.

I noticed Geraldine Fibbers got mentioned, wow, didn't think anyone else knew of them. Saw them at Reading, in '95 I think, along with Star 69. Loved both, bought their albums, but they both seemed to vanish soon after.

Whatever you do if you get a Cowboy Junkies cd make sure its trinity sessions

+1 for Alela Diane.

Neko Case - Fox Confessor or the new one...production is amazing on both.

Santogold (pretty different to the two above though 😉

Mariah Muldaur
+1 for Linda Ronstadt, Maria McKee and Alison Moyet...
Grace Slick?
Carol Decker?
Belinda Carlisle?

Bee and Flower with the amazingly sultry Dana 🙂

Video:

SSP

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I can't beleve nobody has mentioned the very talented and very pretty Nerina Pallot (pronounced palloh).

Don't think anyone's mentioned Bat For Lashes yet either. The second album is very well produced. Think somewhere between Kate Bush and Bjork, kind of poppy electronica, but in a good way.

Brandi Carlile +1

and http://www.myspace.com/lykkeli Lykke li she was on the same Jools holland show from last year as Brandi? look up on you tube

Aretha Franklin?

Also worked on a gig last week with a lass called Florence Rawlings who had a decent voice in a sub-Janis kinda way.

Oh, and Billy Holiday, obviously...

Thinking for Tuesday from the BBB, cross between Crissy Hind and Swing out Sister, farly punchy. Might go and se them on Fri in Winch if I don't get caught by the beer monster.
Paramore, Hayly is the lead singer and rather nice IMO..

Still worth keeping with: Siouxsie - her 2007 solo album Mantaray is really, really worth checking out.

From the past: Shirley Collins - the definitive windswept moors female folk voice or, from a very different tradition: Morita Doji. In recent years I like Sharron Kraus' and Larkin Grimm's take on folk traditions.

At the heavier end of things I love doom/stoner band Acid King's Lori S' voice - in the context of doom anyway 🙂

Also love Aqua Nebula Oscillator for an acid punk/garage psych hit.

Oh, and has no one mentioned the endlessly inventive Kate Bush?

Julie Fowlis
Amy Macdonald
Emily Smith
Joan Osborne
Hazeldine