Female Artists

[warren1]

Yeah OJ, I went through a bit of a Neko Case phase a couple of years ago and picked up FRL and Blacklisted. I always loved the song "I wish I was the moon" from the Blacklisted album. An amazing song. One of those obscure songs that just grabs you. I should give her another run.

Good to see my fellow Aussie get a run here - Kasey Chambers. I don't mind her music but she is no Welch or Williams by a long stretch IMO.

I would definitely backup the Martha Wainwright plug - she is pretty good. I saw her live recently headlining a show with Josh Ritter. I was mainly there for Josh but she was good, if a little jetlagged.

Laura Veirs is the flavour of the month in some of the Americana circles I believe. I am not sure why, I find her voice painful.

Thanks for all the new great tips. As I have said many times before, where downloading has hurt the music industry, forum's like these have done the complete opposite.

[warren1]

Notice one thing that almost all these artists have in common, they are all artists instead of being the lead in a band.

[Kismet]

I got that Laura Veirs record and kind of like it.

[warren1]

Y'all who don't care for female artists are a mystery to me. If I could only listen to female artists for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy man. Men's voices are like male naked bodies--a means to an end in some regard, but by no means something to glorify or appreciate, especially when so many more wonderful and lovely women's voices (bodies) are around to enjoy.

The sad thing is I actually know where you are coming from here.

Another artist I discovered at a small comedy venue of all places when I was in New York on holiday recently was Bari Koral. She played for about 20 minutes and I purchased her latest CD "Confessions of an Indiegirl." She was very good.


This is a relevant paragraph on her from one of the press clippings from her website

http://www.barikoral.com/


"Produced by Pete Caigan, Koral and Jimmy Bralower, a few of the new friends appearing on Confessions of an Indiegirl include most of the Jayhawks, drummer Jerry Marrotta, Bill Dillon, Tony Levin, Rhett Miller (Old 97's), Jeff Mattson (Zen Tricksters), Jason Hart and Matt Johnson (Rufus Wainwright). "

[Kismet]

I like them. But there are just so many fewer of them who do the music I like. It's not the voice -- obviously I like women's voices and prefer watching them on stage. It's the music itself. It so often lacks grit. I'm like a chicken. I need a certain amount of grit.

[LongDarkBlues]

I love Edith Frost (http://www.edithfrost.com) and
Sarah White (http://www.sarah-white.com

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Is Edith Frost the woman with some backing vocals on Axxess & Ace (Songs: Ohia)?

How about Scout Niblett? I think she's worked with Jason Molina too. Also has a solo album out that I haven't heard...

[howard]

Notice one thing that almost all these artists have in common, they are all artists instead of being the lead in a band.

If you are looking for female leads of bands then I would recommend the following:

Patti Smith Group (their debut, Horses, is probably one of essentials of alternative music)
The Pretenders , lead by Chrissie Hynde (their self titled debut if one of my all time favourites)
Siouxsie & The Banshees, lead by Siouxsie Sioux, grandmother of gothic punk (Juju is my favourite by them).

A little nearer to americana etc:

Over the Rhine, lead by Karin Bergquist (I only know their Ohio double CD, but this sounds pretty wonderful to me)
Fairport Convention, back in their classic early period when they were lead by the amazing Sandy Denny (Unhalfbricking and What We Did On Our Holidays are two great Fairport albums from this period).

Looking at alt.country solo female singers, a lot of my favourites have been mentioned already. Others I would add are:

Patty Griffin, one of the great vocices/writers of our time (her last record, Impossible Dream, would be a great place to start for any one who does not know her work)

Julie Miller - Buddy seems to get most of the accolades, but Julie is a very fine writer and singer (her Broken Things album is worth checking out).

Kelly Willis, who has a wonderful classic country voice and a great taste in songs (her What I Deserve record is worth listening to).

Tift Merritt, who sounds to some extent how Sheryl Crow might have sounded if she did not want to be a major pop star. I particularly like her debut, Bramble Rose.

Allison Moorer, Mrs Steve Earle and Shelby Lynne's sister, and another singer with a classic country voice. She has explored several style from classic country to country soul to almost Stones inspired country-rock. Not all these have come off with the same degree of success, and she seems best when working nearer to her classic routes. My favourite of her albums is The Hardest Part.

Caitlin Cary, she of Whiskeytown fame. I sense that her solo records have not gone down well with those on ACT, but I for one like both of them. The record she made as part of the all-female trio, Tres Chicas, is also not bad, but her finnest effort outside of her former band is probable Begonias, her 2005 release with Thad Cockrell.

[Loon Rider]

I can’t believe no-one has mentioned Joni Mitchell.
Then there’s Rickie Lee Jones
Patti Smith
Bonnie Raitt
Some early Linda Ronstadt is OK
Aimee Mann
Laurie Lewis
Claire Lynch
Laurie Stirrat in Blue Mountain
Janet Beveridge Bean & Catherine Ann Irwin (Freakwater) – underrated and don’t get enough support here, check em out folks.
Hazeldine (also a shout for AnnTkach in Nadine too)
Kirsty McColl – lest we forget
Linda Thompson
Iris DeMent – fab voice.
Kris Delmhorst
Renee Sparks in The Handsome Family
Hope Sandoval in Mazzy Star and solo
Kristen Hersch in Throwing Muses
Julianna Hatfield in The Lemonheads
Julianne Regan in All About Eve
Harriet Wheeler in The Sundays
Tracy Thorn in Everything But The Girl
Liz Fraser in The Cocteau Twins
Lisa Gerrard in Dead Can Dance and This Mortal Coil
Kim Deal in The Pixies and Breeder
Courtney Love in Hole

Many Britpop bands had female lead singers:
Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson in Lush
Justine Frischman in Elastica
Sonya Aurora Madan in Echobelly
Louise Wener in Sleeper
Shirley Manson in Garbage
Cerys Matthews in Catatonia
Lauren Laverne in Kenickie
And the wonderful Charlotte Hatherley in Ash

Tanya Donnelly
Liz Phair
Laura Cantrell
Lisa Germano

Mention Alison Krauss and see what Kismet says.

[Wordman]

Mention Alison Krauss and see what Kismet says.

Alison Krauss

[papillon]

Carolyn Mark is the only girl who has not been mentioned yet. She used to play with Neko Case and she's a very funny lass as well as singing a cute song too

[toad]

Tift Merritt is great...I still occassionly enjoy Indigo Girls as well....

[Kismet]

Mention Alison Krauss and see what Kismet says.

Alison Krauss

Aiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I have to say re compromising, coopted, sellouts that I heard a song by Nickel Creek lately that had some starch in it. Called "When in Rome." I thought it was good. Just heard it on the radio once though.

[3legcat]

I have to say re compromising, coopted, sellouts that I heard a song by Nickel Creek lately that had some starch in it. Called "When in Rome." I thought it was good. Just heard it on the radio once though.

i played that song a couple of times, its good

[Gary Hâché]

I was waiting for someone to mention Carolyn Mark. She blew me away and I'm going to see her this weekend in Ottawa. Check out Salt. A two piece female group. A little clarinet and wshtub bass comin at ya. Saw them open for Luther Wright and the Wrongs. (who just happened to play with Sarah Harmer back in the days of Weeping Tile). Isn't it funny how life is so full circle.