I love her voice

6.9  

I've loved Bjork's vocals since she was with the Sugarcubes. Her voice is truly unique, very expressive, and she sings just as well on album as she does live. The fact that she follows her own unique artistic vision elevates her even more in my estimation. She's not afraid to push boundaries and explore unfamiliar territory, and that's why she's number one on my list...and she always will be.

Favorite song: "5 years" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6aB_BcnJNA

the giraffe's rating:

6.3  

Her vocal delivery is excellent, but I love her lyrics even more. She first caught my ear by singing about Jedi mind tricks ("Trigger Happy Jack (Drive-by-a-go-go)"), then went on to record an album full of ghosts, 5 1/2 minute hallways, Spanish dolls, and other things. Since then, her voice has been sadly absent from the world due to an ongoing legal dispute over her music. Hopefully one of these days she'll be able to release everything she's no doubt worked on over the past decade or so.

I've also met her, and she's one of the coolest, most down-to-earth musicians I've ever met.

Favorite song I could find a video for: "Haunted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6aB_BcnJNA

the giraffe's rating:

6.9  

Karen O

One moment she's singing sweetly, the next she's howling like a banshee. Her vocal delivery calls to mind wild animals (which is probably why The Flaming Lips used her to make animal noises on their album Embryonic) and sexual encounters, and I don't know of any other female vocalists I can say that about. She's also a great frontwoman...engaging, energetic, and with an undeniable stage presence.

Favorite video: "Y Control" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjPFAV1foU&ob=av2e

the giraffe's rating:

7.4  

Not only can she sing beautifully, she's also been known to use her voice as an instrument and make unusual noises with it. She sounds just as great live as she does recorded, and she's very charming.

Favorite song: "Ghost of Corporate Future" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bFIpYLSMhw

the giraffe's rating:

7.6  

Beth Gibbons

Beth's vocals are haunting and beautiful...perfect for the music her bandmates create. I was even more impressed by her vocal delivery once I heard it in a live setting.

Song that got me into them: "Roads" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1jyL3cr60

the giraffe's rating:

8.2  

An ex-girlfriend of mine turned me onto Nina Simone, and I've loved her ever since. Such a great voice and range of talent. She was also a major voice during the civil rights era.

Song I love that's not a cover: "Mississippi Goddamn" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUR9yWzN3zc

the giraffe's rating:

6.9  

One of the most unique female voices I've ever heard...so dark and strange.

Song I first heard: "I Put a Spell on You" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFbYN_8e7g

the giraffe's rating:

8  

I have my parents to thank for introducing me to Patsy Cline. Easily my favorite female singer in all of country music history, she had so much soul she can bring you to tears.

Favorite song: "Walkin' After Midnight" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoFAZSrbu3Y

the giraffe's rating:

7.7  

Fell in love with her voice when she was with the Banshees, of course. She has her own style, which has been often imitated but never surpassed.

Favorite song: "Halloween" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRZ2l9941CM

the giraffe's rating:

7.5  

Grace Slick

One of the best voices in rock history...haunting, beautiful (I think I like those qualities especially, don't you?) and amazing.

As if you haven't already heard: "White Rabbit/Somebody to Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cfTMdjkYM

the giraffe's rating:

6.9  

Song off my favorite album (When the Pawn...): "On the Bound" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBQy1wJrwWg

the giraffe's rating:

7.1  

I love Polly Jean's solo work as well as her collaborations with Nick Cave.

Song that introduced me to her: "Naked Cousin" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FVV6VHPPRo

the giraffe's rating:

6.3  

Got into miz Badu through her collaborations with other hip-hop artists (mainly The Roots and OutKast). She's an amazing performer as well.

Song of hers I love: "On & On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CPCs7vVz6s

the giraffe's rating:

7.5  

If I need to explain or provide a link then I worry about you.

the giraffe's rating:

9  

Free Dominguez

I got into kidneythieves back in the days when music stores had listening stations. Their debut was in one, and the cover art caught my eye so I gave it a chance. I fell in love with Free's voice right away.

Favorite song: "pretty" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds7m2uMKZm4

the giraffe's rating:

7.8  

Aimee Echo

I liked Aimee Echo's previous band Human Waste Project, but I like theSTART even more. Why they're not more popular I'll never know...their albums are great, they're great live, and her vocals are excellent. They're also good people...hung out with them at their shows a few times.

Favorite song: "You, Me & a Knife" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXrpTfF4QsI

the giraffe's rating:

9.5  

Lo Demanche

I first came across Lolo after hearing a song she did with Pigface for their Easy Listening album (terrible video there by the way). I liked her voice so much that I did a search & found she'd recorded an album on Invisible Records (home to Pigface also), so I bought it. That album, Bad Idea, didn't leave my CD player for weeks after I got it. Imagine a mix of Portishead, PJ Harvey, and Massive Attack, and you're getting close to her sound. The album is, unfortunately, extremely rare and she apparently never made a follow-up, which makes me sad.

the giraffe's rating:

6.5  

Kim Deal

I figured I'd put The Breeders in here since they're her band, as opposed to the Pixies which is where I first heard her sing.

Best single that's not "Cannonball": "Divine Hammer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_l4ZOVJ-ts

the giraffe's rating:

8.3  

Carla Kihlstedt

Carla's vocals bring out the feminine side of SGM, a side rarely shown in their music. So when she's on vocals it's a treat.

One song she sings on: "Angle of Repose" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlvvaZl5-k

the giraffe's rating:

8  

Jennifer Charles

Sexy lovely vocals. See also Lovage, where she collaborated with my all-time favorite male vocalist Mike Patton.

Lovage song: "Stroker Ace" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKiXYveusc0

the giraffe's rating:

7.1  

Chan Marshall

Chan's voice is awesome, and the reason I keep buying her albums.

Favorite song off The Greatest: "The Moon" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhSM98UMx3o

the giraffe's rating:

7.5  

Anneke van Giersbergen

Such a great vocal range. The Gathering were merely OK before she joined the band, and aren't anywhere near as good without her now.

An old song of theirs: "Leaves" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5PySbFS6Tg

the giraffe's rating:

7.1  

Toni Halliday

First song of theirs I heard: "Chinese Burn" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s0qbqZeoIk

the giraffe's rating:

5.9  

Eleanor Friedberger

Not a great singer, but I love her vocal delivery & the way it complements their compositions.

One of many favorite songs: "Police Sweater Blood Vow" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atFoVNJxr7c

the giraffe's rating:

5.9  

Andrea Zollo

Favorite single: "This Is Our Emergency" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWhzAWUla_M

the giraffe's rating:

6.4  

Melora Creager

Another unique voice and a great cellist to boot.

Favorite song off my favorite album (Frustration Plantation): "Secret Message" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ck0eAlicaQ

the giraffe's rating:

9  

Another female vocalist I got into thanks to collaborations with Pigface.

Song that introduced me to her: "Nutopia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glynTpbhtdI

the giraffe's rating:

7.3  

Emily Haines

Favorite video off my favorite album (Live It Out): "Monster Hospital" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgFMFkl-Du8

the giraffe's rating:

7.4  

Katharine Whalen

SNZ were entertaining for a while, but the songs where Katharine sang were always their best.

Case in point: "Put a Lid on It" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdAt4qWvz_8

the giraffe's rating:

7.4  

Over time I've liked her less & less, but I still think she has a great voice. Most of the Dresden Dolls releases have been excellent (I don't recommend No, Virginia).

Best video they ever made: "Shores of California" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awnjw36mNEs

the giraffe's rating: