good band, bad singer
 

This isn't a "who is the worst singer in the world" thread or about bands who genuinely suck, it's about bands who have really really good music but the band could be a thousand times better with a better singer.

I can usually ignore the vocals if the music's good but sometimes the vocals overtake everything...

So, again: good music, bad vocalists.

The Blood Brothers - I don't think the music is GREAT but they had some creative riffs and structures and could've been a lot better if 99% of their music wasn't dominated by those two awful singers.

Black Eyes - Even moreso than Blood Brothers, a great fucking Dischord band with some of the worst vocals I've ever heard.

Minus the Bear - Shockingly creative riffing (usually relying on finger tapping but not always; on some of their later stuff, riffs sounded like the guitarists didn't really know how to play and stuff -- really original stuff) but the vocals just don't do the music justice at all. The vocalist is one of those awesome guitarists though.

Les Savy Fav - Love the music, the guitarist is definitely amongst the best around. Too bad the vocals are terrible. The lyrics, while sometimes clever, are a bit too full of puns and ridiculous wordplay, and the vocalist just doesn't know what to do with his voice.

GlassJAw - Excellent and creative post-hardcore band who really knew how to write dynamic, multi layered, well-produced songs with some great guitar interplay. Too bad the vocalist is THE worst I've ever heard.. he either screams retardedly or sings in the whiniest voice ever without actually hitting a note.

Ponytail - Amazing and creative music... too bad the girl just makes cat meows and lion roars over the whole thing. Not so bad on the new album, but on the first album, her voice overtook everything and was even distorted (very very trebley) so her voice was SHARP whenever she yelled. I like the idea that they don't really have lyrics, but damn this band would just be unbelievable with a good vocalist.

Necrophagist - Without a doubt, the most creative, complex, and over-the-top-in-every-way death metal band to ever exist. Too bad the vocals are just monotonous Cookie Monster growls.

Honorable mention:
Mr. Bungle - I love "Disco Volante" as much as the next guy, and I think Patton is pretty brilliant on there the whole time. However, on the other Bungle albums, he occassionally masks the brilliant music. This is especially the case on the self-titled album. Another reason to listen to Secret Chiefs 3 instead...

thats was the wrong thread hahahahaah

I love bondage.

For some reason, my girlfriend doesn't want me to buy a ball gag...

But she doesn't mind if I use a little ball and a necktie and put it in her mouth which is pretty much the same look and effect of a ball gag.

I think she feels icky about having an actual "ball gag" in her mouth.

Kind of like a chick who doesn't want to use a dildo but doesn't mind using a banana.

Weird.

I know

The Germs

Hhaha.

I really like Black Eyes even if the singer is terrible.

Ugh. I've been told I listen to bands that are good with terrible singers. i.e. Arab on Radar, Erase Eratta, KK Rampage, etc.

I think those weird ass vocals are really important to those bands.

sometimes, yes. I imagine blood brothers without vocals would make them soundin totally different. but it would be worth a try

Oh I like all the vocals to those bands, Hayden. The Arab on Radar guy's hilarious.

For clarification to anyone, I'm talking about bands where you yourself don't like the vocalists but enjoy the music.

The Germs would actually be a great band if it weren't for Darby idiot Crash. As musicians they were actually quite tight.

sometimes nico gets on my nerves on the first VU record, but only sometimes

Yeah, the Germs were really creative. Great riffs.

Crucifucks guy got on my nerves sometimes. As you listen to their album, you go, "I didn't realize he sang like that on EVERY SONG."

He's fantastic. I think they broke up because he got more nasally on every record and he couldn't get anymore nasally than on Yahweh.

I love Nico's voice.

I love it too
because of that I say sometimes, no particular tracks, just sometimes I wonder how that would sound if somebody else would sing it

Well on the Velvet Underground live reunion DVD, Lou Reed and John Cale sing Nico's parts.

That DVD sucks though so I dunno.

Whoever does vocals for Refused.

dennis licksdick or something.

I should check this.
even thoigh I think that nico sounds somewhat perfect in her songs. its just sometimes, ah I dunno it itches

dude, the blood brothers and glassjaw are pretty terrible despite the vocalisr.

totally agree with black eyes

i actually like tim harrington as a vocalist/frontman. hes exciting to watch, funny, and overall entertaining. i know im gonna get shit for this but i love les savy fav's earlier records. i really think inches is phenomenal. great artsy fartsy punk with great rhythms and riffs. that last records was a fucking joke though. and it wasnt harrington's fauly, it was the band's fault. the music was fucking boring. all the creativity from the earlier records was nowhere in sight.


my pics:
mission of burma (not terrible, but for some reason i just found the vocals to be boring ahd plain for a band that is anything but boring and plain)
cryptopsy (the most technically over the top and impressive death metal band ever, and my favorite for the first three records, but they have a new vocalist every record, and the dude never has time to find his place within the band)
boredoms.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .............................just okidiing

Smashing Pumpkins are very good, Billy Corgan sucks.

The Stooges: Iggy has certainly come a long way, but those those first couple of Stooges albums, if it weren't for the music backing him up, would they even be nearly as classic as they are considered to be today?

i cant stand the guys voice in the Shins. But then i think they're shit anyway, but whether thats because of his voice or because they're shit i dont know.

ac/dc since 1980

They suck at making slow songs.

hahaha absolutely
(right for the second time)

i call him (brian whatsisface) "replacement dude"

angus and the gang still rock majorly but i cannot abide that man's voice. nails on a fucking chalkboard.

yes its like he should clean his throat a few times more often after eating dust without a glass of water (in the bad not the cool way)

word.

you're a fucking heretic.

Plant's voice really grates on me when he's doing the more rock-y "BABYBABYBABY" type stuff. He's good otherwise.

perhaps, but I only speak the truth, regardless of what the Bishopric of the Music Industry says..

Basically every band I've ever purposefully listened to. 'Good' singers just bore me, I think a distinctively poor or just limited singer adds more idiosyncrasy and character to a band. People are always sending me mp3s of bands with 'good singers' and they just sound like every other band with a 'good singer'. BORING.

Sonic Youth; none of them can really sing that well. Lee is more tuneful than the others but you can hear him reaching his limits now and then. Tom Waits sounds like a big smokestack 18-wheeler full of bourbon drove over his throat. Daniel Johnston sings like a hyperactive child. Conor Oberst at times approaches goat-throat territory. (Early) Beck and Willy Mason both sound like they have a cold. I wouldn't have them any other way.

Sometimes I can indulge in some more tuneful singing from M. Ward, Cat Power, The Beach Boys, Zooey Deschanel and their ilk, but still their voices all have distinct character, which is more than can be said for the constant 'talented' twat parade on the radio..

Smashing Pumpkins (ok maybe not ALL his singing)

I can't say if Led Zepplin's music is good or bad , cause I can't stand the vocals.

Dufus - they are awesome to see live but on record seth's voice is like a cheese grater on my soul within thirty seconds

Agreed on Zeppelin, in spades.

Also....

Deerhoof.

Deerhoof's vocals are beautiful.

Batreleaser, I'm not a huge fan of Glassjaw or Blood Brothers, but musically they are both actually pretty interesting bands. I have to admit it even though it's embarassing. The vocals just ruin any chance of them ever being taken seriously though.

SlipKnot actually have a lot of interesting musical ideas too, especially on their self-titled album but the "RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Cory Taylor growl pretty much always ruins it for me.