Favorite Vocalists
Not necessarily the best vocalists in the world. Honorable mentions: Janis Joplin, Dave Grohl |
| 1 |  | Alice in Chains
Facelift
Layne Staley.
Jerry Cantrell's sick guitar riffs weren't the only thing that put this band on the map. If Layne was never in the band they would have been just another grunge band that faded away maybe.
favorite performance: Love hate love |
| 2 |  | Soundgarden
Superunknown
Chris Cornell
If Layne is the Freddie Mercury of the 90's then Cornell would be Robert Plant. His high range is not the only thing that is incredible about his voice. He also sounds great with his low, soothing vocals.
favorite performance: Fell on Black Days |
| 3 |  | Queen
A Day at the Races
Freddie Mercury was a vocal god. nuff said.
favorite performance: Death on two legs/Bohemian Rhapsody |
| 4 |  | Pink Floyd
Meddle
David Gillmour was always the best singer Pink Floyd had. The only ones who come close are keyboardist Richard Wright and former frontman Syd Barret. Roger Waters was a better lyricist than Gillmour but his vocal range is nowhere near as good (I've also heard he wasn't very good at bass but who cares because Pink Floyd is the shit)
favorite performance: Echoes (Richard Wright helps with his epic high harmonies) |
| 5 |  | Rush
Hemispheres
Geddy Lee has gotten criticism from the press when the band was just starting but the fans always understood he was the right singer for the job.
favorite performance: Circumstances |
| 6 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
...Like Clockwork
It's weird to think Josh Homme was once not a singer when he was in Kyuss. And now, no offense to Garcia, but Josh has developed a more unique style than his former singer. (I still like Garcia's voice and love Kyuss) Then in 1997/1998 Homme comes out with his own band QOTSA and puts his odd soulful vocal style over his unique, chunky riffs which makes him not only one of the best guitarists from today but one of the most innovative songwriters. He is often considered a ginger version of Elvis.
favorite performance: Fairweather Friends/...Like Clockwork |
| 7 |  | Deftones
White Pony
For anyone not familiar with Deftones, this is the album to start. Lumped in the nu-metal genre, Deftones have always had a consistent career and they are still going strong. Chino Moreno's vocals have always been my favorite part about the band (along with Abe Cunningham's sick beats). Moreno can sing like an angel one minute before screaming like a demon. His high range has gotten worse though sadly.
favorite performance: Digital Bath |
| 8 |  | Radiohead
Amnesiac
Thom Yorke, what a voice. Just makes me want to cry. And on top of that, he can play guitar and piano.
favorite performance: Pyramid Song (he does have better vocal performances but this song will make you cum grapes) |
| 9 | | O'Brother
Garden Window
Another great up and coming band that could become huge any minute. When I first saw these guys open for the Dear Hunter I thought Tanner Merrit had such a unique, dynamic, yet powerful voice. He is O'brother.
favorite performance: Poison!/Cleanse Me |
| 10 | | The Mars Volta
Deloused in the Comatorium
Cedric Bixler Zavala's vocal style has come a long way since his days with At the Drive In. Some find his vocals to be a little too much but I think they sound jizztastic.
favorite performance: Cicatriz ESP |
| 11 |  | Nirvana
Nevermind
A lot of people think Kurt wasn't that good of a singer. and i say no way, Jose. Obviously nowhere near as powerful as Layne Staley or Cornell but would you listen to Nirvana if Kurt got a singer? Nope. I just don't think Kurt tried that hard but even when he didn't try he still had a unique style at the time and now there are thousands of imitators like a crappy band called seether.
favorite performance: Something in the Way |
| 12 |  | My Morning Jacket
Z
Jim James puts everything he's got into his concerts which is why they are still one of the best live bands out there. I'm lucky I got to see this album performed live in its entirety (minus the last song) when it came out in 2005. I had no idea they would never top this album. just watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMbqlK5OY2I
favorite performance: Dondante |
| 13 |  | Faith No More
The Real Thing
The band that inspired Chino Moreno. Mike Patton can do a lot of crazy voices. He even once sang for Dillinger Escape Plan.
favorite performance: The Real Thing |
| 14 |  | Silversun Pickups
Swoon
When this band put out their debut in 2007, a lot of people thought it was a girl singing. Now Silversun Pickups are a pretty big band and while Brian Aubert has a great guitar tone, his voice is often overlooked. Very dynamic and powerful.
favorite performance: Panic Switch |
| 15 |  | Tool
Lateralus
Maynard James Keenan. What a dark, powerful, haunting voice. He even sung on the best Deftones album.
favorite performance: The Grudge/Lateralus |
| 16 |  | The Beatles
Abbey Road
I don't know why I put this so far down the list since a lot of these other bands on the list were probably influenced by them in some way. John Lennon wrote the better songs, while Paul McCartney wrote about more cheesy stuff sometimes. Lennon had more of a baritone/low tenor range while McCartney could sing in a high range. Nothing could stop them except Yoko Ono.
favorite performance: (can't just pick one) |
| 17 | | The Dear Hunter
Act II
Casey Creszenco comes from a post hardcore background with his old band the Receiving ends of sirens. The Dear Hunter is more of a prog rock (early material)/ indie rock (new stuff) band. Casey's vocals amaze me. Very versatile singer and a wonderful songwriter.
favorite performance: The Lake and the River/The Procession |
| 18 | | Rainbow
Rainbow Rising
Honestly I'm not a big fan of Dio's solo work or even his work with Heaven and Hell/Black Sabbath. But this album is amazing and everyone knows he had great vocal chops. His voice worked well with Ritchie Blackmore's guitar playing.
favorite performance: stargazer |
| 19 |  | The Smashing Pumpkins
Siamese Dream
I might get some flack for this because many people think Billy Corgan is just a whiny bitch. But his soft to loud vocal dynamics fit so well with the Pumkins' music. Definitely one of the best guitarists today as well.
favorite performance: Mayonaisse/Quiet |
| 20 |  | Deep Purple
Machine Head
Ian Gillian is awesome and just seems like a chill dude. Too bad there was a rift between him and Ritchie Blackmore.
favorite performance: Highway Star/Pictures of Home |
| 21 |  | Pearl Jam
Ten
Eddie Vedder influenced many singers (a lot of them were annoying like Creed). His best work may be on this album.
favorite performance: Black/Release |
| 22 |  | Kyuss
Welcome to Sky Valley
Josh Homme created stoner rock by plugging in detuned guitars to bass amps, but John Garcia's vocals would serve as a blueprint for many desert rock singers to follow. At first I did not like his voice but then it grew on me.
favorite performance: Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop/Demon Cleaner |
| 23 |  | Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
I don't know why this is so low. Keep in mind this list is in no order. Robert Plant is one of the original singers of the hard rock genre and he influenced countless of singers who wanted to sing high stuff. But that wasn't what he all about. His soft vocals worked well with their more stripped down songs.
favorite performance: Rain Song/The Ocean |
| 24 |  | Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything to Nothing
Andy Hull is the chief songwriter of the band and his voice is different than a lot of singers. How do i describe it? just listen to this album
favorite performance: shake it out |
| 25 |  | 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
Let's keep this at the bottom of the list because Jared Leto became a pretentious douche. But when I listen to this album I can't deny he has killer vocals.
favorite performance: Fallen/Welcome to the Universe |
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