ca_gere Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Most singer/songwriters make me cringe and walk the other way. Even the words make me go red with embarrassment for some reason. They immediately remind me of this (painfully slow intro/build up followed by an internal 'stars in their eyes' moment where you decide how good their voice is) Then I'll hear the odd one that just gives me goosebumps and I'm reminded of how beautifully pure the simple combination of a voice, a guitar and a good song can be. Then I think i'm too harsh on these wishy washy songsmiths and that I should give some a chance. What's everyone's opinion on them (and I know the term is a bit loose) and who do people recommend checking out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colb Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Joshua T PiersonSteve EarleTownes Van Zandt When it comes to one man and a guitar I go country. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jester1470 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Most singer/songwriters make me cringe and walk the other way. Even the words make me go red with embarrassment for some reason. They immediately remind me of this (painfully slow intro/build up followed by an internal 'stars in their eyes' moment where you decide how good their voice is) Then I'll hear the odd one that just gives me goosebumps and I'm reminded of how beautifully pure the simple combination of a voice, a guitar and a good song can be. Then I think i'm too harsh on these wishy washy songsmiths and that I should give some a chance. What's everyone's opinion on them (and I know the term is a bit loose) and who do people recommend checking out? I quite like a good singer/songwriter, my favourites include: John Wesley - http://www.john-wesley.com/ - occasional sideman with Porcupine TreeJo McCafferty - not all of her stuff sounds complete as like many singer/songwriters much is a stop gap until she can do it with a band, but stuff like Chiar Daca Ma Duareh wouldn't work as anything but one voice, one guitarKitchen Cynics - Alan's work has some of the best storytelling lyrics aroundSteven Page - Although I prefer his stuff with the BNL his solo stuff has a great charm to it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steviepearce Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Check out Jon Gomm. How a guy can play guitar like that and sing I don't know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Like everything there's good and bad examples. There's a fair number of singer/songwriters that make me cringe and I can appreciate why the term would turn people off. However loads of great ones in the folk, blues and country worlds: Kelly Joe Phelps Kris Drever Tim O'Brien Rachel Sermanni Dick Gaughan Alasdair Roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ca_gere Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Thanks for the suggestions. My Girlfriend will occassionally put on a plinky plonky track that will slip into my consciousness and I'll ask her what it was but I very rarely listen to an all acoustic album so i'm not familiar with many. It's true that the quality seems better when the genre is more niche. The cringey types are your Newton Faulkners and your Damien Jurados. Actually, Damien Jurado is/was pretty good. I don't count your visionary multi-instrumental artiste types in this singer/songwriter description (beck, foetus, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monster Zero Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 William Elliot Whitmore, fantastic voice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eupraxia Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Everything Mark Kozelek has touched is pretty golden to my ears; eponymous material and the Sun Kil Moon records will be of particular note if you're looking for singer-songwriter stuff; Red House Painters was predominantly band-based, although still excellent and worth indulging in. Truly affecting music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kozelek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svmM_jC3Ev0 He stops partway through this song to reproach a loud talker: "Can someone give that guy a valium or something, please??"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grf38QzDoAU 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monster Zero Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Tim Buckley, bit stylistically varied but his solo performance stuff is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 William Elliot Whitmore, fantastic voice This guy is the best. So entrancing for just a man and a guitar. I saw him support Converge, of all people. He started off slow, singing in a low, gentle register, which had all these hardcore kids scoffing. Then he just ripped into it. Silenced everyone. So badass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 For what it's worth, my favourites are...Roy HarperLal WatersonKevin CoyneSandy DennyNick DrakeBridget St JohnTom RappAnne BriggsSyd BarrettRichard ThompsonLoudon Wainwright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ca_gere Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 William Elliot Whitmore, fantastic voice I wasn't totally sure about his voice at first, it has that Eddie Vedder weird pronunciation thing going on, but he won me over by the end. Thanks for sharing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ca_gere Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 For what it's worth, my favourites are...Roy HarperLal WatersonKevin CoyneSandy DennyNick DrakeBridget St JohnTom RappAnne BriggsSyd BarrettRichard ThompsonLoudon Wainwright Drake and Barret are the only ones on this list i''ve listened to. Lots of listenables therefore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 (edited) I agree the term can make me cringe a bit too but sometimes they seem to have that something extra for me and do great things. Edited October 23, 2013 by Paranoid Android Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyboy Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 (edited) Used to listen to Ed Hamell a lot: Kaki King, some of which is full band, some is flashy instrumental acoustic, but others are more singer-songwriter stuff. Edited October 23, 2013 by scottyboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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