Jarboe's solo work continues to reach out further into avant-garde sound, more abstract and ambient than her work in Swans. Percussionist Thor Harris from Swans joins her. Textures of strings aid in creating the waves of sound unfolding here. Both Jarbo and Gira have ventured out into sonic regions beyond the outskirts of conventional songwriting, which almost share more in common with free jazz. Here, there is even a more classical feel if we are talking about composers like Johan Adams or Philip Glass. "Francesa Sun" is haunted by a longing. Sparse droning arrangement floating as lightly as her voice carries its almost chanted melody.
The eerie layering of sounds is not as depressive in its introspection as Swans, but there is a similar sound bath feel as "Soundtracks for the Blind" just achieved through different methods. "The Choir and the Nightfox" is a little darker. It is more of a trance-inducing pulse of sound wrapped into a simple droning melody. "Breathe" is highly meditative, but musically not much, as it consists of bells ringing over ambient synth sounds. This sprawls out for nine mintues.
"Vireo Seranade" touches on the bird theme that provided the inspiration for this album. It feels like it might be an intro for a Swans song rather than the meat of it. The Sangha mix of the first song comes next, it feels a little more intense in its droning layers, almsot a post-rock vibe. I have enjoyed this album. I got a new puppy and it helps him relax when I put it on. It often reminds me more of what Swans did sonically than some of the Swans post-reunion work. But it is not song-oriented, so I will round it down to a 9, which is still better than what most albums get.
Digging deeper into our list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective, but not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre, while placing the spotlight on the singer's technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? All factors are being considered here, lyrical content and the instruments they play do not factor in as these ranking is based on vocal merit alone. How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers.
The same can be said of song writers which is why most Bob Dylan songs sound better covered by someone else. Needless to say, ole Robert Zimmerman is not making the cut. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these are doing their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists have still made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.
130 -Brett Campbell
Campbell's bright tenor brings a soaring contrast to his band's doomy crunch. He manages to do this with little pretense keeping power metal comparisons at bay. he has a great deal of power but uses it smoothly to allow his mournful melodies to ache rather than command.
129-Zola Jesus
Dark wave and post punk revivalists have been keen on emulating the voice of Siouxsie and when Nika Danilova first emerged from the witch house scene there was a hint of that to her voice her throaty belt has gain more colors as her career progressed into dancey regions of sound.
128-Jarboe
Her most classic work is during her tenure lending her ghostly voice to Swans but has since sung on a wide variety of other dark music projects. One of the more influential singers of the dark music scene.
127- Libby Lux
Her voice is what separates the Bridge City Sinners from the other punk rock train kids who picked up banjos in the last decade. She can go from a 20s jazz croon to black metal rasp all in the course of a song.
126-Eric Wagner
There was something fragile and desperate to his voice when Wagner shrieked over the doom riffs of his band Trouble. There is more soul to his voice than most of the singers he would later inspire.
125-Jeremy Enigk
He was way ahead of his time developing his style of singing that would be later thought of as emo. Three albums into the career of Sunny Day Realestate his range double along with the vocal colors he employed.
124- Imogen Heap
Her vocal style is characterized by layers of harmonies. Something best left in the context of the studio which is why despite being influential she is not ranked higher. She does get credit for throwing her voice around in a less than mainstream manner.
123-Farida Lemouchi
The singer of the Devil's Blood took what bands like Coven did before her and her brother and did it better.One of the few band's that were actually sincere in their desire to sing praises to darkness, Farida did so with passion and power.
122-Miny Parsonz
The front woman of Royal Thunder utilizes her tremendous range with a great deal of power, that recalls metal singers of the 80s, but run through a filter of cigarette smoke and cheap hotel rooms.
121-Ike Willis
Frank Zappa was known for only employing the highest tier of musicians. Not being much of a singer himself, many of these tremedous talents had to step up to the mic on behalf of Frank, but Ike had the best pipes of them all with husky soulful voice that could easily flip over into a falsetto.
It's 2020 we are making a bigger deal out of how wet the nether regions are rather than the quaity of music being made. Granted the people doing this must have never heard of Lil Kim. This also gives me the chance to take break from the lists of androgynous guys and makes this one.The top 40 hottest female artists, might come one day I am bored at some point but right now we are just focusing on the music. After all if you are writing good songs that stick in my head I do not care what you look like. You are not going to see artists here that I feel are covered by those who do what they do better or are such originators in their genre why listen to imitators. Not only does this list give commonly under rated artists their proper place, but I dig into as expected from me both harder and darker artists not mentioned in the same breath as pop artists. Speaking of that is covered by a handful of ladies as more would be redundant. There is one big one here in particular that takes care of everything . Only one rapper, and they are unique , and this is about their impact on music as a whole so iconoclasts not strippers with prodiucers or entertainers alone. Since this the Abysmal Hymns list there will of course be a darker slant and singer's with any gospel leanings that are blasphemous are obviously disqualified. So here we go...
20- Beth Gibbons - Portishead
This is a case of where an artists greatness is truly revealed in the number of artists they went on to influeced. While I love Beth's haunting passion, it is the impact she has that earns her place here.
19-Miny- Parsonz-Royal Thunder
Parsonz does what Lizzy Hae does better. With has more of a Joplin like grit and one of the best female rock voices going today .
18-Zola Jesus
She stands alone when it comes to modern dark pop. AHer sound has evolved yet her music remains distinct. I only wish she would put out a new album sooner than later.
17-Anneke van Giersbergen- the Gathering
Before female sirens adding a romantic touch to things became more common place in metal Anneke was waeaving a spell without even trying to be a witch like many of today's singers do. Having her on this list elimantes the need to include singers who followed in her steps such as Nightwish or Delain
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16-Emma Ruth Rundle
This singer songwriter fronted the prog band Marriages before embarking on her darker solo venture. There is a great deal of depth to her voice, but it's her knack as a song writer that solidifies her place here
15 -Sinead O Connor
This singer become known for controversy and ecentric nature , in truth she has an amazing versitile voice and while I like the Cranberries , if Sinead is on the list then I have that base covered already and she does it better.
14- Chelsea Wolfe
If this was a list of todays female rock singers then she would top the list , this is more encompassing and the top ten has women who influenced her.
13- Taylor Swift
She has grown past pop country and past pop stardom with her newst album really cementing her as not only some one to be taken seriously , but worthy of her place on this list.
12-Pj Harvey
Not punk enough to fall into the whole riot grrrl trend, too angry to fit neatly into the singer song writer thing. She has enough grunge to her sound and a dynamic enough voice to fil the gap where other people might gravitate to Patti Smith.
11-Jarboe - Swans
Yes she has done solo stuf, she has worked with Neurosis and other bands however her work with the Swans alone is enough to put her here. Granted the Swans are one of my top 10 bands of all times, so I might be dias but she provided the light to Gira's darkness , even Chelsea Wolfe counts her as an infuence so that why she is here and Chelsea is down where she is.
Wow things have changed. The first song sounds more like Nick Cave than the band I remember. I love Nick Cave so I am not complaining. There is a more familiar metallic kick to " the Seer's Embrace". There is a higher vocal that is kinda black metal in it's malice , but overall the song is more sludge. Sonically it is occupying a similar space as the last Amen Ra album. The use of clean vocals is well done and not a good cop/ bad cop trade off. The use of strings also adds texture. I can hear where people might be quick to call it post-rock. This album also features guest performances by two former Swans members, Jarboe and Thor Harris, who appear on "Vernal Equinox" . So how can they go wrong ? The album is really dialed in when it comes to the sense of dynamics.
They blacken their sludge on "Empty Hands, Hollow Hymns". The first three minutes are very focused on the metallic intensity, before they become more expansive in the sounds they bring to the table at the other 8 minutes unfolds. This is less experimental in the range of atmosphere employed. Thus it falls in line with more traditional sludge. Midway there is a break down where it drops to strings and guitar, but there are many sludge bands that are no strangers to post-rock leanings. There is a more Agalloch like drone to the neo folk of "Hewn From Falling Water".
They close with the longest song which is the 14 and a half minutes of "Of Moss and Stone" Jarboe lends her voice to this one as well. When it comes to the more metal display of power, they don't go anywhere they have not already been though the double bass is more relentless in the heavier moment in the first half of the song. A minute and a half of chaotic noise could have been trimmed off the end of the song. Otherwise it builds into the most black metal moment of the album. I will give this album a 9 and see how it grows on me. It is more hypnotic than it is heavy so take that in mind going into this. It is being released on Profound Lore.
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