The Top 10 List: (Modern) Singers (in no ranking order)

Given that some of my favorite artists of forever have come through town recently (with many more on the horizon), I thought that it would be appropriate to compile a shortlist of sorts for my Top 10 (Modern) Singers that I have come into contact in my life. Of course, it is completely unfair to put these in any ranking order since they all have different talents, and gifts that all need to be praised differently.


1) Jeff Buckley
Grace is one of those lasting records for me. I thought that it just fell into my hands at the right time, until I realized that a lot of people have had such a similar experience. For me, Buckley’s music was a realization that a voice was also an instrument, rather than just a tool to get your thoughts across. I remember sitting in my Volkswagen bus in high schoo,l and just trying to understand how he could possibly hit those notes at the end of this song. Just when you think he had reached his limit, that’s when he pulled the rug out from under you.

[mp3] Jeff Buckley - Grace

2) James Grundler
I think James Grundler (Golden State, Paloalto) gets too much flack for sounding like Thom Yorke. The truth is that a lot of his older songs really do sound like Radiohead knockoffs. This fault many times distracts listeners from hearing the massive lungs that this guy has, which allows him to belt notes with precision and ease. We have given him the nickname “the Ramp” for the way his voice launches into these jaw dropping high spots.

[mp3] James Grundler – Made of Stone (Live)

3) Jimmy Gnecco
The first time I heard Gnecco sing was at the Troubadour in LA, where by the end of the show he was climbing up the railings oscillating between his head voice and falsetto. His voice could be called Jeff Buckley’s banshee at moments, yet his voice can downsize into a Bono-like warble. His scream is the craziest vocal performances I have ever witnessed. Yeah…the craziest…ever.

[mp3] Ours – Fallen Souls

4) Thom Yorke
It’s impossible not to have Yorke on this list. In Radiohead’s early years he was known for his range that translated into being emotionally effective. Of course, it is hard not to get the chills when he hits and holds in “Creep” and “Sulk.” But as Yorke has matured, his vocals have separated themselves from having to rely on his “power lung,” and yet still trying to hit the emotional bull’s-eye. I think that he has damned good aim at this point in his life.

[mp3] Radiohead – 2+2=5 (The Lukewarm)

5) Bono
As a living legend of vocal rock, as well as full-time do-gooder, it is hard to discount the influence that such a voice has had. In other words, how many of the listed artists secretly used, “Where The Streets Have No Name” as vocal practice when they were growing up? I bet that number is higher than we might want to believe.

[mp3] U2 - Acrobat

6) Bjork
Only one female makes the list this time around; yet, this little Icelandic princess could probably out huff, out puff, and blow down any freakin’ house that stands in her way. Only a true vocalist can tour with an orchestra without being cheesy (sorry Metallica), and make an album with only vocals and not come of pretentious. Bjork’s voice during the outro of “Joga” seems to be continually on the rise, and reaches the realms of impossibility.

[mp3] Bjork - Joga

7) Cinjun Tate
Way before Garden State, Remy Zero was one of my favorite bands (I guess Zach Braff and I do have something in common). Cinjun makes you hurt with the ease that his voice weave its way into harmonies and up scales seamlessly. “Hollow” might be my favorite RZ tune of all-time, and possibly the reason they were deemed the American Radiohead when Villa Elaine was released. If you dig, check out Cinjun’s heartbreakingly beautiful new band Spartan Fidelity.

[mp3] Remy Zero - Hollow

8) Jeff Mangum
Mangum isn’t the guy that should be picked for the team, and yet when you see him out on the court he has some crazy insane skill, like being able to speak at a louder volume than anybody else on the playground. Before you realize it the whole school is sitting around mesmerized by the, “I-can-sing-louder-than-you” boy who is sitting atop the basketball hoop. And then we applaud and he runs away. Forever? For some reason I have a really good feeling that he will be back for the second half.

[mp3] Neutral Milk Hotel – Two-Headed Boy

9) Nick Urata
DeVotchKa’s Nick Urata is the type of guy who sings his way out of problems as well as into heartache. Your mom would get a crush on Urata as soon as he opened his mouth, and started warbling in his Spaniard goes eastern-European accent (no don’t go thinking Borat now). That is all before your girlfriend started drooling and the lesbian in the corner decided to switch teams. Don’t believe me? I have experienced it with my own eyes, and us lonely guys are the ones who have to deal with the heartache. Thanks Nick.

[mp3] DeVotchKa – Twenty-Six Temptations

10) Maynard James Keenan
First off, I can’t believe I am actually putting A Perfect Circle song up on the Content. But being a true Maynard fan (and Pushit was 15 MB) I couldn’t help myself. Maynard’s voice is as good a croon as it is a growl, and at 40-ish he still has it in him. Since Tool looks to be on the out and A Perfect Circle is kaput, I would like to see Maynard try to do something outside of the whole power chord, art-rock genre. Just imagine if he pulled a Beirut.

[mp3] A Perfect Circle – Three Libras (Acoustic)