Why even american prog bands dont have good vocals

harmonium.ro wrote: As for Gabriel, you might like his recent album with vocal covers backed by minimal orchestral arrangements (Scratch My Back). I thought it was excellent, and the singer just fantastic. ;)

Have heard about Scratch My Back but haven't heard it yet. Will bite sometime.

rogerthat wrote: Eärendil wrote: kawkaw123 wrote: The best metal vocalist right now is Russel Allen and he is an American IMO he's good but not the best.  I'd say Daniel Gildenlow is one of the best metal vocalists today Agreed, THE best in at least prog metal, if not metal.

Maybe he means literally. Gildenlow's a poser 'rock'. He pretends to be a fat slab of granite when he's not. He's really a human! I see'd it!

I did liked his vocals in "Road Salt One". I don´t know why, i had the curiosity to watch some clips of the band, that was when i discovered he is quite "poser", a là Jon Bon Jovi. And i simple dont undestand what homoerotism have to do with prog. But thats doesnt matter at all, the sound is what matters at the end.

rogerthat wrote: desistindo wrote: I did liked his vocals in "Road Salt One". I don´t know why, i had the curiosity to watch some clips of the band, that was when i discovered he is quite "poser", a là Jon Bon Jovi. And i simple dont undestand what homoerotism have to do with prog. But thats doesnt matter at all, the sound is what matters at the end. What exactly do you mean here by poser? No spandex? Check. No ooh baby? Check.  What, he doesn't dress up like a metalhead and he sings far too melodiously to be one?

Im not saying they´re glam . Im just saying they tend to be homoerotic, as if a lot of chicks listen to them, like this:




Ooh baby, this is poser!

desistindo wrote: rogerthat wrote: desistindo wrote: I did liked his vocals in "Road Salt One". I don´t know why, i had the curiosity to watch some clips of the band, that was when i discovered he is quite "poser", a là Jon Bon Jovi. And i simple dont undestand what homoerotism have to do with prog. But thats doesnt matter at all, the sound is what matters at the end. What exactly do you mean here by poser? No spandex? Check. No ooh baby? Check.  What, he doesn't dress up like a metalhead and he sings far too melodiously to be one? Im not saying they´re glam . Im just saying they tend to be homoerotic, as if a lot of chicks listen to them, like this: Ooh baby, this is poser!

Oh, metal homophobia...one of the main reasons I am tired of the genre and one of the main reasons it will never grow up.   I am through with this. Really, never knew the style of singing - metal or poser rock - is defined by the attire and not the, well, singing.

desistindo wrote: rogerthat wrote: desistindo wrote: rogerthat wrote: desistindo wrote: I did liked his vocals in "Road Salt One". I don´t know why, i had the curiosity to watch some clips of the band, that was when i discovered he is quite "poser", a là Jon Bon Jovi. And i simple dont undestand what homoerotism have to do with prog. But thats doesnt matter at all, the sound is what matters at the end. What exactly do you mean here by poser? No spandex? Check. No ooh baby? Check.  What, he doesn't dress up like a metalhead and he sings far too melodiously to be one? Im not saying they´re glam . Im just saying they tend to be homoerotic, as if a lot of chicks listen to them, like this: Ooh baby, this is poser! Oh, metal homophobia...one of the main reasons I am tired of the genre and one of the main reasons it will never grow up.   I am through with this. Really, never knew the style of singing - metal or poser rock - is defined by the attire and not the, well, singing. As it seems, we agree in opinion: desistindo wrote: I did liked his vocals in "Road Salt One". I don´t know why, i had the curiosity to watch some clips of the band, that was when i discovered he is quite "poser", a là Jon Bon Jovi. And i simple dont undestand what homoerotism have to do with prog. But thats doesnt matter at all, the sound is what matters at the end. I was just pointing the style behind it...

Right, just listening to Gabriel's Street Spirit cover on youtube. I  wish he had tried something like this earlier in his career. Of course, he wouldn't have covered Street Spirit if he had cut this album in the 70s or 80s. But even when I tend to excuse a few faults in intonation in favour of expression and conviction, some of his pitch mistakes here were really jarring.  And as I listen immediately to Yorke on the original, I appreciated his singing much more than I normally do. I was immediately struck by his beautiful lilt, momentum and smooth release (nice power too on the sustain "Fade out AgainSSSS), things which I have never noticed in Gabriel's singing even during his years with Genesis.  It reinforces my impression that many of the celebrated prog singers of the 70s applied themselves tremendously and exploited their appreciation of composition, especially arrangements, to work around their limitations rather than possessing overwhelming flair.

EDIT: As I sample Listening Wind, there is again evidence of the prog rock musician's appreciation of arrangements. Gabriel is working brilliantly with the arrangements. Be they sparse, they are still important because he is using them very effectively to interpret the songs in an original light. The singing though is not brilliant in my reading.


Edited by rogerthat - October 13 2011 at 10:19

You know Echolyn was mentioned, yet no response.  I guess people here are not familiar with them then?  They have a wonderful range of vocals with two lead vocalists, both of whom have character and emotion, as well as technical ability (though not really on the same level as a Jon Anderson or Greg Lake I suppose).  Also, I mentioned Zappa's various vocalists, nearly all of whom were excellent vocalists in every respect (except those two guys from the Turtles, who were pretty much everything I hated about 70's American pop music).  I also happen to think the guys from Kansas were both great vocalists as well, though it's undeniable they were "rock" vocalists primarily.

Still, I understand the feeling that America doesn't really have that many great prog vocalists.  But I'd argue that Progressive Rock has never really had that many great vocalists to begin with.  I agree with the idea that they used the complex arrangement and a sense of drama to elevate otherwise ordinary voices (especially in the case of Gabriel and Hammill...............both of whom I love, by the way).

  As for Prog vocalists, after Gary Brooker, it was mostly downhill.

  There are nearly zero listenable female prog vocalists.