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Voices That Get Better With Age

Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
edited June 2007 in Other Music
Eveyone always talks about how people like Chris Cornell and Robert Plant can't sing like they used to now that they're aging. But I want to talk about voices that you feel have improved with age.
My three choices:

Corin Tucker (Sleater Kinney): say what you want about S-K's supporting slot for Pearl Jam... On The Woods, Corin's voice was at its prime, a precision instrument with power and passion.

Tom Waits: Okay, maybe he didn't technically become a better singer, but over the years, he became more expressive, and more experimental with his voice. I'd certainly take his voice on Rain Dogs over his voice on Closing Time.

Ed Vedder: Controversial perhaps, but I'd take his current, more melodic voice over the blunt, brute-force drawl of yesteryear.
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  • Alex_CoeAlex_Coe Posts: 762
    Josh Homme, probably
  • DeetroitBaasketballDeetroitBaasketball Posts: 379
    Plant's voice isn't what it was, but he's adjusted well to age and still sounds pretty amazing. Sounded great with Vedder a few years back.
  • intodeepintodeep Posts: 7,228
    Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:
    Ed Vedder: Controversial perhaps, but I'd take his current, more melodic voice over the blunt, brute-force drawl of yesteryear.

    I disagree with you here.

    Not sure of a voice that has gotten better with time. I'll have to think harder.
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  • Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    Billy Corgan's voice is fantastic right now.

    As is Cornell's.. since he got his shit together and made an effort to repair his voice I think he's better than ever in a lot of ways.

    I definetly agree that Vedder is better than ever now. Live his voice sounds more enthusiastic and expressive than ever before. Also he's a much more well rounded and versatile singer than he was say back in 1992.
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  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:
    Ed Vedder: Controversial perhaps, but I'd take his current, more melodic voice over the blunt, brute-force drawl of yesteryear.

    I don't know, both Ed's early voice and his current voice have both good and bad points. 2006 Ed thankfully doesn't 'yarl' like 1991 Ed did, but at the same time, 2006 Ed really butchers songs like Why Go and Once.

    As for voices that get better with age, I really can't think of any.
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  • failedpersephonefailedpersephone Posts: 3,424
    Chris Cornell.


    yeah, people - see him live and then know that he OWNS
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  • Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    Dylan's voice got better with age until the 80s. His 70s boots are unbelievable.
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  • Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    failedpersephone wrote:
    Chris Cornell.


    yeah, people - see him live and then know that he OWNS

    I agree that he "owns", and I'd say that Chris Cornell is better than he has been in years, but I'd see that as regaining ground, rather than actually improving.
    DOSW wrote:
    I don't know, both Ed's early voice and his current voice have both good and bad points. 2006 Ed thankfully doesn't 'yarl' like 1991 Ed did, but at the same time, 2006 Ed really butchers songs like Why Go and Once.

    I don't really think Ed "butchers" those songs. He might not be able to sing them like he did 15 years ago, but I'd be surprised if you could pick a performance that sounds genuinely bad.
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • MilestoneMilestone Posts: 1,140
    I think most singers hit a peak. Usually their " middle" era material is better than the "early" and "later" years.
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  • pearlzepfanpearlzepfan Posts: 456
    This might be strange, but I think Paul McCartneys voice got better as he aged. I've been listening to his new album quite a lot lately and he still can rock.
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  • Blind MelonBlind Melon Posts: 911
    Brandon Boyd and Thom Yorke get my vote.
    If I could, think I would give in.
  • MLC2006MLC2006 Posts: 861
    all you people talking about Chris Cornell not losing it obviously didn't hear him on Howard Stern last week doing "Black Hole Sun". I could've done it better. it was literally almost unlistenable. anybody can go into a studio and make a voice sound however they want it to. but last week, live on the radio, it was very clear that his voice is gone.
  • Matty BoyMatty Boy Posts: 421
    Anthony Kiedis, but he's not much of a singer anyways. Other than that I would say nobody. You guys who are saying Ed are full of shit and you know it. You would trade the 2006 Eddie for the early 90's Eddie in a second.
  • Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    Matty Boy wrote:
    Anthony Kiedis, but he's not much of a singer anyways. Other than that I would say nobody. You guys who are saying Ed are full of shit and you know it. You would trade the 2006 Eddie for the early 90's Eddie in a second.

    Nice to be told what I think...
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  • LuthienTinuvielLuthienTinuviel Posts: 125
    i agree with eddie and anthony kiedis (just listen to wet sand)

    i don't think that chris cornells voice got better over the years...what does not mean that i don't like him anymore

    and johnny cash...got deeper...in both ways ;)
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  • BlackeyedangelBlackeyedangel Posts: 262
    I think Thom Yorke has done the best job of maintaining his voice over the last 15 years. I don't really hear much of a difference while listening to The Bends or Ok Computer and then listening to The Eraser or the songs for the next album. It hasn't gotten better, but it's sounds pretty much the same. I really can't think of anyone who's voice has improved over time after a significant amount of time. Maybe from one album to the next there can be a small difference but in general I can't think of any unless they started while still very young.
  • Blind MelonBlind Melon Posts: 911
    I don't know... I definitely do think it's gotten better... maybe I should've just seen them live when they were doing Pablo Honey to majorly admit it, but when I saw them at Bonnaroo last year, his voice was just phenomenal, and he's kind of got like a fast-pace singing that sounds so good to which he didn't do years ago... I forget what song it is, but oh... Bodysnatchers... like I said, I can't really see his voice changing on albums, except from the Bends to OK, I think it definitely sounds different from there... but other than that, the only way I see his voice getting better is live.
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  • analogueaddict72analogueaddict72 Posts: 307
    Dave Gahan Depeche Mode

    Is voice on the early DM albums isn't that great but Violator onwards he just seemed to get better, Exciter & Playing the Angel show his voice in fine form.

    I'd also say Bono from Achtung Baby onwards his voice has got more diverse & rich, his vocal performance on Sometimes You can't make it on your own is incredible.
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:
    I don't really think Ed "butchers" those songs. He might not be able to sing them like he did 15 years ago, but I'd be surprised if you could pick a performance that sounds genuinely bad.

    When Eddie yells nowadays his voice goes into a high, almost comedic pitch. :)
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  • BlackeyedangelBlackeyedangel Posts: 262
    Blind Melon wrote:
    I don't know... I definitely do think it's gotten better... maybe I should've just seen them live when they were doing Pablo Honey to majorly admit it, but when I saw them at Bonnaroo last year, his voice was just phenomenal, and he's kind of got like a fast-pace singing that sounds so good to which he didn't do years ago... I forget what song it is, but oh... Bodysnatchers... like I said, I can't really see his voice changing on albums, except from the Bends to OK, I think it definitely sounds different from there... but other than that, the only way I see his voice getting better is live.
    There is a definite change in singing style from The Bends to Ok Computer and beyond. Not really a surprise as the type of band they were trying to be changed radically during that time period as well. I have yet to see them live. Really want to though.
  • BetterManningNYGBetterManningNYG Posts: 777
    mark lanegan
  • bookmusebookmuse Posts: 277
    pearlzepfan wrote:
    This might be strange, but I think Paul McCartneys voice got better as he aged. I've been listening to his new album quite a lot lately and he still can rock.


    Not strange at all :)
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  • Alex_CoeAlex_Coe Posts: 762
    BetterManningNYG wrote:
    mark lanegan


    Yeah, he kinda sucked on Clairvoyance.
  • darthvedder88darthvedder88 Posts: 1,023
    As far as a live performer...Billy Corgan...

    He even said in a documentary for the album "Adore" that he felt his guitar playing had peaked and he'd always thought lyrics were a strongpoint, and that his piano skills wouldn't get much better so singing was the last thing he had left to focus on.
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  • Blind MelonBlind Melon Posts: 911
    Blackeyedangel wrote:
    There is a definite change in singing style from The Bends to Ok Computer and beyond. Not really a surprise as the type of band they were trying to be changed radically during that time period as well. I have yet to see them live. Really want to though.


    Oh man, seriously, once you see them, you're just like, oh... wow. Yeah. You can't say anything, at least that's how it was for us. When Karma Police started playing, we all got teary eyed... it was awesome. Seeing Johnny play the piano as he's wailing on the guitar, haha, fantastic!
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  • nepalnepal Posts: 143
    I like how Joan Baez sounds these days http://youtube.com/watch?v=TBZtny3O_2M
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  • itsevobabyitsevobaby Posts: 1,809
    Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:
    Eveyone always talks about how people like Chris Cornell and Robert Plant can't sing like they used to now that they're aging. But I want to talk about voices that you feel have improved with age.
    My three choices:

    Corin Tucker (Sleater Kinney): say what you want about S-K's supporting slot for Pearl Jam... On The Woods, Corin's voice was at its prime, a precision instrument with power and passion.

    Tom Waits: Okay, maybe he didn't technically become a better singer, but over the years, he became more expressive, and more experimental with his voice. I'd certainly take his voice on Rain Dogs over his voice on Closing Time.

    Ed Vedder: Controversial perhaps, but I'd take his current, more melodic voice over the blunt, brute-force drawl of yesteryear.
    i agree with your ed point 2. conor from bright eyes as well, his voice def matured on cassadaga
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  • 1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Posts: 2,938
    itsevobaby wrote:
    i agree with your ed point 2. conor from bright eyes as well, his voice def matured on cassadaga

    If only he didn't sound like he was crying (conor that is) on a lot of his songs, with his wavering, emo-esque voice, I'd really love his music. Four Winds is an amazing song, in which he actually SINGS. For instance, 'When the President Talks to God' is unlistenable for me, as the man sounds like he is in the midst of a tearjerker.
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  • itsevobabyitsevobaby Posts: 1,809
    1STmammal2wearPants wrote:
    If only he didn't sound like he was crying (conor that is) on a lot of his songs, with his wavering, emo-esque voice, I'd really love his music. Four Winds is an amazing song, in which he actually SINGS. For instance, 'When the President Talks to God' is unlistenable for me, as the man sounds like he is in the midst of a tearjerker.
    haha totally, he could make 'happy birthday' sound the saddest fucken song in the world! & that's why i love him :)
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