Female Singers - Halp?

[beccatoria]

Hey guys
First off I'm really, really sorry I've been so crap about posting here lately and stuff. It's been a bit of a grind-you-down kind of couple of weeks. But I still love you all!

In other news, HALP ME.

For reasons that are far to long and boring to be of interest to many of you, I find that I need some suggestions for female singers, or bands with female lead singers, that I might like. My music taste tends to be somewhere in the vicinity of indie rock with various odd jaunts toward both singer-songwriter and rap artist. I like complicated lyrics. I like when not all the songs are about being in love. Or if they are, the lyrics are complicated and interesting. I like drumming. I like "strong" voices rather than "pretty" voices.

Here are some female artists I already like:

Florence and the Machine
Joan Baez
Tracy Chapman
Pat Benatar (shut up!)
Jefferson Airplane
Regina Spektor
Tori Amos (during her early years)

Any recs welcome!

Thanks guys!

Comments

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Oooh!!! The majority of what I listen to is female singer/songwriter and/or indie rock artists, so this is fun! My tastes tend to trend a bit toward indie country, as well (though not over-produced Nashville country), and that's not everyone's taste, so ymmv on some of these, in particular. Among people you might try:

Basia Bulat
Martha Wainwright
First Aid Kit
Ruthie Foster
Dar Williams (really kickass lyrics; possibly too much of a "pretty" voice, if you don't like that)
Lucinda Williams (though she may be too country, if you don't like country)
Patty Griffin (with something of the same caveat as Lucinda)
The Wailin Jennies (also a bit country)
Shawn Colvin
The Indigo Girls (too obvious?)

[jo-lasalle.livejournal.com]

Hm, checking my music folder for female singers that might fit the bill. Your description sounds a lot like what I liked to listen to most before the Jpop invaded my life, though of course that doesn't mean any guarantees for my suggestions below...

Have you tried: October Project (drums, slightly weird, slightly dark), Ani DiFranco (my teenage years, let me show you them... but very strong on lyrics, still), Dar Williams (lyrics; also, funny), Natalie Merchant (pretty but different), Skunk Anansie (I've never liked a whole album but when I like a song, I *really* like it), Indigo Girls (okay, now I'm being really obvious)? There are also a few other people where I like individual songs very much (Shakespeare's Sisters, Tegan and Sara, a few others) but wouldn't recommend them overall.

And I didn't want to upload random samples before seeing what you might already know and not like, but happy to do that if any of those sound interesting.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

My interests might be a little softer voice-wise and/or more country than yours (although country is good, because the lyrics are usually more interesting). But here's some suggestions:

Allison Krauss (esp. Now That I've Found You: a collection and Forget About It) --She's indie singer/songwriter who veers into bluegrass and a voice that's strong and clear.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's Come On, Come On--great lyricist, I Am a Town is a hauntingly awesome song about sisters

Missy Higgins' On a Clear Night and The Sound of White (Sugarcane and Angela are lovely non-love songs)

Anna Nalick's album--sadly she only has the one but it's great--good writing

And...is it ridiculous of me to suggest Pink's Funhouse and Who Knew?

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

Poe
Pink
Indigo Girls
Melissa Etheridge
Over the Rhine
Natalie Merchant
10,000 Maniacs

Those are all off the top of my head, but I can go and actually look at my CDs, if you want any more.

[gatezilla.livejournal.com]

I definitely second both Patty Griffin and Dar Williams. Also:

Neko Case! Very strong voice, beautiful lyrics and unusual songs.
Rilo Kiley has a female singer, their stuff is sort of quirky and Jenny Lewis also does solo work
The Weepies, female singer, their stuff is pretty folk-y and sweet but not lovey-dovey.
The Corrs, pop, but interesting rhythms and a nice sound
Meg Hutchinson
Catie Curtis
Antje Duvekot, interesting voice, singer-songwriter stuff
Jen Foster
Kyler England
Vienna Teng

[chaila.livejournal.com]

To add to the overwhelming list:

PJ Harvey (the voice of Sarah Connor, I swear to god)
Neko Case (very powerful voice, awesome lyrics)
Imogen Heap (occasionally generic but some stuff is very interesting)
Cat Power (bluesy, a bit “pretty” but uniformly awesome)
Suzanne Vega (sometimes has a very Regina Spektor vibe)

Also, there are a few people I’ve recently snagged from endlessgravity and don’t yet have a firm opinion on but think are worth checking out. Namely Emma Pollock, Jenny Lewis, and Ivy

*hearts you a lot*

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Brooke Fraser
Frou Frou (lead singer Imogen Heap also does solo work)
Dar Williams
Butterfly Boucher
Jem
Sara Bareilles
Pink Martini

Hah, I see Dar Williams is already here two or three other times...

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I could rec a 100 females, but here's a few:

Blues
Janis Joplin

Rock
The Pretenders
Joan Jett

Alt Country
Lucinda Williams (brilliant lyrics)
Patty Griffin

Trad Country
Loretta Lynn

Punk
Sleater-Kinney
Hole
Liz Phair

Alternative
New Pornographers
Jenny Wilson
Kate Nash (very similar to Regina)
Cat Power
Fiona Apple

Jazz
Billie Holiday
Cassandra Wilson

R&B
Amy Winehouse
Aretha Franklin

World
M.I.A.

Singer/Songwriter
Carol King
Laura Nyro


I've got lots more if this isn't enough.

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

All of my favorites have been mentioned, but here's my list:

Janis Joplin
Neko Case
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs (I only know the one song of theirs, "Devil Do", but it's definitely in the vein you're looking for)
Vienna Teng ("pretty" voice, but the lyrics are worth it)
Poe
Alison Krauss (a little on the "pretty" side)
Anna Nalick
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Shirley Manson/Garbage

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

At the risk of stepping into the ableism wankstorm that's going on right now, I love Amanda Palmer's stuff, alone and as the Dresden Dolls.

Kate Bush (very Tori-esque, or more accurately Tori was very Kate Bush-esque)
Poe
Sia
Lily Allen
PJ Harvey
Amanda Ghost
Blonde Redhead

Edit: Oh, I can't believe I forgot Tegan & Sara until I noticed someone else mention them.

[frolicndetour.livejournal.com]

My musical knowledge is pathetically lacking, so this post is good for me too. *g* I heartily second the recommendations for Vienna Teng and Neko Case. And Janis Joplin and the Wailin' Jennies. And if you're willing to branch out into folk (of the British variety), I simply adore Kate Rusby. She's a good gateway artist. ;)

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Garbage! Ingrid Michaelson! Veruca Salt! Lily Allen! No Doubt! Laura Veirs! Fleetwood Mac! Joni Mitchell! Nelly Furtado! Paramore!

[ticketsonmyself.livejournal.com]

Tanya Donelly, Kristin Hersh, The Nields, Kim Richey, Aimee Mann, The Organ, Christine Fellows, Jessica Star Rockers, Gillian Welch. For Liz Phair, I'd start with Exile in Guyville (legendary, with good reason!); whitechocolatespaceegg is the other Liz Phair album I like a lot. For Hole, I'd start with either Live Through This or Celebrity Skin; the latter is more mainstream.

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I don't listen to a lot of music, but a recent 'discovery' of mine is Ingrid Michaelson. I'm not sure how to describe her. Can you be indie and pop friendly at the same time? Her songs are frequently used in TV shows and commercials. She does remind me a bit of Tori Amos. I find her music very soothing. And she has one song I think would make a great White Collar vid. ;)

[emmiere.livejournal.com]

I have next to none that haven't been mentioned yet, but I'll mention Laura Marling (ambiguous lyrics) and Lizz Wright (jazz/soul, with an amazing voice) as a couple I've been listening to recently. *seconds at least half this list*