Best produced albums with female vocals?

waterside · 15th November 2005

I'm mixing a female vocal rock/pop project at the moment, and I was looking through my CD's for useful reference mixes, but I don't seem to have anything that sounds truly beautifully mixed. Any suggestions for what I should buy?

W.

logichead · 15th November 2005

Frou Frou "Details"

Best...H

MixingStick · 15th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by logichead

Frou Frou "Details"

Best...H

More rock than pop, but:......Shirley Manson/ Garbage.. thumbsup

CaliTone · 15th November 2005

Ashlee Simpson's new one. I've only heard the song "Boyfriend" but I think the mix is pretty nice. The drums sound really good. However, I can only take a few seconds of that nasally voice.

Sounds Great · 15th November 2005

Carole King 'Tapestry'.

Specifically 'It's Too Late'.

Mertmo · 15th November 2005

K.D. Lang's "ingenue" (spelling?) - total euphonic gooey bliss...

Fiona Apple's "when the pawn..." Are there words to describe
how badass that record is? insane songwriting, lyrics, production. Like prego
sauce... it's in there.

Emmylou Harris's "wrecking ball" - basically a Daniel Lanois solo record with
her singing instead of him. Awesome record, very typical 'lanois' sound on that
one. Lush and spooky.

Ani DiFranco's "revelling/reckoning" Not everyone's cup of tea, but this double
record is IMO a masterpiece. Good example of recording and mixing that is natural
and organic sounding, not overdone.

EDIT: just thought of more:

Massive Attack's second record, the one with the girl from the Cocteau Twins...

Morcheeba's "the Big Calm". amazing!

How about anything from the initial Stevie Nicks/Lindsay Buckingham era Fleetwood Mac...

Sarah McLaughlin (spelling?) records...? those sound pretty sweet indeed.

All Souled Out · 16th November 2005

I second K.D. Lang's Ingenue, Heck, if I ever get that mix, I will officially pronounce myself "genius". (Some of it has to do with her voice tho, gotta admit)

Mertmo · 16th November 2005

Quote:

(Some of it has to do with her voice tho, gotta admit)
Yesterday 11:57 PM

agreed, I'm sure you could put the cheeziest mic in front of her and still it
would sound phenomenal.

De chromium cob · 16th November 2005

Fiona Apple's 'When the pawn'
I'm also digging the new one 'Extraordinary machine'
For that matter, the first one 'Tidal' doesn't suck either- so basically I'm saying any of her albums would be a good choice.....

De chromium cob · 16th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliTone

Ashlee Simpson's new one. I've only heard the song "Boyfriend" but I think the mix is pretty nice. The drums sound really good. However, I can only take a few seconds of that nasally voice.

Supporting any of her 'work' would be about as distasteful to me as buying Behringer gear.......

bunnerabb · 16th November 2005

The Sundays: "Reading and Writing and Arithmetic"

Harriet Wheeler should be canonised.

3rd world order · 16th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterside

I'm mixing a female vocal rock/pop project at the moment, and I was looking through my CD's for useful reference mixes, but I don't seem to have anything that sounds truly beautifully mixed. Any suggestions for what I should buy?

Fiona Apple "Paper Bag" & "The Way Things Are" off the CD "When the Pawn.."

davemc · 16th November 2005

Yeah Fiona Apple when the pawn. Also the Sundays..
Also Aimee Mann's Lost in Space.
There are a lot more just cannot think off hand.

James Guitar · 16th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rd world order

Fiona Apple "Paper Bag" & "The Way Things Are" off the CD "When the Pawn.."

yeah! "Paper Bag"!. Go Jon Brion! GREAT vocal sound on that tune. Right in your ear, and so nice and dry. Cool Orchestron/Optigan/Talentmaker intro as well...

-J

Shawn1272 · 16th November 2005

What about Bjork? She's consistently put out amazing albums. Vespertine being one of my favorites.

Other greats:
Fiona Apple - pick one, they're all great.
Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
Aimee Mann - pick one
Gillian Welch - Time (Revelator)
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Jesse Sykes - Oh, My Girl
Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk or From The Choirgirl Hotel
Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded or Tempermental
Beth Orton - Trailer Park or Central Reservation

shawn

popmann · 16th November 2005

There are way nicer sounding female vocal albums than a lot mentioned. What kind of music is it? In the vein of...?

Dance-y rock/pop...Tina Arena...the David Tyson produced one or the next one that was mixed producers. Recently, the Bonnie Mckee record has a nice sound, albeit a bit digital.

Folky pop/rock....Jonatha Brooke(&the Story previously). The latest is squeezed a bit too much for me, but there's a couple Clearmountain mixed ones...the earlier Story albums are more dynamic, which may or may not be the sound you want.

Heavier? Garbage and Evanescence...

Throaty voiced...Amanda Marshall. First Tyson produced one or the last Massenberg produced one. VERY different sounds...both very nice sounds.

In between...Amy Grant's Behind the Eyes is amazing. Very earthy. Honest sound.

Sheryl Crow's Globe Sessions has a few stellar sounding cuts...and her C'Mon C'mon is pretty uniformly nice, albeit a bit squeezed for my taste.

But, it all comes down to what KIND of female voice we're talking about, IMO. And what style of backing.

djui5 · 16th November 2005

Just about anything with Alison Krauss (my fav female singer) on it works..

Hate it or not, but Celine Dion works with some of the best producers on the planet...

Agree with the following

Tori Amos

Fiona Apple

Sarah Mclachlan (2nd fav female singer)

Fleetwood Mac stuff with Stevie Nicks singing

Sophie B Hawkins

Sheryl Crow (some of it)

Garbage (not sure how I feel about the new one)

Alanis Morissette

Bjork

Natalie Merchant

Suzanne Vega

Christina and Brittney

Supprised no-one mentioned Madonna...

This might help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...gers#Pop_Music

http://www.scaruffi.com/music/fsinger.html

Punchmo · 16th November 2005

For me, Annie Lennox has as much soul as any female singer.

natpub · 16th November 2005

anything by Kate Bush :-)

Igotsoul4u · 16th November 2005

I think Norah jones vocals sound incredible even though I'm not a huge fan of her in any way. Her second album sounds especially good. Very intimate yet not overcompressed. By the way, I don't understand why anyone would want to sound like Ashlee Simpson. That shit is down right offensive.

rewt_ · 16th November 2005

ani difranco's albums have most of my all time favorite sounds

theom · 16th November 2005

I like the sheryl crow "first cut is the deepest acoustic version" on the greatest hits cd from a couple years ago. Really nice, sounds like a painstaking mix but every sylable is right there. Big sound, great performance.

Also for a super pumped, highly squashed, but oh so good girl vox....
No Doubt Rock Steady cut 5 Underneath It All. That Spke guy can mix the crap out of that band.

I think it was him.

Big fan of sundays, norah, fiona too.

D.F. · 16th November 2005

The new Kate Bush record Aerial sounds magnificent.

tubehead · 16th November 2005

Mix wise Aimee Manns "Lost In Space" is fantastic start to end; Congrats M. Brauer. I like the production too.

themaidsroom · 16th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.F.

The new Kate Bush record Aerial sounds magnificent.

i must disagree......to me as an enormous fan of the ist 5 records.........it is not
compelling musically
sonically it is apalling......cold, lifeless, thin, digital....

please understand, i am a fan of del palmer's work through the years......
i know they have created masterpieces together; it is an extraordinary leval
of achievement to live up to.........
i am still in awe of what they have created twenty years ago, and applaud
her efforts....

i do like the underwater photo of her with the goggles......

be well

- jack

p.s. back to the thread : the mary margaret o'hara record "miss america"is amazing and has great vocal sounds.......

tvanveen · 16th November 2005

Anyone else dig the latest Rilo Kiley?

Sounds Great · 16th November 2005

Bonnie Raitt's 'Luck Of The Draw' would certainly qualify as well.

http://music.yahoo.com/release/49097

ImJohn · 16th November 2005

IMO Natilie Merchant's Tiger Lilly album is awesome. Writing, recording, performances are all excellent me thinks. (mastered by Bob Ludwig)

PaRaNoId · 16th November 2005

no one has mentioned anything that Linkin Park has done yet?.....he he he he

r0ck1r0ck2 · 16th November 2005

well....here's a snobs/freaks take...
early billy Holiday..."What A Little Moonlight Can Do"
B-52's Sefl Titled
The Maddox Bros. & Sister Rose
anything by ESG!!!
Kitty Wells
Flying Lizards..
The Fuking Carter Family
Delta 5
"Giagantic" by the Pixies....see the Breeders
the RainCoats
La Trim (sp?)
Salt N' Peppa'!!
The Fooking Slits
Billy Holiday...

female singesrs you must be nutz....
What could be better

15th November 2005	#1
waterside Gear interested Joined: Jun 2005 Location: England Posts: 11 Thread Starter	Best produced albums with female vocals? I'm mixing a female vocal rock/pop project at the moment, and I was looking through my CD's for useful reference mixes, but I don't seem to have anything that sounds truly beautifully mixed. Any suggestions for what I should buy? W.

16th November 2005	#9
De chromium cob Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,659	Fiona Apple's 'When the pawn' I'm also digging the new one 'Extraordinary machine' For that matter, the first one 'Tidal' doesn't suck either- so basically I'm saying any of her albums would be a good choice..... __________________ "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives." Tolstoy

16th November 2005	#13
davemc Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Melb, Australia Posts: 1,021	Yeah Fiona Apple when the pawn. Also the Sundays.. Also Aimee Mann's Lost in Space. There are a lot more just cannot think off hand. __________________ Bye Ya Dave INDENT

16th November 2005	#15
Shawn1272 Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 194	What about Bjork? She's consistently put out amazing albums. Vespertine being one of my favorites. Other greats: Fiona Apple - pick one, they're all great. Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself Aimee Mann - pick one Gillian Welch - Time (Revelator) Neko Case - Blacklisted Jesse Sykes - Oh, My Girl Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk or From The Choirgirl Hotel Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded or Tempermental Beth Orton - Trailer Park or Central Reservation shawn __________________ "I make hundreds of dollars a year doing this shit." www.shawnsimmonsmusic.com

16th November 2005	#17
djui5 Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,664	Just about anything with Alison Krauss (my fav female singer) on it works.. Hate it or not, but Celine Dion works with some of the best producers on the planet... Agree with the following Tori Amos Fiona Apple Sarah Mclachlan (2nd fav female singer) Fleetwood Mac stuff with Stevie Nicks singing Sophie B Hawkins Sheryl Crow (some of it) Garbage (not sure how I feel about the new one) Alanis Morissette Bjork Natalie Merchant Suzanne Vega Christina and Brittney Supprised no-one mentioned Madonna... This might help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...gers#Pop_Music http://www.scaruffi.com/music/fsinger.html __________________ _________________ "What is a crossfire hurricane & why wasn't I born in one?" Randy Wright

15th November 2005	#2
logichead Gear addict Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Culver City Posts: 405	Frou Frou "Details" Best...H

15th November 2005	#4
CaliTone Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 547	Ashlee Simpson's new one. I've only heard the song "Boyfriend" but I think the mix is pretty nice. The drums sound really good. However, I can only take a few seconds of that nasally voice.

15th November 2005	#5
Sounds Great Gear Guru Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 15,303 1 Review written	Carole King 'Tapestry'. Specifically 'It's Too Late'.

15th November 2005	#6
Mertmo Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,010	K.D. Lang's "ingenue" (spelling?) - total euphonic gooey bliss... Fiona Apple's "when the pawn..." Are there words to describe how badass that record is? insane songwriting, lyrics, production. Like prego sauce... it's in there. Emmylou Harris's "wrecking ball" - basically a Daniel Lanois solo record with her singing instead of him. Awesome record, very typical 'lanois' sound on that one. Lush and spooky. Ani DiFranco's "revelling/reckoning" Not everyone's cup of tea, but this double record is IMO a masterpiece. Good example of recording and mixing that is natural and organic sounding, not overdone. EDIT: just thought of more: Massive Attack's second record, the one with the girl from the Cocteau Twins... Morcheeba's "the Big Calm". amazing! How about anything from the initial Stevie Nicks/Lindsay Buckingham era Fleetwood Mac... Sarah McLaughlin (spelling?) records...? those sound pretty sweet indeed.

16th November 2005	#7
All Souled Out Gear Head Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Western NC Posts: 66	I second K.D. Lang's Ingenue, Heck, if I ever get that mix, I will officially pronounce myself "genius". (Some of it has to do with her voice tho, gotta admit)

16th November 2005	#11
bunnerabb Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2004 Location: The Big Wide City Posts: 1,089	The Sundays: "Reading and Writing and Arithmetic" Harriet Wheeler should be canonised.

16th November 2005	#16
popmann Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 3,181 1 Review written	There are way nicer sounding female vocal albums than a lot mentioned. What kind of music is it? In the vein of...? Dance-y rock/pop...Tina Arena...the David Tyson produced one or the next one that was mixed producers. Recently, the Bonnie Mckee record has a nice sound, albeit a bit digital. Folky pop/rock....Jonatha Brooke(&the Story previously). The latest is squeezed a bit too much for me, but there's a couple Clearmountain mixed ones...the earlier Story albums are more dynamic, which may or may not be the sound you want. Heavier? Garbage and Evanescence... Throaty voiced...Amanda Marshall. First Tyson produced one or the last Massenberg produced one. VERY different sounds...both very nice sounds. In between...Amy Grant's Behind the Eyes is amazing. Very earthy. Honest sound. Sheryl Crow's Globe Sessions has a few stellar sounding cuts...and her C'Mon C'mon is pretty uniformly nice, albeit a bit squeezed for my taste. But, it all comes down to what KIND of female voice we're talking about, IMO. And what style of backing.

16th November 2005	#18
Punchmo Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2002 Location: PA Posts: 175	For me, Annie Lennox has as much soul as any female singer.

16th November 2005	#19
natpub More cowbell! Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,171 2 Reviews written	anything by Kate Bush :-)

16th November 2005	#20
Igotsoul4u Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,845	I think Norah jones vocals sound incredible even though I'm not a huge fan of her in any way. Her second album sounds especially good. Very intimate yet not overcompressed. By the way, I don't understand why anyone would want to sound like Ashlee Simpson. That shit is down right offensive.

16th November 2005	#21
rewt_ Gear nut Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 106	ani difranco's albums have most of my all time favorite sounds

16th November 2005	#22
theom Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 579	modern vox sound I like the sheryl crow "first cut is the deepest acoustic version" on the greatest hits cd from a couple years ago. Really nice, sounds like a painstaking mix but every sylable is right there. Big sound, great performance. Also for a super pumped, highly squashed, but oh so good girl vox.... No Doubt Rock Steady cut 5 Underneath It All. That Spke guy can mix the crap out of that band. I think it was him. Big fan of sundays, norah, fiona too.

16th November 2005	#23
D.F. Gear addict Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Bristol, U.K. Posts: 424	The new Kate Bush record Aerial sounds magnificent.

16th November 2005	#24
tubehead Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: On the road Posts: 658	Mix wise Aimee Manns "Lost In Space" is fantastic start to end; Congrats M. Brauer. I like the production too.

16th November 2005	#26
tvanveen Gear addict Joined: Aug 2005 Location: DC Posts: 312	Anyone else dig the latest Rilo Kiley?

16th November 2005	#28
ImJohn Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Location: WA USA Posts: 1,442	IMO Natilie Merchant's Tiger Lilly album is awesome. Writing, recording, performances are all excellent me thinks. (mastered by Bob Ludwig) __________________ John L Rice http://www.youtube.com/JohnLRice

16th November 2005	#29
PaRaNoId Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 550	no one has mentioned anything that Linkin Park has done yet?.....he he he he __________________ It's not the tools, it's the talent... Clients include- GIN BLOSSOMS, SOCIAL DISTORTION, HOT HOT HEAT, CIRCA SURVIVE, SILVER SUN PICKUPS, PHOENIX, DIRTY HEADS, ROGER CLYNE AND THE PACEMAKERS, BUSTICLES, ABOVE THE LOVE...

16th November 2005	#30
r0ck1r0ck2 Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Barcelona!! Posts: 1,618	you feebs well....here's a snobs/freaks take... early billy Holiday..."What A Little Moonlight Can Do" B-52's Sefl Titled The Maddox Bros. & Sister Rose anything by ESG!!! Kitty Wells Flying Lizards.. The Fuking Carter Family Delta 5 "Giagantic" by the Pixies....see the Breeders the RainCoats La Trim (sp?) Salt N' Peppa'!! The Fooking Slits Billy Holiday... female singesrs you must be nutz.... What could be better

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