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Piano and vocals - interesting artists that aren't jazz based or don't sound like Coldplay

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Hi all

As per the fairly prescriptive thread title really, hoping you guys could recommend me some listening for piano and vocals artists.

Having done a piano based song recently which I enjoyed, I'd like to try again. But I struggled to find interesting piano textures or accompaniment styles that didn't sound awful or trite, so could only do "chords on the beat" which would get boring quickly.

So hoping you lot might know of some interesting piano and vocals artists who manage to avoid sounding like light jazz, or like Keane/Coldplay, and are interesting enough to hold attention for 4 or 5 songs.

Thanks all
Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
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Comments

  • Try The National. 

    Also Olafur Arnalds, and a big chunk of Springsteen’s back catalogue
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • Loads of great Tom Waits tracks are just piano and vocals. Earlier stuff is more 'jazzy' than the later stuff which tends to be a little bit less flowery, but both eras of Waits' stuff are fab IMO.

    Example of earlier stuff...



    Example of later stuff...


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  • To ease you in:
    The Mynabirds - what we lose in the fire we gain in the flood

    Fiona Apple - Tidal & When the pawn...

    Tori Amos is the master of this stuff. As an entry point Scarlets Walk is great (lots of wurly/rhodes too) and Boys for Pele has the most straight interesting piano going. 



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  • +1 for Tori Amos, she's terrifix.

    Also check out Ben Folds, he's another great pianist and songwriter. Never thought he had the best voice, but the songs and lyrics make up for it...


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  • FreebirdFreebird Frets: 5821
    edited September 2018
    Nick Cave is pretty good ..


    If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
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  • Thanks guys keep them coming.

    If there are any with a bit more punch that would be great, I get accused of sounding depressing all the time so could do with hearing some music that is less droll but which isn't annoyingly happy
    Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
    soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
    youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos (I suggest that you start with the early stuff), Judee Sill, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Donald Fagen/Steely Dan. 
    Be seeing you.
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  • FuengiFuengi Frets: 2849
    Lightning Dust, Martin Rossiter, Ajimal, Anthony Hegarty.


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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 71953
    Elton John

    Really! Someone had to say it :).

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • ICBM said:
    Elton John

    Really! Someone had to say it :).
    Ha did they?! OK so let's say ideally less "punchy" than say sequins and Dame Edna style glasses, but more punch than Tom Waits ;)
    Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
    soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
    youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • bbill335bbill335 Frets: 1368
    edited September 2018
    Metric?





    They're not necessarily an unplugged band but they do a good job of it. They've recorded a lot of unplugged versions over YT/spotify
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  • Duke Special
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  • FreebirdFreebird Frets: 5821
    Thanks guys keep them coming.

    If there are any with a bit more punch that would be great, I get accused of sounding depressing all the time so could do with hearing some music that is less droll but which isn't annoyingly happy

    If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Freebird said:
    Thanks guys keep them coming.

    If there are any with a bit more punch that would be great, I get accused of sounding depressing all the time so could do with hearing some music that is less droll but which isn't annoyingly happy


    Christ alive what the hell is that
    Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
    soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
    youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
    1reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FreebirdFreebird Frets: 5821
    edited September 2018
    Try @ 7min 17secs


    If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
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  • vizviz Frets: 10644
    The chap who did queen of denmark
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    Ben Folds Five
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  • Freebird said:
    Try @ 7min 17secs


    I think I preferred the first one ;)
    Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
    soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
    youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
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  • viz said:
    The chap who did queen of denmark
    Purcell?
    Please note my communication is not very good, so please be patient with me
    soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
    youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
    1reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
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