essential singer-songwriter albums?

Moss

Lucy Rose - two very different albums, the first is folky and acoustic whereas the second is more indie popish. Both are brilliant

Ezra Furman - loads of great albums both solo and as the singer of his band, the Harpoons. Great lyrics and an interesting mix of rock and roll and punk

SOAK - very interesting modern songwriting without too much production sheen

EricTheWeary

richardhomer;1029118" said:

[quote="Skarloey;1029093"]@richardhomer Begging to differ on RT.

I think his writing is unquestionably first rate, but after a short while I tire of his voice which I find monotonous.

For me his best work is Shoot Out the Lights. He's not a bad singer but I love his songs sung by a REAL singer if you get me. With someone like Linda Thompson in charge the whole thing goes up a level. Add in his guitar breaks and you've got magic.

But I can see why it made sense for him to go solo.

As he left Linda for his current wife, going solo was probably an inevitability.

Funnily enough, I used to play in a band with someone who hated Thompson's voice - yet was a massive Dylan fan - which always struck me as odd, as neither are great singers in the 'accepted' sense.

I view his singing as a bit like Mark Knopfler's - it suits his songs. I saw him play a solo gig at Gawsworth Hall, a couple of years ago. He played for two hours and was captivating - the only variation being Christine Collister duetting on a couple of songs towards the end.

He's marvellous with an audience - his ahead of its time - mock paean to Donald Trump ('Fergus Lang') was unknown - yet a genius piece of writing - which had the audience singing along by the second chorus.

I've heard The Dimming of the Day covered by Gilmour, Bonnie Raitt and many others - it's a beautiful song by any standard - and like Dylan, sometimes others sing it better (dare I suggest Adele's cover of 'Make You Feel My Love'?) But for me, Richard Thompson always has an authenticity about his delivery, which transcends his vocal limitations.

Clearly, I'm a fan....
[/quote]

I love From Galway to Graceland, brilliant story song. I knew there were cover versions and made a point to find a few versions on YouTube. Nothing anywhere near as touching as his own versions ( recorded two that I know of). I didn't really know about him for years and I can see why people don't like him - nasal voice and often wiry 'out' guitar- but he does have something.

underdog

Not a single Damien Rice mention? One of the best for me especially O and 9 lives.

I'm also a fan of Ed Sheeran.

Megii

Don't think anyone's mentioned Jackson Browne yet, having scanned through the thread. So I will. and say "For Everyman" is undoubtedly a classic album, just to name one.

lasermonkey

Maybe try Iain Archer's Magnetic North and To The Pine Roots. There's some beautiful acoustic fingerpicking on those two, plus great songwriting.

Jacob Golden's Revenge Songs is another to check out if you like modern singer-songwriter stuff.

english_bob

Octahedron said: Ricky Warwick - yeah that guy, the guy from Black Star Riders/Thin Lizzy. Can't remember what his old band was (I think Armored Saint??) but his recently reissued solo albums are great!

The Almighty.

kjdowd said: Beth Orton as well.
Kinda like her- very fond memories of discovering her first album (first proper album anyway- Trailer Park) via my then girlfriend, but I haven't ever been able to really love her music because I can't quite get past her weirdly off-key singing and irritating stair-stepping way of singing adjacent notes. 

Megii

Laura Nyro: "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" and "New York Tendaberry"

koneguitarist

John Hiatt Bring the Family.
Bobby Charles self titled 1972 solo album.

Winny_Pooh

octatonic said:

Smog.

I see your Smog and raise you Bill Callaham, guy is a fkn genius.

duotone

Damien Rice - O album

stratology

Tori Amos - Under the Pink

Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk

Aimee Man - Bachelor No. 2

Regina Spektor - Live in London

June Tabor - Aleyn

english_bob

stratology said: Tori Amos - Under the PinkTori Amos - Scarlet's Walk
Aimee Man - Bachelor No. 2Regina Spektor - Live in London
June Tabor - Aleyn

Ack. Tori Amos. If you must I suppose. I couldn't ever really get in to her music (ex-Mrs_bob was an obsessive fan, which didn't help) or her singing style, which can be summarized as "when one must sing a vowel sound, one must sing all the vowel sounds".

That said, "I Can't See New York" from Scarlet's Walk is fantastic. Up there with the most heartbreaking post-9/11 songs. 

EricTheWeary

not_the_dj;1029034" said:

thecolourbox said:

Are most of these guitar based or are any keys based?













Carole King - Tapestry is a piano LP.

I heard a couple of tracks off this yesterdayas it happened, very busy piano work although some 70's fusion guitar work cropping up as well. Reminded me a bit of Elton John - wether you count him as a singer songwriter I'm not sure but his early stuff would fit in well with some of the other choices on here.

eSully

A few people have already mentioned

Damien Rice - O

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Jeff Buckley

Elliot Smith - XO

Laura Marling - I speak because I can

A few lesser known but worth checking out.

Mic Christopher - Skylarking 

Irish fretboarders may have heard of it and know the song Heyday from the Guinness advert. This is a cracking album.

Duke Special - Adventures in Gramophone

One of the best gigs I've been too was this guy in a small cafe in Uplands, Swansea. 

stickyfiddle

No-one has said David Ford yet cos no-one knows who he is, but he's excellent.

And +1 for Ryan Adams and Beck's Morning Phase

Winny_Pooh

stratology said:

Tori Amos - Under the Pink

Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk

Aimee Man - Bachelor No. 2

Regina Spektor - Live in London

June Tabor - Aleyn

Scarlet's walk is her last great album, never liked Under the pink, too much solo piano. From the Choirgirl hotel is my personal fav. 

No Fiona Apple? her first two albums are amazing. You may like Angela Mccluskey, try The Things We Do. 

HAL9000

Ralph McTell - he's better than Streets of London would have you believe.

Fretwired

Paul_C said:

some great acoustic singer-songwriters (IMHO):

Sam Phillips
Jonatha Brooke
Juliet Turner
Boo Hewerdine

Boo was in the excellent band the Bible ... his CDs can be downloaded on iTunes for £5.99. Well worth a listen.

John Martyn's early albums are a must listen to ...

DarnWeight

Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate

Harry Nilsson - Lots of great stuff from the late-60s through to the early-70s...big fan of Aerial Ballet

John Cale - Paris 1919

Lou Reed - New York

Mary Margaret O'Hara - Miss America

More recent...

Mark Eitzel - Caught In A Trap And I Can't Back Out, 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby

Vic Chesnutt - West Of Rome

Jim O'Rourke - Insignificance

koneguitarist

stickyfiddle said:

No-one has said David Ford yet cos no-one knows who he is, but he's excellent.

And +1 for Ryan Adams and Beck's Morning Phase

Saw him live a few years ago as support for Teddy Hompson in Bridport. Very good.