I am still kind of playing around with the types of posts I am going to make here, so forgive me if I am kind of all over the place with the topics I am writing about. It occurred to me today, as I was listening to the new Jenny Lewis record, that I have a tendency to gravitate to female vocalists. I think this can be traced all the way back to when I first started developing my musical identity. Whether it was listening to Madonna, with my sister, or hanging a picture of Susanna Hoffs in my locker, I've always been fond of the female vocalist. I was going through my iPod and noticed that I have a pretty large amount of female artists on there so I thought I'd make some suggestions of some of my favorites.
Here is a list of female fronted albums that I think any fan of music should be listening to (in no particular order):
1. Cat Power - What Would the Community Think: While most people would tell you that Moon Pix is her best album, I will stand by this as her most perfect album. This record spans a bunch of different styles. Musically, there is some rock, some folk, some blues, and a little country. Vocally, there is pain, there is anger, there is beauty and the whole thing just flows brilliantly. I could easily have put about five of her records on here and would suggest pretty much anything in her catalog, but this is my favorite.
2. Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville: This one is a no brainer. Prior to her going all teeny pop and trying to appeal to the mall crowd, Liz Phair was once awesome and wrote arguably the greatest lo-fi indie rock record of all time. Super catchy, sing-a-long type songs with great, honest lyrics and a pretty fair amount of cursing. This is one of those albums that even at 18 songs and almost an hour long, at the end of the album, I want to put it on for another listen. Then I catch myself humming, or singing, one of the songs hours, sometimes days later. I don't think I could ever say enough positive things about this album. Every song on this is great.
3. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity: This was a tougher one to choose. I like all of Nina Persson's output, including all six Cardigans albums, both A Camp albums, and her great solo album she put out this year. But, to me the final album The Cardigans put out (here's hoping, they surprise everyone with a seventh) is her finest moment. This is great, Swedish alt-rock from a group that seem to have a fondness for classic rock. Sweden could also be represented on this list by the first Sounds record, but that one hasn't endeared to me as much over the years as this one.
4. Madonna - True Blue: Yes, seriously. There is a reason this album has sold 25 million copies. It's a hit machine. More than half the songs on the album were successful singles. I dare you to put this album on and not know all the words to those songs and then I dare you not to love the songs that weren't released as singles. I don't think I have to describe what you'd be getting into with this album. It's pop at it's mid 1980's finest. There are dance songs, there are ballads, there is La Isla Bonita, which is such an amazing song.
5. Blondie - Parallel Lines: I was going to cheat and use the Platinum Collection, double disc collection of all the singles. But, that is not a proper album, and they did release a full album that is outstanding. This one. The other albums are good to explore for the really good songs on each of them, but overall aren't what I would would call great full albums. Which is why I tend to go for the Platinum Collection so often, because I can get almost every song I want right there. But, this album is a perfect blend of everything Blondie was about. Punk, new wave, post-punk, pop rock, whatever you call it. A couple covers, a couple massive singles, and the amazing 11:59 which is neither of those. This was also Debbie Harry at her most hypnotizing.
6. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood: And then there is Canada. From Blacklisted to Middle Cyclone, Neko wrote three great albums. All three of these albums are great, but this is the one I find myself putting on the most. Another indie rock artist, she blends rock with some alt-country or folk. She is another singer that really puts her emotions out really well in her voice, much like Cat Power.
7. Portishead - Dummy: A few years ago, I probably would have chose the self titled album, but over those years I have come back to putting Dummy ahead of it as their best material. This album is like sex on record. I have a feeling in the mid 1990's, a whole lot of people were getting down to this album. It's always referred to as Trip-hop, as the genre, which I have always hated that phrase. This is just a damn good record, that was refreshing and unique at the time it came out.
8. Fiona Apple - Tidal: She takes forever to release new albums, but each and every one has been worth it, if she needs the time to write the albums she does. This was her debut and I could make an argument for really any of her albums being her best (except for maybe Extraordinary Machine), this is the one that hooked me on her. This is another mid 90's album that really has stayed with me for so many years. This is another one of those albums that probably was the soundtrack to some babies being made. She is another artist that mixes genres really well (there is a theme here), and the opening track, Sleep to Dream, is one of my favorite opening tracks ever.
9. The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat: The Go-Go's were similar to Blondie, in the sense that they blended punk, post-punk, and new wave together. This is another album that has no filler, every song is great on this. Everything is super catchy and this is a great album to listen to while doing chores. I love listening to this while doing dishes or cleaning the bathroom. Also, Belinda Carlisle was another one of those early crushes that I had in life.
10. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady: This was my favorite album of 2013. Janelle is newer to the game than all the other artists I mentioned here, but if she keeps writing records like this, I have a feeling she is going to be around for a long time. This record combines soul, funk, r&b, rock, a tiny bit of hip hop, and a guest appearance from Prince. When this first came out, I think I probably listened to this daily for a good three month stretch. I enjoyed her first album a lot, but she really upped the game with the catchiness on this album. I love everything about this album, including the whole science fiction side of things and the theme of being, and loving, yourself that runs through the album.
There are so many more that I would suggest, but I thought cutting it off at 10 was good.
