speed of dark

It's common knowledge that I usually dislike female vocalists. However, there have been exceptions. I have always been a fan of Fiona Apple (although her last release didn't grab me), I love Portishead, and I truly enjoyed the last two bands we saw live that featured female singers (twilight sleep and midnight movies). There are a few more, but the two ladies below have grabbed my interest lately.

and it's not just my pride/it's just til these tears have dried

The blog community has been all over Amy Winehouse, both for her music and for her antics. But I'll just concentrate on her music. This 23-year old Brit with a deep, soulful voice has some major talent in her singing, performing, and song-writing. Her lyrics are intensely honest and personal, and her jazzy, smoky club style is refreshing after all of the Britney-Paris-Jessica-crap that seems to pervade the women's side of music these days.

Her single, Rehab, was written about an incident when her record label asked her to go into a program for her drinking problem, due to the way she behaved when drunk in public. She was probably embarrassing the label but actually providing herself with more publicity (as the saying goes, no publicity is bad). She refused, and left the label. Both songs below are from 2006's Back to Black, an all-around spectacular disc.

amy winehouse: rehab
amy winehouse: you know i'm no good

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you're so satin chic/look rich, talking cheap

Upon the release of Felt Mountain in 2000, Allison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory burst on the scene with sleazy, sexy glam dance music. But 2005's Supernature was where I climbed aboard Goldfrapp's bandwagon. This music makes you want to get up and dance after outlining your eyes with heavy kohl and glittery eyeshadow. "Utopia" is featured on the debut Felt Mountain, and "Satin Chic" is my favorite track from Supernature.

goldfrapp: utopia
goldfrapp: satin chic

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watch goldfrapp on youtube