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I was just listening to this on podcast and it reminded me of someone. I like this guy Lenny, from Tribrix voice, but it probably falls more into the 'worst' category:

http://www.last.fm/music/Tribrix

Hey everyone, thanks for listening to the segment and chiming in here. Some folks seem to think we were ragging on the artists on the "Best Worst" list, but let me assure you it's totally out of love—Colin Meloy is actually one of my favorite musicians (so, Robots, we're on the same team here). We don't mean those artists can't sing, just that they don't have "good voices" in any traditional, classical sense. We certainly believe that, often, the most unconventional voices can actually be the most rewarding, once you spend a while with them and get into all the idiosyncrasies. And of course we left a ton of people off the lists—and, yes, there are tons of artists that could arguably be on both.

Thanks again, Soundcheck!

Kaye, you are too funny!

You should consider a similar show about operatic voices. Maria Callas had a flawed voice technically but it's also regarded as one of the most expressive of all time. Ute Lemper falls in a similar category for me.

Antonio,

I was just thinking about Paul and the 'Mats. Saw a lot of those shows. Once I was even drunker then they were. Live, they ran the gamut from great to truely horrible... ah well... don't see bands like that any more.

If we are talking about these sort of bad voices, then Paul Westerberg shouldn't be forgotten, with his raggedy voice he really brings out the replacement we all carry inside.

Impossible! Joanna Newsome did not top the list of horrible singers???? She sounds like an impersonation of the wicked witch of the west from OZ.

Other bad voices:

Allison Shaw from The Cranes (she sounds like she ingested too much helium or never hit puberty).

How about Mr. mono tone/ no tone Stephen Merritt. If his lyrics weren't amazing I'd have quit listening a long time ago.

If we are talking about bad indie rock voices, we shouldn't forget to one of the godfathers of indie, Paul Westerberg (The Replacements) whose raggedy voice really stays with that replacement we all carry inside.

grace potter from grace potter and the nocturnals and charlie fink from noah and the whale

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats could be on the Best Worst voices as well - though with each album his voice improves. One day might he be on the other list?

I also agree with Cynthia's Tom Waite comment.

I used to laugh at Nico's voice but now I love it. Who knows? Maybe I'll learn to love the chick's voice from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Maybe not...

My vote goes to Karen Dreijer Andersson of The Knife and Fever Ray. Quite a bizarre yet beautiful, strained voice. Both when creepily distorted and organic!

Tom Waite

A couple of best/worst Jason Lytle of GrandDaddy, Jello Biafra
A best Matt Mays

this whole idea is really flawed. why not call it the "best 'weird' voices", or something else? or better yet, the best 'untrained' voices? Will Oldham has a beautiful and totally accessible voice

to suggest that those voices aren't appropriate for pop radio but are appropriate for offbeat listeners just defies radio history -- Bob Dylan and Neil Young were certainly sellable enough.

What's interesting about this; it's one of those issues where the lyrics are more important than the melody.

What's interesting about this; it's one of those issue where the lyrics are more important than the melody.

The talented Joanna Newsom doesn't sing rock. Not every folk style of the last forty years is rock!

Daniel Bejar from Destroyer and New Pornographers. One of my favorites.

David Berman from Silver Jews sang, "All my favorite singers couldn't sing." He'd definitely be on my list of best worst.

Both of these lists are retarded. Could it not have been Best Weird Voices? Colin Meloy's voice isn't a worst kind of voice. Its sort of unusual but its on key and consistant. I kind of hate Paste, great first impression.

Please don't play Antony...d'oh...too late.

Mark,

I did see and although I don't remember Hell doing back-up vocals Verlaine's voice was bad enough, but Television wasn't about singing.

Perfection is boring. Anyone can be perfect today with all the pitch-shaping software out there but not everyone can be truly unique. It takes guts to be unforgettable.

Cat power has a great voice.

I think the bad voices all started with Lou Reed and Bob Dylan. They both had bad voices.

Dave

Mac from Superchunk! Best worst to me, and my friends.

best/worst voice in indierock was and is Steve Malkmus he makes it hurt so good

Amy Allison, daughter of Mose, has such a beautifully strange voice but I love it! And she's a great songwriter to boot.

He's not exactly Indie Rock but Neil Young's voice definitely takes some getting used to. In fact, this isn't really an idea that's specific to Indie Rock at all.

Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen definitely made it easier to appreciate less than beautiful voices.

Mark Lanegan has always had an amazingly haunting and unconventional voice

I would rather be waterboarded at Gitmo than listen to Joanna Newsom.

Never mistake lack of talent for genius.

this is another horrible topic. stop having shows where you just insult musicians.

you'd be on the list of best worst talk show host and guest. right on top.

none of these examples have been "indie" yet. you're playing music that is incredibly popular.

I never saw Richard Hell play with Television, but I can only imagine that when he and Tom Verlaine got together for close harmony, every dog on Bowery was set a-howling.

Good: Shara Wardon of My Brightest Diamond, Regina Spektor, Snow Patrol
Needs help: Kings of Leon, The Kills

Before this even starts, I wouldn't jump the line claiming Joanna Newsom's voice is an "imperfection." The term "best worst" shows us that Paste is running low in the idea department.