What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

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UlricvonCatalyst
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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by UlricvonCatalyst » Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:56 pm

Jeez Louise - how did I forget to include Broadcast, probably one of my all-time favourites of all time? :fp:

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by UlricvonCatalyst » Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:58 pm

Maybe, if anything, this thread demonstrates how unimportant the gender of a band's members/front people actually is.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by sal paradise » Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:02 am

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:
Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:58 pm
Maybe, if anything, this thread demonstrates how unimportant the gender of a band's members/front people actually is.
I think the gender problem comes more into the commercial aspects: contract values, labels promoting women as objects & lack of balance on festival etc…
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by offabit » Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:12 am

I would add Covet to this already excellent list.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by Jaguar018 » Thu Jul 07, 2022 6:09 am

Growing up (Gen X) I listened to a lot of classic rock on the radio, as that was what my older siblings listened to, which consisted of lots of dudes, peppered with some women. We all know the drill. Hearing bands like the Go-Go's and the Pretenders was a revelation.

The first time I heard Kim Deal's voice in the Pixies it was like a drug (the good kind) I just wanted more. I know exactly where I was when I heard Lætitia Sadier in Stereolab. The songs that Bridgette Cross sings for Unrest sent me over the moon. Broadcast is probably my favorite band of all time.

At one point I formed my own 'super band' comprised of members of three different broken-up bands including a lady guitarist/singer (her old band was so great). We shared writing and singing duties. I LOVED her voice and talent.

As I got older I was able to get into some of the early legends like Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline. Now it is fun being able to back and forth through time people find and share 'forgotten' bands including so many great female talents that were marginalized.

Stuff like Cassie and lost bands of the underground.

At this point I am not particularly interested in the cream of the crop. I like delving deeper and deeper into the bands that are only vaguely remembered. [Perhaps this is because all of my bands and songs are more aligned with that kind of thing :whistle: ]

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by DeathJag » Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:39 am

Great topic! I’m getting some awesome music here. One thing is folks, I’d love a blurb about these bands. It’s a lot of clicks for me just to check out one band (with 30 years of tendinitis). Here’s a partial list:

The Brentwoods - 90s band, old time bluesy type chord progressions (which I normally hate!), ultra lo fi, rough and reedy keyboard, noisy, and fun as hell garage band. On Radio X. Danielle from The Trashwomen on bass, and Karen from Supercharger on drums.

Grass Widow - experimental folk with a fiddler sometimes. Really weird chord progressions and sometimes the notes are dissonant and out of key. Kind of Delightful if you’re into surprises and unpredictable music. The production is *great!*

Woelv - It’s Geneviève Castrée. Cartoonist and wife to Phil Elverum (Microphones / Mount Eerie). Haunting, melodic, and kind of cosmic. It is definitely music, but very hard to describe. Dynamic, melodic harmonious vocals, some choir-like sounds. It’s like a hyper-pretty dream you suddenly remember. This band gives me goosebumps sometimes.

O Paon - Similar to Woelv, another Geneviève Castrée project and similarly awesome. She died right after giving birth to a daughter. She wrote and drew a little comic for her kid right before her death. Makes the music even more haunting.

Vivian Girls - garage and noisy, Katy Goodman on vocals.

La Sera - also Katy Goodman, but much more poppy and mellow. Some nice clean tones. Check out “Love That’s Gone” for a wonderful solo - and I hate solos haha!

Horrible / Adorable - pop punk

Heavenly - 90s pop punk that is very good (K records). Sad story.

Bratmobile - Punk and sass, recorded very well. Also K Records. Began as a 2-piece, I saw them in Olympia in 1991 and they were still in high school.

Bikini Kill - Punk. I also was introduced to them when I lived in Oly in 1991. I really like the production. The screaming thing gets old but it’s great when that singer shuts up.

Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra - Awesome noisy garage. The Red Orchestra is like a house band for the label “In The Red” (Guitar Wolf).

Black Tamborine - 80s experimental and noise, this band is right next to the Raincoats in my playlist.

Pale Lips - garagey Ramones thing

Beach Bunny - Pop punk. I LOVE this band! All about breakups with such an earnest vocal style. Nothing really new here, just well done with compelling vocals.

Seapony - just want to second this

Alvvays - same as above

La Luz - another second - instro surf and vocal pop

Habibi - vocal pop with surfy sounds

Peach Kelli Pop - lo-fi Ramonescore

Shannon and the Clams - lo-fi surf and garage, and doo wop! We need more bands like this in the world.

Pat Benatar - needs no description

Black Bug - Brilliant super distorted drum machine noisepunk. “I Don’t Like You” is just epic!

Fabienne DelSol - groovy garagey stuff that sounds like it’s from the 60s

April March - French garage pop
Last edited by DeathJag on Thu Jul 07, 2022 3:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:57 am

sal paradise wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:02 am
UlricvonCatalyst wrote:
Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:58 pm
Maybe, if anything, this thread demonstrates how unimportant the gender of a band's members/front people actually is.
I think the gender problem comes more into the commercial aspects: contract values, labels promoting women as objects & lack of balance on festival etc…
What OSG’s list demonstrates for me is writing and musicianship are important to us. Not exactly a big surprise, but nice to see.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by cestlamort » Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:02 am

Endless list, probably.

older stuff:
Avengers
Blonde Redhead
Cocteau Twins
Dead Can Dance
Lush
Siouxsie
Slowdive (do they even count?)
Spinanes
Yo La Tengo
(edit: how'd I forget Broadcast and Stereolab??)
(edit 2: how'd I forget Blondie and Elastica??)

Kinda newer:
Beach House
Neko Case
Veronica Falls

Even newer:
Darkswoon
Lebanon Hanover
my band
Last edited by cestlamort on Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by smjenkins » Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:22 pm

So, so many....

Fronted by Women
Breeders (Amps, TKD6K, et al)
Blondie
Sleater Kinney
Delta 5
Deep Sea Diver
Throwing Muses
Liz Phair
Stereolab
Fiery Furnaces
Elastica
Le Tigre

Often fronted by women
Sonic Youth
New Pornographers
First Communion Afterparty
Last edited by smjenkins on Sat Feb 04, 2023 9:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by Chippertheripper » Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:59 pm

Big ups to Maggie for finally mentioning the Pretenders, one of my all time favs. Yeah, yeah, yeahs is another that’s right up there for me, Sahara hotnights I don’t think I’ve seen on anyones list, Cranberries, Arcade Fire is kinda had fronted by a lady, Heart is another all time winner for my ears, the Annie Lennox catalogue for sure, and I’ll stop typing now for the sake of not rambling.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by HedonismBot » Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:29 pm

Surprised nobody mentioned Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a key figure in gospel and early rock’n’roll.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by Jaguar018 » Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:57 pm

HedonismBot wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:29 pm
Surprised nobody mentioned Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a key figure in gospel and early rock’n’roll.
Not too many fans of that type of music, or at least like as a #1 choice on OSG I'd guess. Not that she isn't a titan-- but you were initially asking about personal favorites. I mean, she's a pioneering talent and all but not a big player on the OSG basic band list of Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, and My Bloody Valentine. :jacked:
DeathJag wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:39 am
Grass Widow - experimental folk with a fiddler sometimes. Really weird chord progressions and sometimes the notes are dissonant and out of key. Kind of Delightful if you’re into surprises and unpredictable music. The production is *great!*
You might want to check out Cold Beat, which is Hanna Lew's more recent project. Later releases are way more synth-y/electronic. Good stuff.

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by DeathJag » Thu Jul 07, 2022 3:39 pm

Jaguar018 wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:57 pm
You might want to check out Cold Beat
Yes thanks I like them a lot also! I wanted to avoid repeating too many bands. I like GW more than Cold Beat but they are both great!

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by rbrcbr » Thu Jul 07, 2022 6:05 pm

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Angel Olsen, Nilüfer Yanya (her new record PAINLESS is so good), Gillian Welch, bit of Aldous Harding

Other acts you've heard of:
Big Thief
Weyes Blood
Beach House
Laura Marling
Lomelda
Florist
Cate le Bon
Jessica Pratt
Julia Jacklin

Smaller Acts you may not know:
Jockstrap
Tomberlin
Courtney Marie Andrews
Hannah Cohen
Babehoven
Allegra Krieger
Rose Hotel
Neighbor Lady
Karaoke

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Re: What are your top 3 (5, 10, whatever) bands fronted by women?

Post by BTL » Thu Jul 07, 2022 7:09 pm

Great topic, great lists.

Two I haven't seen mentioned are Brandi Carlisle and Alabama Shakes/Brittany Howard.
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