Vanessa Carlton VS Michelle Branch VS Chantal Kreviazuk VS Norah Jones VS Alicia Keys ad infinitum

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how do you tell them apart?

Horace Mann, Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

Do we need to in order to enjoy their music?

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Michelle plays guitar."

Amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

Vanessa has a nasal lilt in her voice and plays piano like a drama student. Michelle has a wide open voice and plays guitar like a hippie-chick. Chantal I've never heard of. Norah Jones has a minor blues rubato and bend in her voice and plays piano like Fiona Apple used to. Alicia Keys has a smooth mellow voice which booms on the lower registers (almost husky, but too refined) and plays piano like a john cale faux-classical interlude.

Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

but who would want to take a VC/MB blind taste test?

Horace Mann, Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

horace you perv!

Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

That Michelle Branch w/Santana song is really catchy

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

i really do get Vanessa and Michelle mixed up

stevem (blueski), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

Vanessa's voice is much more mannered (read: unbearable) than Michelle's.

Amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

her songs are dumb but I thought Vanessa Carlton's burp into a microphone on MTV was very cute. Michelle Branch is my favorite by default, because I truly believe she wants to take me away from here.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 2 January 2003 18:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

I miss the days of Sarah McLaughlin and Tori Amos and Fiona Apple and other female singer/songwriters who you can tell apart without having to ask.

Although I would say Norah Jones is very pleasing to listen to, and probably doesn't belong on that list, if only for the fact that she's on Blue Note.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 2 January 2003 19:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

Chantal Kreviazuk has no personal redeeming qualities Im away of. Shes right near the top of the list of musicians I wished I had slapped sense into when I had the chance.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 2 January 2003 19:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

condition chalk
condition bone
condition off-white
condition cream
condition taupe
etc

Paul (scifisoul), Friday, 3 January 2003 05:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

Tori Amos and Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan are really that different? C'mon. Perhaps if you listened to these new artists as much as you listened to these three frogettes you'd say the same thing.

Winslow (winslow), Friday, 3 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

Tori and Fiona can be hard to tell apart outside the singles but Sarah is (or was) more akin to Kate Bush.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 16:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'd blame recent trends in music production for the perceived sameness in all of these. Not to be an analog purist or anything but really, take the Pro Tools out of the equation and bring in a producer who feels some sort of investment in the songs or performers and I think all of these would sound quite different.

As it stands though Horace's question is totally right on

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

haha Mountain Goats VS Palace Brothers VS James Taylor VS Elliot Smith ad infinitum HOW DO YOU TELL THEM APART!!?!

Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

Palace Brothers sounds like Slint compared to the others, Elliot Smith sounds like he is about to lapse into a drug coma and James Taylor sounds like The Simpsons take on the previous two. No clue who the Mountian Goats are though.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mountain Goats sound more like They Might Be Giants. Palace Brothers sound A LOT like Bonnie "Prince" Billy (and I do mean A LOT), while E. Smith and J. Taylor are probably the same dude, with different toupés, like Capt. Kirk and TJ Hooker.

How 'bout Nickelback VS Creed VS Default VS Theory of a Deadman VS Jeb Bush VS Pearl Jam's Wet Laundry VS Shakira's green card VS Moby?

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 18:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ha OPO: Creed, Default, Puddle of Mudd, Nickelback, The Calling, 3 Doors Down, Staind, Lifehouse.

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'll take The Calling, cuz they've got THE, like those other cool bands, The Hives, The Strokes, and The Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 18:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'll take The Calling because I don't know them.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

oh yes vs. BECK!!!!!!!!

Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 3 January 2003 18:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

Very funny Sterling.

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

OK now I am going to sulk all day, it depressing the shit out of me when people compare the Mountain Goats to They Might Be Giants

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

vs. compared to Palace Etc. why not?
Mountain Goats are N-E-R-D-S (not N*E*R*D*)

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Thanks Horace you're a sweetheart

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

I am, amn't I?

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

"it is idle to reply to critics" (John Berryman in the introduction to His Toy, His Dream, His Rest) "but I allow myself one word" (IBID): only as soon as I try to think of the one word it becomes a long paragraph: it just hurts my feelings a little when people compare my stuff to that show-how-clever-we-are stuff

you're aware that I'm the guy from the Mt Goats I assume

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

Still never heard your music.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

oh you'd love it we sound just like They Might Be Giants

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

I had no idea!
Wow, I meant it as no insult, and I actually REALLY dig All Hail West Texas. I think a more fitting comparison would've been Jason Trachtenburg but TMBG is a bigger name that more people would recognize. A short cut for the masses, if you will. (though, incid., Trachtenburg will be on Conan O'Brien tonight).
And really, I was comparing the reediness of your voice, though in that dept. Willie Nelson might've been just as apt, if not more so thinking about now.

Well, I've got Eggo on my face-o.

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

Palace Brothers sound A LOT like Bonnie "Prince" Billy (and I do mean A LOT),

Since I have no clue who is and isnt being sarcastic at the moment I'll take my momentary confusion to point out they are the same person. Though I think Horace was just cracking a joke.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

Way to cover your bases Noodles, you're Cdn aren't you?

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

MR NOODLES = WILL OLDHAM!!!!!!!!!

jermaine-dupri, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

That would be poetic.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 January 2003 19:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

So, how many lo-fi singer-songwriters are lurking around in here, show of hands...

Horace Mann, Friday, 3 January 2003 19:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

Hi, I'm Jandek.

Jandek (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

Indeed? Give me all your albums.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

Come get them. I'm in the phonebook.

Jandek (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

It's all good, then (I actually only need about half at this point -- yay compulsive collecting!).

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:36 (twenty-one years ago) link

Someone needs to hug John.

Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Mountain Goats sound more like Phil Ochs than any of the above comparisons...and that's only a passing vocal resemblance.

mike a (mike a), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

yah, I hope I didn't give off the impression that I was, like, genuinely mad or anything -- the TMBG thing sticks in my craw for a bunch of relatively obscure reasons, none of which really belong on a public board, but I was joining the thread mainly in a spirit of fun

though I will gladly take that hug, Yancey, as it's been a long day

J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Saturday, 4 January 2003 00:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'll give you an e-hug John! Even though I've only heard your music while riding in other people's cars, I can assure you it didn't remind me of TMBG *AT ALL* and that I definitely really sympathize with personally uncomfortable comparisons. But I think that goes with the territory of releasing music, unfortunately...

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 17 January 2003 00:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

More people should compare his music to someone like Amorphis. They both like folk.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 17 January 2003 02:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

nine years pass...

http://i43.tinypic.com/2guys1j.jpg

flopson and jetsam (unregistered), Saturday, 4 February 2012 17:45 (twelve years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh0AvLgkUHY

This was a third-tier jam of mine last summer. Reminds me of second-to-third album Liz Phair. I'm glad that she's an out bisexual. Glad the dog didn't kill her.

I haven't heard any Michelle Branch other than The Spirit Room singles, which are timeless canon for me.

beachville, Saturday, 4 February 2012 22:19 (twelve years ago) link

Does Michelle Branch Shave or Flush?

Z S, Saturday, 4 February 2012 22:21 (twelve years ago) link

every single one of those headlines is incredible

the would-be M. Branch comeback single "Loud Music" was my jam last summer

some dude, Saturday, 4 February 2012 22:34 (twelve years ago) link

it's good

markers, Saturday, 4 February 2012 22:35 (twelve years ago) link

the spirit room singles are so good. a few months ago i played "all you wanted" so often that i almost tricked myself into thinking it had just come out

teledyldonix, Sunday, 5 February 2012 01:10 (twelve years ago) link

five years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqfd4v-_byg

kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 6 January 2018 05:27 (six years ago) link

the upthread stuff is lol. i always wondered if there was an ilx moment where he had to confront the reality that there would be a music discussion related to him without the other person knowing who he was! the internet is weird, man

Karl Malone, Saturday, 6 January 2018 06:12 (six years ago) link

xpost

I'd argue that "Surrounded" is the best song of that whole era/genre, though it more belongs to the slightly earlier Lilith Fair one.

iCloudius (cryptosicko), Saturday, 6 January 2018 06:13 (six years ago) link

so don’t you looooooooooooooooooose
siiiight of me now

flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:32 (six years ago) link

^ hell yes!

kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 6 January 2018 16:27 (six years ago) link

"Chantal Kreviazuk has no personal redeeming qualities Im away of. Shes right near the top of the list of musicians I wished I had slapped sense into when I had the chance.
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles),"

this warrants more elucidation

I only know of this woman from used CD bins.

akm, Saturday, 6 January 2018 16:43 (six years ago) link

I haven't heard any Michelle Branch other than The Spirit Room singles, which are timeless canon for me.

― beachville, Saturday, February 4, 2012 3:19 PM (five years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ofc this post is several years old but it reminded me that michelle branch’s “breathe” is one of my favorite songs of all time

flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 6 January 2018 17:06 (six years ago) link

some seriously wtf posts in this thread

kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 6 January 2018 20:07 (six years ago) link

This was a third-tier jam of mine last summer.

That song was Dear California.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh0AvLgkUHY

The pitbull story is chaotic.

http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100708/NEWS/7080315

how's life, Sunday, 7 January 2018 02:16 (six years ago) link

I worked on a couple of MB records years ago and she was a sweetheart so she wins this VS for me :)

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Sunday, 7 January 2018 02:38 (six years ago) link

Norah jones' little broken hearts is a fucking good album

kolakube (Ross), Sunday, 7 January 2018 03:34 (six years ago) link

yes norah jones is all time great. most of her albums are great and she's a nice person.

akm, Monday, 8 January 2018 20:28 (six years ago) link

ok, this Michelle Branch show is pretty lit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geNXd5Q850s

I can't decide if my favorite moment is when she bums a hair tie from a roadie, asks the audience if they've heard the band Lifehouse, announces that "Everywhere" is gonna be on TRL Wannabes, or stops twice in mid-song to berate her audience for abandoning her during the rain ("it didn't ruin Woodstock!") a minute before the announcer comes onstage to call off the show. this was a week after "Everywhere" was released, so there's this weird tension where she's on the cusp of fame but she's still playing middle-of-nowhere gigs with apparently no quality control from her road/sound crew. it's a little surreal to hear such a raw, real performance from an era when when major label singer-songwriters were generally polished and micromanaged to a fault.

(and ok, I hadn't realized that MB was such a qtπ)

jesus and figs and science and the foo fighters (unregistered), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:15 (six years ago) link

Vanessa Carlton must be at least slightly annoyed that her biggest hit is chiefly remembered in 2018 as "that vine meme with the white girl and the rolling piano"

jesus and figs and science and the foo fighters (unregistered), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:22 (six years ago) link

Norah Jones is boring as fuck.
Going Michelle Branch, she’s great on the Santana cheese puff “game of love”
https://open.spotify.com/track/41IShViF79gmulEkIHAjcb?si=vKPNn6CVSO6UEJmJ5zkIlg

June Pointer’s Valentine’s Day Secret Admirer Note Author (calstars), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:23 (six years ago) link

Have you actually heard little broken hearts or is that just a knee jerk dismissal?

kolakube (Ross), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:42 (six years ago) link

The final track on that album is more Mazzy star than Norah

kolakube (Ross), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:43 (six years ago) link

Sorry man no I haven’t heard that particular track
But I’m familiar with her debut which was strangely, hypnotizingly boring. And I did give one of her later albums a chance and it was just snoozeville...

June Pointer’s Valentine’s Day Secret Admirer Note Author (calstars), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:46 (six years ago) link

Yeah honestly id feel the same way as you if I hasn't heard that one record. Rest is a snooze sure. Cheers mate

kolakube (Ross), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:49 (six years ago) link

she is not snoozeville

akm, Friday, 12 January 2018 20:16 (six years ago) link

two months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smzpxLu5sxs

Carl Your Girlfriend

toblerone rasa (how's life), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:25 (six years ago) link

https://www.stereogum.com/1988048/vanessa-carlton-call-your-girlfriend-robyn-cover/premiere/

“Call Your Girlfriend” is the first of six monthly covers Carlton is promising this year. Her most recent album Liberman is out now on Dine Alone Records.

toblerone rasa (how's life), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:26 (six years ago) link

it's as if it doesn't even attempt to add anything to the song (apart from a less appealing diction)

thread title is nonsense

niels, Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:30 (six years ago) link

I haven't formulated an opinion on that but the thread revive reminded me of one of the brighter moments of 2016: "Goodbye Ted Cruz."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V0pumxenJo

you covered ev-ery-thing with your ooze

I leprecan't even. (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:46 (six years ago) link


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