Tracks where the vocalist 'talks' rather than 'sings'

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Ladytron 'He Took Her To A Movie'

stevem (blueski), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

laika "bad times"

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

laurie anderson "O Superman"

A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

morrissey "sorrow will come for you in the end"

bill stevens (bscrubbins), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It's called "spinging."

s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Lou Reed to thread.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Flying Lizards own i guess

this is harder than i thought tho, all i can think of now is that 'Toast' song, or whether things like Squeeze's 'Cool For Cats; count

stevem (blueski), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

King Missle - Jesus was way cool
(insert the rest of King Missle's recordings here)

Fecal Jesus (mawill), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Belle and Sebastian - A Century of Elvis
Belle and Sebastian - A Spaceboy Dream

ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

leftfield '20th century poem'
coldcut 'noah's journey'
dj q 'we are one'
massive attack 'antistar'

stevem (blueski), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies - "Monkey Gone To Heaven"
Dire Straits - "Sultans of Swing"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 18 August 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The verses of Soft Machine's "Why Are We Sleeping?" are all (I think) quietly 'uttered', line by line ...whereas the choruses sure are sung.

And there certainly are several other Laurie Anderson 'tracks' where she just 'tells stories'.

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies - "Monkey Gone To Heaven"
Dire Straits - "Sultans of Swing"

i'd class these both as singing


Lo Fidelity All Stars and Campag Velocet - everything!

stevem (blueski), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"People Who Died", "Three Sisters" by the Jim Carroll Band
"88 Lines about 44 Women", "The Things You Left Beind" by the Nails
"AEIOU Sometimes Y" by Ebn-Ozn
"Losing My Edge" by LCD Soundsystem
"Let There Be More Darkness" by Robyn Hitchcock

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Truckloads of Trick y must fit the bill also.

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd count Tricky as hip hop tho, unless you had in mind something from one of the more recent albums where there's no female backing?

stevem (blueski), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I take it we're excluding rap, and Miss Kittin to thread.

Pet Shop Boys - Left To My Own Devices
Tom Waits - 9th & Hennepin
Black Box Recorder - Child Psychology
Sinéad O'Connor - "Famine"
Ani DiFranco - Tamburitza Lingua
John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey - Is That All There Is?
Tori Amos - '97 Bonnie & Clyde

The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

And that bit at the end of Girls Aloud, 'No Good Advice'.

The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd count Tricky as hip hop tho, unless you had in mind something from one of the more recent albums where there's no female backing?

Okeh, let's change "truckloads" to "molehills" then ;-)

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 18 August 2003 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

chris bouchillon invented the talking blues, they say.

amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"Breethe Deeply" by Lambchop is all talk. I think that's the name of it anyway; it's the one about the guy who buys a whole bunch of room deoderizers, and has been for weeks, and sets them all off like bug bombs.

"The Gift" by the Velvet Underground (I know Lou's been mentioned, but this is a Cale reading).

"By the Time I get to Phoenix", the Isaac Hayes version, is mostly talk.

Moss Feaster, Monday, 18 August 2003 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Waits "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me", "What's He Building in There?" & "Frank's Wild Years".

Moss Feaster, Monday, 18 August 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

What's that Pavement song off Slanted and Enchanted — the one that goes "I'm tryin', i'm tryin' " I think it's called Loretta's Scars and Malkmus is definitely talking.
Talkin' like a mofo.

Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

plus the fall song that song rips off

nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"The First Big Weekend" by Arab Strap. Other Arab Strap songs too.
Pretty much everything by Lifter Puller.

fffv (fffv), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

U2 - Numb (Edge singing...i mean talking)

Spinktor the Unmerciful (mawill5), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Meanwhile Back In Communist Russia to thread.

The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

once in a lifetime - talking heads

gaz (gaz), Monday, 18 August 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, my mistake, it wasn't Loretta's Scars (I'm at work, doin' this from my noggin'). It was Conduit For Sale, and The Fall song it rips off is New Face in Hell.

Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Slint, "Don A Man" and "Breadcrumb Trail" and some other songs of theirs.

hstencil, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

There are many spoken word interludes in (mainly older) Patti Smith songs.

Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

It's on the edge of talking/singing, but:

"E-Bow the Letter" -- R.E.M.

(It was the Patti reference that twigged my memory.)

(plus, a lot of early Stipe used to mumble/sing -- does this count?)

David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

A number of early Dylan cuts, including a few explicitly labelled as "Talkin"" blues ("Talkin' World War III...", "Talkin' John Birch Society...".

"Indiscipline", the verses of "Neurotica", and "Dig Me" by the Adrian Belew-voiced lineup of King Crimson.

"A Simple Desultory Philippic" -- Simon & Garfunkel.

Also Billy Bragg's cover of "Don't Walk Away Renee".

Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

a lot of Tindersticks songs...though it's more mumbling than whispering

manuel (manuel), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

fosca - diary of an antibody

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Much of Serge Gainsbourg's output from "Melody Nelson" onwards ownz this...

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)


A number of early Dylan cuts, including a few explicitly labelled as "Talkin"" blues ("Talkin' World War III...", "Talkin' John Birch Society...".

as hinted above, this was an entire mode of country (and folk) music which dylan was paying tribute to/slyly lampooning.

amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Loads of recent Bruce Cockburn. 'Postcards from Cambodia', et. al

derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 05:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Lots of songs by Slint, June of 44, Bitch Magnet etc... bleh

Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

TV Personalities "Mentioned in Dispatches"

amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 05:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Telly Savalas - If!

Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

The Rolling Stones - "Far Away Eyes"

amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

baz luhrmann - everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)

willem (willem), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 08:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought the world had officially agreed to forget that song ever existed.

amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

everybody's free to do so

willem (willem), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

From a very quick perusal, I cna't believe no one's mentioned Pulp.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

That recent Placebo single. And how horrible it is, too.

person#0 (person#0), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

a lot of these have talking verses but singing choruses...no good

stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

David Bowie - Future Legend

willem (willem), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"No Sex In the Champagne Room" fules!

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Pelvis" owns!

Who was it, posted the mp3 a few days ago?

CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

new one, spearmint- the book.

with quite possibly the best summery tune of 2003 (saloon's the good life is also a conteder for best summery tune of 2003 aswell)

Myles, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)


loren green "ringo"
m.

msp, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Nada Surf - Popular
Rammstein - Spieluhr
Sleater-Kinney - Get Up

Id Off, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Primus "Mephisto and Kevin" and "Arnie"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

A helluva lot of Tarwater

andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Ummm...every hip hop track ever.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

There's gotta be some Leonard Cohen songs. The Rheostatics 'Guns', Sloan 'Before I Do' parts of Neil Young 'Tired Eyes' and The Normal 'Warm Leatherette' all come to mind.

Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Pelvis" owns!

Are you talking about the Barry Adamson song?

Sleater-Kinney - Get Up

If this counts, then so does Sonic Youth's "Tunic (Song for Karen)," which Corin's vocals on here always reminds me of. Also probably more SY songs -- like "Skip Tracer."

jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

But her out of MBICR isn't actually a singer...

Shangri-Las - Past, Present, Future

William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Isaac Hayes - Theme from Shaft (a lot of it, anyway)
Suicidal Tendencies - Institutionalized

Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Karel Fialka 'Hey Matthew' - he borders on singing but not quite

stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sabotage", John Cale
"Six Six Sixties", Throbbing Gristle
"Smoke Time", Blurt
"Ampheta Speak", Ut
"Lady Coca Cola", Metal Urbain

Lots of songs by the Sun City Girls

Stephen Boyle (SBoyle), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

MOSS ICON

dz, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

War, and that one guy . . . Eric Burdon I think his name was . . . - Spill the Wine.


That's a fucking fantastic song, too.

David Allen, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

anything by green velvet.

michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

'never say never' by romeo void!

heywood jablomi (heywood), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK

jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...
Black Box Recorder 'Uptown Top Ranking'

stevem (blueski), Monday, 8 September 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Stuart" - Dead Milkmen. BEST RANT EVAH.

Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and if someone's gonna count Baz Luhrman then shurely we must also include "Not the Sunscreen Song" by John Safran.

Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

dubstar - unchained monologue

Slump Man (Slump Man), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Magic Dirt - "Vulcanella" (from their new one, Tough Love, which is awfully fantastic).

Orson Welles -- "I know what it is to be young (but you don't know what it is to be old"

Much Bongwater

dlp9001, Tuesday, 9 September 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

AC/DC "Big Balls"

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

John Cale - The Jeweller, Piano Magic - I Came To Your Party Dressed As A Shadow

Damian (Damian), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 01:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Owners of this thread: Soul Coughing.

Ess, Tuesday, 9 September 2003 12:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"exits to freeways twisted like knots on fingers/jewels cleaving skin between breasts"

Ess = OTM

Trayce also hella OTM. "...that's why they call it a burrow owl!"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

All the Ursula Rucker-voiced last-or-almost-last-tracks-on-Roots-CDs to thread! "alright ladies, lights out!"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Warren Zevon-Werewolves of London

Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)


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