Band that would have soared highest with a different singer.

[musiclawyer]

I write songs and think I'm pretty good at finding great melodies hidden behind bad production, vocals etc. I nominate Midnight Oil. Never did like the sandpaper voice of Peter what's his name, the lawyer,lead singer. But I always thought Midnight Oil had a deep catalogue with tremendous song/melodies and would have gone down in history as a great, legendary band , instead of just a good one, had it had a real, gripping multi-key vocalist. Any other bands/artists come to mind?

[eyepaddle]

1. It's gonna be tough to top Midnight Oil

They were never quite my cup of tea, but Rage Against the Machine, c'mon--if your whole point is a political statment how about ennunciating those words!

[Bluzmann57]

2. Rush

I know they have sold millions of records, but I honestly believe that if Getty Lee wasn't the singer in that band, they could have sold many more. That guy is annoying and the band is talented, for metal music.

[musiclawyer]

3. Rush is up there for sure

I stopped buying their stuff because I couldn't take that voice anymore, but they probably kept writing good tunes.

[crimson333]

4. Geddy Lee is the reason I like Rush

He is different.

I would have replaced the lead singer of Queensryche, Geoff Tate.

[Orsino]

5. Smashing Pumpkins, Rush

I still think Midnight Oil is a great band, but I could wish for a better lead singer for them, too.

[Taverner]

6. Dave Matthews

[Jamastiene]

7. I think Midnight Oil were great with him. I either

like a band and their music or not based on the lead singer too. I liked INXS as they were before too, but if this Rock Star INXS singer picking thingy on CBS ends up with J.D. as the lead singer, I won't buy the album or go to their concerts. I know this thread isn't about that, but I felt the content was right to mention how a singer can keep a band from reaching it's true potential. I cannot stand a cocky musician who puts other musicians down. I also cannot stand a cocky little shit who says "I'm a bigger fan than they are." His tongue has turned me against him with that attitude. I like Jordis best so far...

Besides that, I honestly can't think of a band I would nominate in this thread right off the top of my head. I'd like to thank the OP for asking this question though. It will help me listen to music in a different way than I have up until now. Who knows what band I might find that I could like if not for the singer?

[musiclawyer]

9. Variation on theme; Remember the band UltraVox

There the singer wasn't the problem; it was the production, arrangments. Unbelievably good/great song catalogue buried in the same layers of keyboards and effects

[Jamastiene]

10. Yes, too many layers of effects can destroy an

otherwise good song. I only like keyboards if they are a minor part of the song, or just somehow different than all the others, like Blondie. As much as I love Deborah Harry's voice, I think a lot of people didn't take her seriously way back when because of her image. Blondie has some great music that hasn't been heard by a lot of people. And so does Deborah Harry solo. Her range and the texture of her voice has matured and grown in leaps and bounds.

[wallwriter]

8. Obviously, the Doors