Who was the best of the best of the grunge singers?

[stip]

Tell me! I must know!

[stip]

The quality of the vocalists is probably the most striking thing about this scene. the beautiful cinematic desperation in Layne Staley, the range of Chris Cornell, the way Billy Corgan could sound like an angel and demon in the same song (sometimes in the same phrase), the naked broken hurt in Kurt Cobain. When Scott Weiland is your least interesting singer you know you've got a powerhouse lineup.

But, to the surprise of no one, my vote is for Eddie Vedder. To my ears, especially in the 1991-1994 period, there was no better rock singer ever - the power, the depth of feeling, the way the vocals could envelop you, the intimacy. He could do anything during this time.

[evenslow]

The quality of the vocalists is probably the most striking thing about this scene.

\
Totally agreed. What an embarrassment of riches to grow up with. We'll never see another scene like it.

It may produce an eyeroll but I gotta go with EV here. He's neck and neck with his Hunger Strike partner. CC may have had higher highs, like the opening of Burden In My Hand, but Ed could match him on screaming songs, plus I prefer his voice on the ballads and quieter moments. There's also no one better than Ed on Unplugged when he had the full force of that yarling baritone at his command. What a thing to behold.

There's really no wrong answer between EV, CC, KC and LS as far as I'm concerned. One helluva big four.

[VinylGuy]

i agree with Stip...the richness of this scene, my god.

And Lanegan isnt listed here...Mark Arm, Andy Wood, Mia Zapata, Carrie Akre, so many more. It was such an amazing time.

Im always changing my mind about it, but i would say Chris Cornell these days.

[wease]

For me it's between Cornell and Staley with Cornell for the win.

[epilogue]

It's Chris Cornell and there really isn't a close second.

[stip]

My issue with CC is that I never felt like he brought the same depth of feeling to his performances as pretty much everyone else here - the range eclipsed the heart. When he wasn't showing off (on moments like Season) it was there, but not there enough. He swings for the fences in Burden in My Hand, but I don't quite feel the pain and doubt and self-loathing that the others would have conveyed.

[epilogue]

My issue with CC is that I never felt like he brought the same depth of feeling to his performances as pretty much everyone else here - the range eclipsed the heart. When he wasn't showing off (on moments like Season) it was there, but not there enough. He swings for the fences in Burden in My Hand, but I don't quite feel the pain and doubt and self-loathing that the others would have conveyed.

Oh wow. Yeah, I couldn't disagree more. But I'm far more familiar with this post-Superunknown stuff. And everything on Euphoria Morning is dripping with nuance and emotion and depth. I would also argue that he hits all the proper beats on that first Audioslave record, too. Really, all the Audioslave stuff, but that first record in particular.

Obviously, I'd rank Ed at #2. But it wouldn't really be close. And this is coming from someone who far prefers Ed and Pearl Jam to Chris Cornell and any of his bands. Chris Cornell was just on a completely different level.

[LoathedVermin72]

It's Chris Cornell and there really isn't a close second.

Cornell would be way down the list for me. Cobain is definitely my favorite.

[epilogue]

It's Chris Cornell and there really isn't a close second.

Cornell would be way down the list for me. Cobain is definitely my favorite.

I do love Cobain as well. He'd be my #3. And he's closer to Vedder at #2 than Vedder is to Cornell at #1. For me.

[PHATJ]

Cornell was the best singer, Ed was my favorite of the group, and Scott was great too.

[Jorge]

Vote for Iha

[Jorge]

(not really, I voted for Kurt, I just really wanted to post "The Boy")

[Jorge]

Chris Cornell is obviously the most technically impressive singer here, at least as far as range, but I really don't like the timbre of his voice. The fact that I'm not much of a SG fan doesn't help

[VinylGuy]

i dont like Cobain that much. Not impress by him at all.
I prefer Billy Corgan or Scott. Im still impressed with Scott, he was a true chameleon changing his range in 1993 with Purple then doing a completely different thin in Tiny Music or his first solo album.

[epilogue]

Top 5:

Chris Cornell
Eddie Vedder
Kurt Cobain
Scott Weiland
Billy Corgan

[BurtReynolds]

Cobain easily. I'll take raw emotion over technical ability any day.

Followed by ed.

I've always thought Cornell's voice was a little annoying, to be honest.

[LoathedVermin72]

Cobain
Vedder
Weiland
Corgan
Cornell
Gossard

[stip]

Vedder

Corgan, Staley

Cobain

Cornell
Weiland

[Birds in Hell]

Definitely Cobain.