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

[Anders]

Between Chris (the one of a kind natural talent), Layne (the incredible voice), or Ed (the total package). Kurt (raw energy) is also close.

[Kevin Davis]

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.

Pre-"Superunknown," Cornell was basically a metal vocalist (with a few detours for things like "Seasons" and Temple of the Dog) -- all crushing physical presence and range. It's a thing to behold, and works great with their music, but to me it's with "Down on the Upside" and especially "Euphoria Morning" that the other elements of his voice really come into flower, providing some context to that trademark banshee wail -- shades of folk, soul, even trace amounts of opera in a few rare cases. The best moments on Audioslave's first couple albums kind of synthesize a rock-friendly version of these disparate elements (I'm thinking of songs like "Like a Stone" and "Getaway Car," in my opinion some of Cornell's all-time great vocals), alongside about half-a-dozen tracks per album of modern rock monotony. I lost track of him around 2007 or so, but when I had occasion to check back in, his ability to manipulate his voice to suit the shape of any given song was a skill that always seemed acutely at his fingertips, even when the material sometimes didn't seem worth the trouble. Of all these guys, he's probably the one for whom I'd have most liked to track a covers album.

So if we're sticking squarely in the 1991-96 time frame, I don't think the raw physicality of Cornell's voice is enough to earn him the trophy; I'd put him comfortably below Cobain, Vedder, and Weiland, though still well above Corgan and Staley, whose voices were musical coloration devices as much as anything. But even including only "Euphoria Morning" bumps him up a few notches. I'm still not sure it's a voice that speaks to me louder than Cobain's or Vedder's, but the objective scope of it becomes a lot clearer (to me, anyway).

[evenslow]

Cobain might have the finest moment of all with the unplugged "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." That last minute or so takes your breath away.

[Jammer XCI]

MARK FUCKING LANEGAN

[stip]

during this period Vedder has him beat. He really came into his own in the late 90s/early 2000s

[bada]

Cobain
Cornell
Vedder
Layne
Weiland
Corgan

Weiland would have been a little higher if this extended into later years. His harmonies were really second to none on this list but they weren't really there on the first three albums. Also since he's the only guy on this list who didn't (couldn't) scream he probably aged the best vocally but none of that counts.

[chewm]

MARK FUCKING LANEGAN

I agree really

[BurtReynolds]

Vote for Iha

i like it

[Jorge]

Yeah it's good. Here's another good one

[evenslow]

Vedder
Cornell
Cobain

Staley
Weiland

Corgan

[Bammer]

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

I am right with you.

PJ is my favorite band by an immense margin but it's not just Ed. It's the collective.

Individually, Chris Cornell is pretty much untouchable and Layne Staley is strikingly unique (until everyone copied him).

[LoathedVermin72]

I think I hate Staley's voice/style. It's become an unbearably monotonous dirge to my ears. It's almost self-parodic.

[BurtReynolds]

Cornell's yarl can't touch Ed's.

[PHATJ]

I think I hate Staley's voice/style. It's become an unbearably monotonous dirge to my ears. It's almost self-parodic.

I agree for the most part but Jar of Flies is the exception.

[mikejasond]

I've always found Chris Cornell's voice annoying also <_<

I like him in Audioslave a bunch but I don't like him in Soundgarden for the most part.

Eddie Vedder by far. I love Eddie. But I also do really like layne and cobain.

[chewm]

I voted for Eddie.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

i voted for scott reginald weiland

[LetMeSleep]

Vedder
Cornell
Weiland
Cobain
Staley
Corgan

[PHATJ]

i voted for scott reginald weiland

Me too.

[BurtReynolds]

Cobain might have the finest moment of all with the unplugged "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." That last minute or so takes your breath away.

yeah it's untouchable .