Just the sight of the Supertramp post set my teeth on edge a bit, and left me wondering why that was. ‘Logical’ and ‘Breakfast in America’ are good pop songs*, but particularly the former is something I can only take in small doses.

And then it occurred to me. It’s the Alvin & The Chipmunks/Pinky & Perky/ Father Abraham & The Smurfs factor – falsetto.

Like the Bee Gees & Yes, falsetto (or high tenor) voices are not my thing. I mean, not completely not my thing – I love The Communards, Prince singing ‘Kiss’, though they might be because of the presence of Sarah-Jane Morris, and that Prince can sing in pretty much any register.

But generally speaking, those are the exceptions to the rule – baritone is what I love to listen to – The Sisters of Mercy, of course; Ian Curtis; Nick Drake, Bowie, Springsteen, Elvis even. And that goes for female singers even more. I adore the dark notes of June Tabor, Nina Simone, the warm tones of Norah Jones, Karen Carpenter.

I’d dip down happily to the bass register for Leonard Cohen or Michael Gira. But the higher up the vocal range I listen, » Continue Reading.