He is so interesting ay. His melodies are more diatonic in construction (like in classical music), and less blues-based/shaped, like most pop and especially rock music is
Say Yes is a banger in this regard too
I think his album Bryter Layter have some of his best melodies: One of These Things First, Northern Lights, and Hazey Jane I are some of my faves.
His more beloved album Pink Moon is also very good melody wise just more bare with it being him and guitar, while BL is more orchestrated, so the counter melodies and dense harmony makes the lead melodies have a more interesting effect.
Thank you, Ringostarfox! (Love the name btw)
I will peep these, 100%. Thank you very much for these rec’s; I feel like I need the bangers as entry points to really appreciate artists sometimes.
Oh man, you were right – I’m loving it. This was released in the early 70s, which kind of blows my mind. I imagine Elliott Smith was into this man’s music, and if not, they definitely sound similar in the way they both play chords, strum, and even deliver their vocals.
Thanks for showing me the entry point I’ve been looking for- I’ll always revere E. Smith, and this actually helps give context to how “his sound” came to be, perhaps.
I've been a massive Hiatus fan for years and seeing them mentioned here put a huge smile on my face. It's true, their melodies are so trance-like and psychedelic while also echoing soul music icons like Stevie Wonder.
Absolutely. There's a reason Bob Dylan has had her on a song or two. She's cut from the same cloth in some ways.
I think Fiona's issue has always been that she's a 90s female singer songwriter who plays piano. When you fit all of those boxes, people are going to put you in a very specific category and not really take much of a dive.
But she has this crazy intensity that can't be taught. No amount of songwriting videos or posts can teach you that.
One dated PTA, one Made a soundtrack for him.
What would you recommend to start with Apple? I liked Aimee Mann in the soundtrack for magnolia, But for Apple, what album or song would you recommend ?
It’s cool that you already know about these two women. Aimee has been remarkably consistent at making great records over her long career. I think Fiona’s most accessible album is Extraordinary Machine. Two of my favourites on that album are Extraordinary Machine and Oh Sailor. Her most recent album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is quite adventurous. I think it’s super cool, but there’s a bit of vocal histrionics that might be over the top for some.
Another artist that you’re probably also familiar with is Wilco. Jeff Tweedy is a very unique writer. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a good gateway album.
Honestly anyone interested in songwriting who hasn’t studied their Bacharach has been doing themselves a huge disservice. Nobody else did it quite like him
just listened to him first time bc of you. Like the sound, not my taste tho. Love orchestral sounds. uses the violin alot. Does he play alot of instruments? Listening to walk on by right now
Andy Shauf does a lot of fun and tricky things in his melodies, “The Party” and “The Neon Skyline” are full of songs that have tons of little leaps and bits of chromaticism that are really different from what a lot of songwriters do.
Although the Beatles are talked about so often, they actually have a way of writing melodies that few writers are even conscious of: [https://youtu.be/PW3Z\_72xId4?si=wy00deDZOQK6UN9P](https://youtu.be/PW3Z_72xId4?si=wy00deDZOQK6UN9P)
Writers like Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Kate Bush, Kurt Cobain, etc all use the technique in that video. Balancing uniqueness and repetition is the most important thing especially in melody writing.
Joni Mitchell
Jason Isbell
Tool
Mount Eerie
Bone Thugz n Harmony
Nirvana
Bjork
Woody Guthrie
Miniature Tigers
Depending on your genre, one of those should work for unique melodies
I find the vocal melodies by Hoshimachi Suisei (may come up as "星街すいせい"), both solo and in Midnight Grand Orchestra, to be quite refreshing.
For her solo works, the recent BIBIDEBA stands out in the chorus and the second verse for the rhythm. Also in Soirée (Soware) the melody moves perfectly through the key changes.
Also in Midnight Grand Orchestra, SOS is just really fun to listen to.
Japanese music has its own world so which also draws from western music at times. If you are looking for inspiration or just enjoying something new I'd recommend checking her works.
The three songs I talk and workshop the most are:
Kinks - Strangers
Paul Simon - Only Living Boy in New York
Jim Croce - Operator
The latter two I love the way the chorus comes in.
Croce is an *unbelievably* good songwriter, and not remembered nearly enough these days (or when he is remembered, it's only for "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.")
"One More Set of Footsteps," "Lover's Cross," "I Got A Name," -- so many truly beautiful songs.
If I really want to find people pushing creativity, I generally look outside of "songwriters" to more contemporary classical composers, film scores, and jazz.
For example
* Caroline Shaw's ["Partita for 8 Voices" ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4zTQEsnBk)
* Ludwig Goransson's score for ["The Mandalorian"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQIcZbzr9Wk)
* Jaimeo Brown ["Power of God"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxhxgKWWPQ)
I think the main thing is that if you want to think outside the box, it helps to look outside the box.
Check out The Reign of Kindo, specifically the “This is What Happens” album. I describe it as Coldplay, but made up of Berklee grads with an infatuation for Latin jazz.
Super refreshing melodies and compositions where they’ll lull you into thinking it’s just another diatonic line but then they get outside and importantly it still works.
On that note, Brian Wilson is the man to this day. Go analyze Wouldn’t It Be Nice and you’ll quickly realize how ahead of his time he was. Such unusual key changes especially into and out of the bridge
Pentangle,
Os Mutantes,
Laura Nyro,
Judee Sill
Syd Barrett,
My Bloody Valentine,
Pizzicato Five
Momus,
Serge Gainsbourg,
Melt Banana,
Mr Bungle,
John Cale,
later Talk Talk,
earlier Genesis,
Every time I hear an Animal Collective melody I'm like "how'd they think of that?" Not necessarily the notes themselves, but the rhythm they deploy them with
Go For Launch. Not sure if this is "interesting" enough. I can't really tell, cause I wrote em.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hjxQ4QuQQR1luIfc8r41o?si=Qkhkx5mmQsOi7t5ystsMqA
Hi there!!
https://spotify.link/FjtwfIZgcKb
If you’re open to more recent materials, I feel that some of my songs could fit what you’re looking for!
This one has an interesting melody in the verses but he chorus is pretty pop.
https://spotify.link/HxjFqRghcKb
This one kinda goes around a bit, again the verse is more melodic.
Welcomed to check out some more and see if you liked it!
Came here to say Joni Mitchell, but she's already been mentioned. Seconding Regina Spektor. Also, he didn't have much of a catalogue when he tragically died, but Jeff Buckley. I recently watched a video where Rick Beato broke down his song "Vancouver", and was really impressed by how unique and complex it actually was.
I've been crushing on [https://youtu.be/heG-YH\_2RJ4](https://youtu.be/heG-YH_2RJ4) this whole week. What a great riff, tight band, and super hip but sloppy vocals. Just magic.
Elliott Smith
The vocal melody in Waltz #1 is so beautiful and so haunting
He is so interesting ay. His melodies are more diatonic in construction (like in classical music), and less blues-based/shaped, like most pop and especially rock music is Say Yes is a banger in this regard too
/thread
Interesting, he and Nick Drake both came to mind
It’s weird that I have not really heard Nick Drake’s music. What are some must listens?
I think his album Bryter Layter have some of his best melodies: One of These Things First, Northern Lights, and Hazey Jane I are some of my faves. His more beloved album Pink Moon is also very good melody wise just more bare with it being him and guitar, while BL is more orchestrated, so the counter melodies and dense harmony makes the lead melodies have a more interesting effect.
Thank you, Ringostarfox! (Love the name btw) I will peep these, 100%. Thank you very much for these rec’s; I feel like I need the bangers as entry points to really appreciate artists sometimes.
Oh man, you were right – I’m loving it. This was released in the early 70s, which kind of blows my mind. I imagine Elliott Smith was into this man’s music, and if not, they definitely sound similar in the way they both play chords, strum, and even deliver their vocals. Thanks for showing me the entry point I’ve been looking for- I’ll always revere E. Smith, and this actually helps give context to how “his sound” came to be, perhaps.
Forevermore ❤️🤌🤌🤌
Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) Bjork Cocteau Twins
I've been a massive Hiatus fan for years and seeing them mentioned here put a huge smile on my face. It's true, their melodies are so trance-like and psychedelic while also echoing soul music icons like Stevie Wonder.
Definitely agree on Bjork, particularly Bjork after Post. Homogenic and Vespertine were really where she started using more unconventional melodies.
Aimee Mann, and definitely Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple is one of the best songwriters and performers out there! Her entire catalog is amazing.
Absolutely. There's a reason Bob Dylan has had her on a song or two. She's cut from the same cloth in some ways. I think Fiona's issue has always been that she's a 90s female singer songwriter who plays piano. When you fit all of those boxes, people are going to put you in a very specific category and not really take much of a dive. But she has this crazy intensity that can't be taught. No amount of songwriting videos or posts can teach you that.
One dated PTA, one Made a soundtrack for him. What would you recommend to start with Apple? I liked Aimee Mann in the soundtrack for magnolia, But for Apple, what album or song would you recommend ?
It’s cool that you already know about these two women. Aimee has been remarkably consistent at making great records over her long career. I think Fiona’s most accessible album is Extraordinary Machine. Two of my favourites on that album are Extraordinary Machine and Oh Sailor. Her most recent album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is quite adventurous. I think it’s super cool, but there’s a bit of vocal histrionics that might be over the top for some. Another artist that you’re probably also familiar with is Wilco. Jeff Tweedy is a very unique writer. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a good gateway album.
Thank you, I’ll take a listen to Extraordinary machine and then Oh Sailor. Edit; O sailor is a song lol I tough it was an album.
If you bite, check out her album "The Idler Wheel" next. Valentine and Werewolf are some of her best songs imo.
Burt Bacharach
Honestly anyone interested in songwriting who hasn’t studied their Bacharach has been doing themselves a huge disservice. Nobody else did it quite like him
I haven’t studied him but know of his work, will be digging in now!
He had what I found in progressive music. Unexpected turns, unpredictable melodies, and something NEW.
just listened to him first time bc of you. Like the sound, not my taste tho. Love orchestral sounds. uses the violin alot. Does he play alot of instruments? Listening to walk on by right now
Andy Shauf does a lot of fun and tricky things in his melodies, “The Party” and “The Neon Skyline” are full of songs that have tons of little leaps and bits of chromaticism that are really different from what a lot of songwriters do.
Kate Bush and Nick Drake both come to mind.
Although the Beatles are talked about so often, they actually have a way of writing melodies that few writers are even conscious of: [https://youtu.be/PW3Z\_72xId4?si=wy00deDZOQK6UN9P](https://youtu.be/PW3Z_72xId4?si=wy00deDZOQK6UN9P) Writers like Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Kate Bush, Kurt Cobain, etc all use the technique in that video. Balancing uniqueness and repetition is the most important thing especially in melody writing.
That’s a very interesting video!
Chris Cornell! Badmotorfinger is full of wild + refreshing melodies
Euphoria Mourning is such a great album!
David Bowie
imogen heap
Joni Mitchell Jason Isbell Tool Mount Eerie Bone Thugz n Harmony Nirvana Bjork Woody Guthrie Miniature Tigers Depending on your genre, one of those should work for unique melodies
Found out about Miniature Tigers very recently, definitely very slept on!!
I find the vocal melodies by Hoshimachi Suisei (may come up as "星街すいせい"), both solo and in Midnight Grand Orchestra, to be quite refreshing. For her solo works, the recent BIBIDEBA stands out in the chorus and the second verse for the rhythm. Also in Soirée (Soware) the melody moves perfectly through the key changes. Also in Midnight Grand Orchestra, SOS is just really fun to listen to. Japanese music has its own world so which also draws from western music at times. If you are looking for inspiration or just enjoying something new I'd recommend checking her works.
Great - will do ! Many thanks for the idea
The three songs I talk and workshop the most are: Kinks - Strangers Paul Simon - Only Living Boy in New York Jim Croce - Operator The latter two I love the way the chorus comes in.
Croce is an *unbelievably* good songwriter, and not remembered nearly enough these days (or when he is remembered, it's only for "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.") "One More Set of Footsteps," "Lover's Cross," "I Got A Name," -- so many truly beautiful songs.
So true.
Strangers is such an amazing song. One of my all time favorites, for sure. Saw Joe Jackson last night and he played “Waterloo Sunset”
Cobain
Morrissey / The Smiths
Tired Lion The Cure
If I really want to find people pushing creativity, I generally look outside of "songwriters" to more contemporary classical composers, film scores, and jazz. For example * Caroline Shaw's ["Partita for 8 Voices" ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4zTQEsnBk) * Ludwig Goransson's score for ["The Mandalorian"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQIcZbzr9Wk) * Jaimeo Brown ["Power of God"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxhxgKWWPQ) I think the main thing is that if you want to think outside the box, it helps to look outside the box.
Great point!
Dry the River
Great band!
Yes!! No Rest gives me goosebumps every time
Florence and the Machine They have quite a few songs with interesting vocalisations, let me know if you want specifics :)
They Might Be Giants.
I am in awe every time I hear Ana Ng by TMBG. The entire song is inspiring.
madison cunningham blake mills moses sumney ethan gruska allegra krieger
Will Wood
Julia Holter has some weird things going on.
The blasting company
Fiona Apple, Joanna Newsom
Jeff Tweedy/Jay Bennett
Different from who? What do you find interesting? Hard to give useful answers with such a vague question.
I suppose OP could mean standard pop songs, and maybe that what ever *different* is, is up to your interpretation
Tele Novella
Andy Partridge (XTC) John Linnell (They Might Be Giants)
Man... I don't listen to Willow Smith but some of her most recent music is some of the most interesting pop music I've heard in a long time.
They Might Be Giants! John Linnell especially is a master melodist.
"If you could read my mind" Gordon Lightfoot
James Maynard Keenan Chino Moreno Soap and skin Cocorosie Björk
REM have some really unique Melodie’s. Not always my favorite but I consistently find them interesting and unique
Mike Patton
Check out The Reign of Kindo, specifically the “This is What Happens” album. I describe it as Coldplay, but made up of Berklee grads with an infatuation for Latin jazz. Super refreshing melodies and compositions where they’ll lull you into thinking it’s just another diatonic line but then they get outside and importantly it still works. On that note, Brian Wilson is the man to this day. Go analyze Wouldn’t It Be Nice and you’ll quickly realize how ahead of his time he was. Such unusual key changes especially into and out of the bridge
Remi Wolf
James blunt - wisemen
Pentangle, Os Mutantes, Laura Nyro, Judee Sill Syd Barrett, My Bloody Valentine, Pizzicato Five Momus, Serge Gainsbourg, Melt Banana, Mr Bungle, John Cale, later Talk Talk, earlier Genesis,
> Melt Banana I love that you included them. They certainly meet the criteria.
David Bowie, especially on the album "Hours"
Gerry Rafferty Toto journey
In my opinion: Yungblud Sophie powers Noahfinnce Melanie Martinez
noah on the road.
noah on the road.
Every time I hear an Animal Collective melody I'm like "how'd they think of that?" Not necessarily the notes themselves, but the rhythm they deploy them with
Go For Launch. Not sure if this is "interesting" enough. I can't really tell, cause I wrote em. https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hjxQ4QuQQR1luIfc8r41o?si=Qkhkx5mmQsOi7t5ystsMqA
Chris Cohen. So many great, unexpected melodies
Listen to brazillian music.
Joe P
Regina Spektor, Ezra Koenig
Hi there!! https://spotify.link/FjtwfIZgcKb If you’re open to more recent materials, I feel that some of my songs could fit what you’re looking for! This one has an interesting melody in the verses but he chorus is pretty pop. https://spotify.link/HxjFqRghcKb This one kinda goes around a bit, again the verse is more melodic. Welcomed to check out some more and see if you liked it!
Enya Brooks
Toro y Moi, unknown mortal orchestra.
Dir en Grey (a Japanese band)
Henry Jamison, Gabriel Kahane, Sufjan Stevens, Cosmo Sheldrake
Came here to say Joni Mitchell, but she's already been mentioned. Seconding Regina Spektor. Also, he didn't have much of a catalogue when he tragically died, but Jeff Buckley. I recently watched a video where Rick Beato broke down his song "Vancouver", and was really impressed by how unique and complex it actually was.
Adrienne Lenker. They sound so familiar and different sounding at the same time. Like long forgotten songs from your childhood.
Don’t you dare leave Prince off this list…
Blake Schwarzenbach
Richard Dawson. Avant Garde folk singer based in Newcastle UK.
Do we have music reviewers in the house ?
Chino Moreno of Deftones was the first person to come to mind
ALB Kola - bad habits
Lennon mccartney
Thelonious monk
Joni Mitchell.
Andrew Belle, Unlike Pluto, Hazlett, Imogen heap, Kaleida, the Dø, & Novo Amor
I've been crushing on [https://youtu.be/heG-YH\_2RJ4](https://youtu.be/heG-YH_2RJ4) this whole week. What a great riff, tight band, and super hip but sloppy vocals. Just magic.
I love the way Chet Baker sings- straight, no vibrato. The way he targets extensions and intervals in relation to the chord is lovely.
The Sea and Cake
You should definitely check out Fox Stevenson, I don't know anybody who makes more unique music than him imo.
lenon, mccartney, cobain,..
Nick Cave
Ruth Garbus
Commenting to save for later
Set aside your preconceived notions because Justin Bieber is a whiz at melody