Lou Reed is a tough one, because he could be brilliant and cool or he could be ten miles up his own asshole.

Mark E Smith ended up his own asshole, too, but it happened because he took a wrong turn while full of pills and lager. At one point, he would’ve been my pick, but not any longer. I might even put him in the #3 spot.

Fred Schneider takes it for me. He’s just pure joy.

Smith, then Schneider, then Reed.

Not an easy dome. Yeah, they all speak-sing, but generally very different music.

Voted for Fred Schneider, based on how many smiles he and his band’s music have put on my face.

Smith, then whomever.

Oh, I'd choose Pete from Enablers over all of them, fwiw.

MES

If Lou Reed passes as a 'talker' then David Byrne should qualify too, who'd be my #2.

penningtron wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:50 pm MES

If Lou Reed passes as a 'talker' then David Byrne should qualify too, who'd be my #2.

yeah, I never thought of Reed as a talker.

enframed wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 1:10 pm

penningtron wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:50 pm MES

If Lou Reed passes as a 'talker' then David Byrne should qualify too, who'd be my #2.

yeah, I never thought of Reed as a talker.

I hear it way more in his live performances, e.g., Rock and Roll Animal. It’s almost as if he’s just too lazy and/or doesn’t give a shit enough to actually sing on pitch.

Example (“Lady Day”):

"How dare you assume I want to parlez-vous with you."

While I voted MES, "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" is the quintessential talk-sung song.