We all know that Alanis can wail, Britney can moan and Nelly Furtado can fly like a bird.
What most of us don't know is that there is a whole gaggle of girls out there who rock just as much, if not more, than our chart-topping divas. Some have achieved sought-after commercial success, but others contently carry on in the underbelly indie world.
Following are some distinctive, fantastic femmes who each excel as masterful musical mavens.
Frustrated Folkies:
Renowned Rocker: Ani DiFranco
Classic gender-bending, social-activist cult heroine Ani has been satisfying folkies and feminists since the late 80s.
Ani's traditional folk/rock creole has evolved in recent years, producing a fusion of every genre in the rainbow, including funk and soul surprises.
Whether she strums an acoustic guitar or mixes computer-produced samples, Ms. Difranco's unyielding independence and ardent genius remain constant characteristics of her lasting success.
Unknown Indie: Tegan & Sara
Twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin snarl and simper on their 2000 debut This Business of Art.
Taking more than a few cues from iconic Ani, their songs explicitly evaluate social and personal frustrations with an indie edge.
Many of Tegan & Sara's melodies embrace traditional earthy, acoustic Ani-style, but others illustrate the twins' musical range with pulsating rhythms and layered production.
Sweet Songstresses:
Renowned Rocker: Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch lights up the pop-laden TRL lineup with acoustic melodies and personal lyrics.
Her 2001 release The Spirit Room radiates with smiley, skip-inducing tunes as well as her fragile, mellowed out croonings.
Though Michelle sticks to simplistic song subjects, mainly love, she does so with reflective ardor that's tough to find in fellow teen queens.
Unknown Indie: Sarah Harmer
Though older, wiser, and more musically mature than Branch, Sarah Harmer exudes the same complementary playfulness and frailty.
Harmer shades her acoustic pop foundation with bluesy harmonica, delicate cello, edgy drums and beguiling guitar hooks. She shies away from potentially controversial lyrics by remaining faithful to the love/hate relationship standard, which she tinges with sweet elation and poetic depth.
Tranquil Tunesters:
Renowned Rocker: Sarah McLachlan
Gentle Lilith lady Sarah McLachlan is the poignant folk/pop queen.
Her velvety vocals are silky and soothing. Her melodies are simple and sophisticated. Her lyrics are sincere. Sarah McLachlan hovers high above, blanketing her listeners in melodic serenity
Unknown Indie: Beth Orton
Beth Orton's ethereal voice, acoustic folk and trip-hop hues are entrancing.
With two astonishing albums under her belt, Orton mesmerizes listeners with timeless musical warmth and lush lyrical honesty. Her 1999 sophomore album Central Reservation is haunting and uplifting and boasts a wealth of blissfully tranquil songs.
Growling Grrrls:
Renowned Rockers: Hole
Grunge girl Courtney Love thrust aggressive, abrasive Hole into the mainstream spotlight in the early 90s.
Initially a brutal riot grrrl group, Hole evolved into a still rocking though slightly toned down alternative act. Feminist friendly frontwoman Love is no sweet singer, but her raspy and biting vocals match her brash and earnest lyrics.
Unknown Indies: Sleater-Kinney
Visceral riot grrrl punk rockers Sleater-Kinney are political, fervent and fun. They thrash, they crash and they laugh on their five cathartic albums that bitch with bite.
Sleater-Kinney tunes and vocals tend to be somewhat simple, but musical sophistication comes second to simply rocking.
Soulful Sisters:
Renowned Rocker: India.Arie
India.Aire's acoustic R&B glistens with soul. Her reflective songs brim with personal lyrics that soar elegantly.
Bolstering Aire's confident aura are sensual melodies and captivating rhythms. India.Aire debuted her MTV-friendly, mellow hip-hop tunes on the 2001 release Acoustic Soul, which earned her seven Grammy nominations.
Unknown Indie: Cree Summer
Cree Summer blends alternative rock and soul to yield organic, hippie R&B melodies. Her sole release, 1999's Street Faërie, is vulnerable yet self-assured. Summer's rich, jazzy vocals coat her pulsating songs, in which she examines her identity and comes out a stronger woman.
More Musicians:
Some other indie girls worth 15 bucks for a CD or a few minutes on Morpheus are: lulling lyricist Abra Moore, introspective folkie Dar Williams, raucous rockers Veruca Salt, wry Liz Phair, provocative PJ Harvey, haunting Poe and funky Me'Shell NdegéOcello.
