While listening to the debut record from Petaluma, California’s Nothington, particularly singer Jay Northington’s gravelly-throated delivery, we were reminded that there have been a lot of raspy-voiced singers in recent punk rock memory. Imagine Tom Waits fronting Bad Religion. Or Rod Stewart’s rasp on top of the Ramones. There’s just something interesting about a pop melody sung by a sandpaper voice.
Nothington – “Last Time”

“Want” is the first song on Jawbreaker’s first album, and the world’s introduction to Blake Schwarzenbach’s Cookie Monster delivery. His voice got decidedly less-gravelly as Jawbreaker’s career progressed, and by the time “Dear You” was released in 1995, Schwarzenbach had all but abandoned his heretofore present mouthful-of-marbles delivery. Jets to Brazil, his next project, was decidedly un-gruff, and found Blake both literally and figuratively finding his voice.
Jawbreaker – “Want”

Leatherface are one of the great undiscovered bands of the late Nineties. And Frankie Stubbs’ leather-like voice gave the band their signature sound –- moody melodies over minor chord progressions. It is almost entirely this delivery that makes Leatherace’s sound indelible, and unlike many gravelly-throated singers, Stubbs never sounds angry, only heartbroken.
Leatherface – “Sour Grapes”

The Lawrence Arms started off as Jawbreaker clones from Chicago, but have since evolved into a powerhouse punk rock trio of their own. While Brendan Kelly and Chris McCaughan split the singing duties, it’s Kelly’s voice that is the coarser of the two. You can also hear Kelly’s prickly howl on his recent side project called The Falcon, which also features Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio.
The Lawrence Arms – “The Devil’s Takin’ Names”
The Falcon – “La-Z-Boy 500″

Chuck Ragan is the singer of the now-defunct Florida band Hot Water Music, named after the book of the same name by Charles Bukowski. Ragan’s rasp is that of the chain-smoking kind, and before disbanding in 2006, he led the band through half a dozen records that blended mid-tempo hardcore with a melodic sensibility.
Hot Water Music – “Paper Thin”

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