we hear a lot about brilliant female folk singers, sandy denny, linda thompson, anne briggs etc, but there doesn't ever seem to be the same level of adulation lumped on males...now i'm having trouble thinking of any who are both totally expressive and technically excellent. i love voices like richard thompson, shane macgowan (i know saying that will make me a few enemies but ne'er mind), dylan etc etc, all of whom obviously fill their singing with emotion but don't have "technically" brilliant voices. not that i have a problem with this, i just can't think of a single one. maybe van, but then he doesn't really sing much folk.