Greg Brown is a current favorite of mine as well. What a great voice.
Hmmm, obscure...guess I'd have to know your tastes to know which direction to go other than recommending others who might sound like Greg Brown. In that vein try Jeffrey Focault (I'd recommend his first album, Miles from the Lightening). Also, try his group effort with fellow musicians Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, Redbird which begins with Greg Brown cover (Ships) and is a great collection of tunes. In a darker, more cynical take on that same alt-country direction with some compelling male vocals try Richard Buckner. I like his early albums, "Devotion & Doubt", and "Bloomed". You also may enjoy Ray La Montagne, though I wouldn't necessarily catogorize him among the obscure. Both his albums are great.
Taking off from that to female vocals, try the Canadian group, [url=http://www.begoodtanyas.com/]The Be Good Tanyas[url]. Just saw them live and they are definitely worth catching if they come near you on their current tour. I love their album, "Blue Horse". Another really unique favorite on the female vocals is the harpist, Joanna Newsome. Her only album is "The Milk-Eyed Mender", but she has a new one coming out soon. That one's an acquired taste and may take a few listens to warm up to her.
I'll stop there and let someone else pick up...
Marco
Hmmm, obscure...guess I'd have to know your tastes to know which direction to go other than recommending others who might sound like Greg Brown. In that vein try Jeffrey Focault (I'd recommend his first album, Miles from the Lightening). Also, try his group effort with fellow musicians Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, Redbird which begins with Greg Brown cover (Ships) and is a great collection of tunes. In a darker, more cynical take on that same alt-country direction with some compelling male vocals try Richard Buckner. I like his early albums, "Devotion & Doubt", and "Bloomed". You also may enjoy Ray La Montagne, though I wouldn't necessarily catogorize him among the obscure. Both his albums are great.
Taking off from that to female vocals, try the Canadian group, [url=http://www.begoodtanyas.com/]The Be Good Tanyas[url]. Just saw them live and they are definitely worth catching if they come near you on their current tour. I love their album, "Blue Horse". Another really unique favorite on the female vocals is the harpist, Joanna Newsome. Her only album is "The Milk-Eyed Mender", but she has a new one coming out soon. That one's an acquired taste and may take a few listens to warm up to her.
I'll stop there and let someone else pick up...
Marco