I may have done Scout a disservice with my earlier posting about her Kidnapped By Neptune album. As has been pointed out that is a pretty harsh album to start out with by her.

This Fool Can Die Now is a much more accessible, while still wonderfully emotional, set of songs.
Dirty blues.

Four of the tracks are brilliant duets with Will Oldham.

Scout Niblett (and Will Oldham) – Kiss from the album This Fool Can Die Now

http://www.scoutniblett.com/

http://www.myspace.com/scoutniblett

Wiki

Emma Louise Niblett will not be for everyone, but she fits my mood today.
Minimal nasty guitar and some screaming a bit like early PJ Harvey. Lovely.
Lots of vids over on her funky website to enjoy.

Scout Niblett – ‘Wolfie’ from the album ‘Kidnapped By Neptune’

http://www.scoutniblett.com/

http://www.myspace.com/scoutniblett

Wiki

As Derek pointed out, Joanna is very much in the Marmite camp, you either love her style or you hate it.
Her vocals rub shoulders with that of CocoRosie, and her harp playing is of her own world.

The “Milk-Eyed Mender” is a good way to get to know Joanne, as her 2006 album “Ys” is a much more serious affair with long orchestrated storytelling tracks.

Not for the lazy listener.
Great stuff.

Joanna Newsom – “Sprout and the Bean” from the album “The Milk-Eyed Mender”

Joanne Newson – “Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie” (Live on Jools) from the album “The Milk-Eyed Mender”

http://www.joanna-newsom.com/

Fansite

Wiki

Buy the CD at Amazon