'Pearl'

It's interesting listening to two Janis Joplin-led albums (this one and "Cheap Thrills") because she basically based her career with bands that just wanted to jam all the time.

Therefore, one of the premiere, unique and identifiable voices in rock history generally associated herself with bands that didn't want any singing in the first place.

Or maybe she knew she couldn't sing (she couldn't) and hooked up with jam bands on purpose.

On the whole, Joplin is pretty unlistenable. No doubt she has appeal but I would want someone to explain that appeal to me. I guess for many, Joplin is as independent as they'll ever get. It's raw, dirty, dissonant, unpolished and rusty in the same way as an early White Stripes album.