Nowadays I hear music on the radio and a lot of it sounds the same. Or I watch an awards show like the recent AMA's and think "Man.... 90% of this just blows" and I always stop to wonder if maybe I'm just getting old, then the arrogant side always says no, LOL.
When I hear new bands on the radio it all seems to sound very cookie cutter, everything sounds the same, just Creed being cloned by Nickleback being cloned by Daughtry and so on and so on... Where is the new Nirvana coming from? That band that just rips through the muck to sound so different then everything else? It's been a long time since that time of act has surfaced. The band that is getting that push seems to be The Kings Of Leon, I like them, but I just don't see them having that type of effect like Nirvana had.
And watching the AMA's....Oooof.... Only 4 acts seemed to be singing and only 3 of them did it without a Broadway production. And the winners? I don't know that this generation will be hearing these acts on classic radio in 20 years. If WCSX (Local classic rock station) is playing Justin Bieber in 15 years I may just keel over on the spot. The lack of talent and originality really shown brightly on the AMA's. I found it funny that the best 2 acts in my opinion (Kid Rock and Bon Jovi) got the best response with the least hoopla.
And now the Black Eyed Peas are playing half time at the super bowl. This is the single act that epitomizes all that is wrong with music today. That looks like a disaster in the waiting.
So, am I (and the others who had these feelings) just old and out of touch or should someone be listening to us?
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Holiday Music... take it or leave it...
So Greg and Russ have shared their thoughts on the holiday music issue. On this eve of Black Friday, I feel I should share mine, I understand where both my fellow contributers are coming from, and we share some of the same opinions.
I'm not a fan of all holiday music. It could be that I too have been in the retail business for most of my adult life, but mainly it has to do with that ANYBODY can record a holiday album. Thus, presenting us with more than enough options for a season that really only lasts 6 weeks most years. Sure there's the radio station in Chicago that starts playing holiday music on 11/1 every year and uses it as a tagline to brag. Having spent many holiday seasons working in record stores or music departments in big box stores, I've listened to some really good holiday music, and some really bad. It's always nice to be able to open what you want and "check it out".
I also get that Christmas has lost most of it's tradition, and Black Friday is basically an extension or addition to the Thanksgiving Weekend. I also don't really feel the need for holiday music any other time but holiday. I guess it's one of the few ways a music loving, retail working guy can catch some holiday spirit. I do believe there is some good holiday albums out there, and even artists that have released their versions of the "classics" or original new tunes (this is where most get into trouble in my opinion).
So, with that being said here are some of favorite holiday songs, and honorable mention to a few others. Some I listen to several times a season, but I really do only own about 15 holiday albums and really never listen to any of them all the way through...
Some Great Holiday Songs:
Queen - Thank God It's Christmas
David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight)
The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
Willie Nelson - Pretty Paper
The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
Peggy Lee - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Billy Squire - Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You
Weird All Yankovic - Christmas at Ground Zero (lost some of it's luster after 9/11)
Cheech & Chong - Santa Claus and His Old Lady
Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis (you re-write the lyrics)
Stevie Nicks - Silent Night (might not be the best version, but she's Stevie Nicks)
Eagles - It Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Brenda Lee - Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
I would also recommend some the Merry Axemas collection, and Gary Hoey's Ho Ho Hoey collections. Again it's not for everybody, but still good.
These are some of the songs that I try and listen to at least once during the season. Then, on 12/26 I put all the CD's back on the bottom of the rack until next year. Holiday music doesn't have to suck if know where to look.
MD
Sunday, November 21, 2010
It's the least wonderful time of the year...
I hate Christmas music, and it started today....
Yep, hate it. I used to think it had something to do with working retail and the fact that it is pumped in 24/7 ad nausea, but I didn't really like it as a kid either.
Now I know that a lot of people may see this and call me a grinch or whatever, and I know it signals the beginning of a time that most people enjoy.... But let's face it, the music sucks!
Anyone who wants to argue please tell me when is the last time you cranked "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" in July? You didn't cuz the actual music is awful.
I totally understand getting into a mood, but does the music really help that much? All it does to me is sound like nails on a chalk board with all the corny, cheesy lyrics and music. It is nearly impossible to make a Christmas song sound like it came from this decade, no matter how new the song may be, it still sounds 50+ years old. The only act that I have heard make a Christmas song sound good? Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" and that even sounded tongue in cheek.
Now I'm not saying cancel all Christmas music, hell...That's a losing battle anyways,LOL. What I would like though is laying off til black Friday... PLEASE!!!!
Yep, hate it. I used to think it had something to do with working retail and the fact that it is pumped in 24/7 ad nausea, but I didn't really like it as a kid either.
Now I know that a lot of people may see this and call me a grinch or whatever, and I know it signals the beginning of a time that most people enjoy.... But let's face it, the music sucks!
Anyone who wants to argue please tell me when is the last time you cranked "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" in July? You didn't cuz the actual music is awful.
I totally understand getting into a mood, but does the music really help that much? All it does to me is sound like nails on a chalk board with all the corny, cheesy lyrics and music. It is nearly impossible to make a Christmas song sound like it came from this decade, no matter how new the song may be, it still sounds 50+ years old. The only act that I have heard make a Christmas song sound good? Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" and that even sounded tongue in cheek.
Now I'm not saying cancel all Christmas music, hell...That's a losing battle anyways,LOL. What I would like though is laying off til black Friday... PLEASE!!!!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Beatles on iTunes?
Congratulations to the Fab 4 for making the "big time" and getting on iTunes...
I guess I might not understand the true magnitude of the digital age. According to the folks at Apple I must not. They're talking about making tons of cash, and this is a huge score for them. I love the Beatles, and I am a user of iTunes but I don't understand all the fuss.
I guess I look at the Beatles as a band where you have hard copies of their music. Your parents had it, they've come out on CD (more than once), not to mention the massive amount of copies "1" sold on CD a few years ago.... It just seems like most people have this music, or it's passed down. I have all the Beatles I desire in my iTunes already, and it came from the CDs I already own. People who want Beatles music already have it...
Unless:
Are the versions on iTunes better sounding? Better than this last batch of CDs that were re-issued last year?
Are there people out there saying "I'm not going to buy Revolver, I'm going to wait until it comes out on iTunes"?
Now that they're on iTunes, will they get exposed to people who have never heard their music? They're going to search for them, and snatch up the entire catalog? Or don't own any of it?
I guess there's also the fact that album artwork mattered in the day. Listening to Sgt. Peppers and not checking out the artwork is almost a sin in my book. Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, and I'm still in denial that this format is killing the actual media. Or, I don't understand the true magnitude of the digital age...
-MD
I guess I might not understand the true magnitude of the digital age. According to the folks at Apple I must not. They're talking about making tons of cash, and this is a huge score for them. I love the Beatles, and I am a user of iTunes but I don't understand all the fuss.
I guess I look at the Beatles as a band where you have hard copies of their music. Your parents had it, they've come out on CD (more than once), not to mention the massive amount of copies "1" sold on CD a few years ago.... It just seems like most people have this music, or it's passed down. I have all the Beatles I desire in my iTunes already, and it came from the CDs I already own. People who want Beatles music already have it...
Unless:
Are the versions on iTunes better sounding? Better than this last batch of CDs that were re-issued last year?
Are there people out there saying "I'm not going to buy Revolver, I'm going to wait until it comes out on iTunes"?
Now that they're on iTunes, will they get exposed to people who have never heard their music? They're going to search for them, and snatch up the entire catalog? Or don't own any of it?
I guess there's also the fact that album artwork mattered in the day. Listening to Sgt. Peppers and not checking out the artwork is almost a sin in my book. Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, and I'm still in denial that this format is killing the actual media. Or, I don't understand the true magnitude of the digital age...
-MD
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful
I got the chance to sit down and watch "When We Were Beautiful" a documentary on Bon Jovi's 2008 tour and where the band was at at that time.
Now I have been a fan when no one knew who they were, I was also a fan when everyone knew who they were and once again a fan when they weren't cool anymore and still went to shows when they started appealing more to my mom then me,LOL... And watching this movie has been hardly difficult. On one hand you have Jon Bon Jovi (Who is the movie's main focal point) discussing how hard it is to be him and other the other hand speaking to how much he loves it. I have to wonder what 25 year old Jon would say to 46 year old Jon.
This is actually a very good doc... Not many get this close to a band that is this big. This would be like Documenting Elvis in the 50s-60s or Led Zeppelin in the 70s... This type of access is just not done with people this big. It is much more fascinating then I was expecting.
We then get the guys talking about personal issues they had and how the band helped them through it. We hear Richie talking about his alcoholism, and his guilt on it's effect on the band.
The first 20 minutes is Jon talking about his philanthropy, and how the critics perceived them vs. the fans. He says he doesn't want to play intimate clubs, he'd rather play a huge place knowing all those people wanted to be there... And it really makes sense.I know it is cooler to say you want to be more intimate... But the reality is that all bands want as much acceptance as possible. He also speaks to the fact that he tried to write more personal and political and no one wanted to hear it. It really showed the schism that is in a band that wants to be popular and relevant at the same time that they are growing older... Do you want to write the same safe stuff for millions or do you want to do something different for thousands? You also see the pressures of being Jon Bon Jovi, not just musically, but in the business world. My only complaint? He treats the Bon Jovi name much like Gene Simmons treats the Kiss name... It almost more business than rock n' roll, and that is a little sad.
After that the movie gets to the other band members and what the band went through when they blew up with "Slippery When Wet". They speak candidly about how it is Jon's band and how in the long run this is best for all of them. They also get into the fact that even though it is Jon's band, they are a brotherhood and they are there for each other, not news to Jovi fans, but it is nice to see each guy interviewed separately in their own special places and being very candid.
We then get into some of the bands demons as both Richie Sambora and Tico Torres talk of their alcoholism and how the band saved them, but both men use different ways to cope. For Richie it is music, for Tico it is golf and art. Then we get David Bryan talking about his outside projects, he seems to be the most well adjusted individual in the band, no substance issues, no pressures of people pulling him in 100 different directions, just a happy guy.
They then bring it back to how Jon is helping with habitat for humanity, and his other political causes. This is all bringing us to a wrap up at a free show in central park. Earlier in the movie we see the stress again of being Jon, Ticketmaster is trying to charge $2.50 a ticket plus other hidden charges for a free show and the stress on Jon is visible as he even considers canceling, but is told how if he does the blame will go on the band and not Ticketmaster and as always, Jon doesn't want to disappoint their fans.
In the end I was surprised how much I liked this doc. I was expecting a back patting love fest, but what I got was a warts and all doc with not much music, which is odd for a music doc, but in reality... Do we really need to hear these songs again? We all know them by heart, so I am more then OK with them dedicating more time to the story. A very good movie that I would recommend to watch even if you are not a fan because I doubt you will ever see this kind of a documentary on a band that is this big.
-G
Now I have been a fan when no one knew who they were, I was also a fan when everyone knew who they were and once again a fan when they weren't cool anymore and still went to shows when they started appealing more to my mom then me,LOL... And watching this movie has been hardly difficult. On one hand you have Jon Bon Jovi (Who is the movie's main focal point) discussing how hard it is to be him and other the other hand speaking to how much he loves it. I have to wonder what 25 year old Jon would say to 46 year old Jon.
This is actually a very good doc... Not many get this close to a band that is this big. This would be like Documenting Elvis in the 50s-60s or Led Zeppelin in the 70s... This type of access is just not done with people this big. It is much more fascinating then I was expecting.
We then get the guys talking about personal issues they had and how the band helped them through it. We hear Richie talking about his alcoholism, and his guilt on it's effect on the band.
The first 20 minutes is Jon talking about his philanthropy, and how the critics perceived them vs. the fans. He says he doesn't want to play intimate clubs, he'd rather play a huge place knowing all those people wanted to be there... And it really makes sense.I know it is cooler to say you want to be more intimate... But the reality is that all bands want as much acceptance as possible. He also speaks to the fact that he tried to write more personal and political and no one wanted to hear it. It really showed the schism that is in a band that wants to be popular and relevant at the same time that they are growing older... Do you want to write the same safe stuff for millions or do you want to do something different for thousands? You also see the pressures of being Jon Bon Jovi, not just musically, but in the business world. My only complaint? He treats the Bon Jovi name much like Gene Simmons treats the Kiss name... It almost more business than rock n' roll, and that is a little sad.
After that the movie gets to the other band members and what the band went through when they blew up with "Slippery When Wet". They speak candidly about how it is Jon's band and how in the long run this is best for all of them. They also get into the fact that even though it is Jon's band, they are a brotherhood and they are there for each other, not news to Jovi fans, but it is nice to see each guy interviewed separately in their own special places and being very candid.
We then get into some of the bands demons as both Richie Sambora and Tico Torres talk of their alcoholism and how the band saved them, but both men use different ways to cope. For Richie it is music, for Tico it is golf and art. Then we get David Bryan talking about his outside projects, he seems to be the most well adjusted individual in the band, no substance issues, no pressures of people pulling him in 100 different directions, just a happy guy.
They then bring it back to how Jon is helping with habitat for humanity, and his other political causes. This is all bringing us to a wrap up at a free show in central park. Earlier in the movie we see the stress again of being Jon, Ticketmaster is trying to charge $2.50 a ticket plus other hidden charges for a free show and the stress on Jon is visible as he even considers canceling, but is told how if he does the blame will go on the band and not Ticketmaster and as always, Jon doesn't want to disappoint their fans.
In the end I was surprised how much I liked this doc. I was expecting a back patting love fest, but what I got was a warts and all doc with not much music, which is odd for a music doc, but in reality... Do we really need to hear these songs again? We all know them by heart, so I am more then OK with them dedicating more time to the story. A very good movie that I would recommend to watch even if you are not a fan because I doubt you will ever see this kind of a documentary on a band that is this big.
-G
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Record Store
I was going off about music once at work (unbelievable, I know) sometime last year and I was talking about how I had just recently been to Flipside Records and it made me really miss "The Record Store". A co-worker of mine, quite a bit younger, asked me very honestly what "The Record Store" was. He had grown up in the post Napster/Big Box revolution and honestly had no clue what I was talking about.
I have at least a dozen opinions on said Napster/Big Box situation but I don't want to go into that right now. I'd rather just plain talk about "The Record Store" and how much I miss it. One of my favorite memories is being in a record store some time in 1991. Some album was playing over head and the person shopping with me said "Do you know who this is?" my reply was "No but whoever it is, they're openly ripping off Roger Waters". The guy behind the counter then looked up and shouted across the store "Hey genius, this IS Roger Waters. It's his new album". I was slightly embarrassed to say the least, but more importantly I had to go find said album and purchase it!
That was the thing that I loved the most about the record store; knowledge. People that worked at the record store LOVED music and they knew everything about it. Much like people in the auto repair industry rely completely on the gathering of knowledge of all makes and models, The Record Store employee did the same. Ever been to a auto repair shop and described a noise or issue with your car and they come right up with the solution? That's how the workers in the record store were! Having put in more than a few hours, I can tell you that one of the more enjoyable things about working in the record store was every few hours when a person would come up and ask for "that song". If you worked in a record store, you know what I'm talking about. If you didn't, then you've been the person asking. The conversation goes like this; Customer: Do you have that old song by that band? Record store: Which one? Customer: It's the one with the guitar that's like 'daaa da da daaa DA!" Record store: Hmmm, do you know any of the words? Customer: Umm.... He says 'oh baby' in it, I know that for sure!
Generally inside of a half hour, someone at the record store figured it out for you. And it was cool as hell to either be that guy or have that guy around. One of my favorite such stories happened to me while working for Media Play. In the same fashion as above a customer once asked me for the "new AC/DC" and seeing as they hadn't had a new album for a while, I started to find out if it was a certain tune he was looking for. After about 40 minutes of discussion, I found out he was looking for Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes which I found amazing on many levels. Not everything sounds the same to all ears, but to this day I'm astounded that he heard Seven Nation Army and somehow thought it was AC/DC!
The record store was always a great place to get an opinion too. Most of the time, whether you were asking or not, they would share their opinion with you on what you were buying or what you should buy. I always used to laugh when I'd over hear conversations like these. You would have a counter top surrounded by promotional materials for say the new Def Leppard release and a record store employee complaining about hating "corporate rock".
For me though, I would always love the recommendations that came along with the record store. Employees always had a band or artist they were passionate about that you HAD to hear. Or if you were looking for a certain artist, they could introduce you to something or someone similar. Most of the time it was an artist who had originated the sound you were looking for from that new artist. There was nothing quite like picking up an artist you'd never heard of or got a chance to listen to and wondering where it had been all your life! You owed the record store employee for changing that for you.
Today, by and large The Record Store doesn't exist. People trade music the old fashioned way on the internet but it's just not the same. To those stores out there still hanging on: YOU ARE LOVED! If you're reading this and you have an establishment near you still, please I beg you, give them your business. These are experts trained in the art of what they love. You may pay $2-3 more for a new release as opposed to a Big Box, but I assure you the experience alone is worth the few extra dollars.
If you have a favorite record store that's still in business, please comment on this post with their name and website if available!
-R
I have at least a dozen opinions on said Napster/Big Box situation but I don't want to go into that right now. I'd rather just plain talk about "The Record Store" and how much I miss it. One of my favorite memories is being in a record store some time in 1991. Some album was playing over head and the person shopping with me said "Do you know who this is?" my reply was "No but whoever it is, they're openly ripping off Roger Waters". The guy behind the counter then looked up and shouted across the store "Hey genius, this IS Roger Waters. It's his new album". I was slightly embarrassed to say the least, but more importantly I had to go find said album and purchase it!
That was the thing that I loved the most about the record store; knowledge. People that worked at the record store LOVED music and they knew everything about it. Much like people in the auto repair industry rely completely on the gathering of knowledge of all makes and models, The Record Store employee did the same. Ever been to a auto repair shop and described a noise or issue with your car and they come right up with the solution? That's how the workers in the record store were! Having put in more than a few hours, I can tell you that one of the more enjoyable things about working in the record store was every few hours when a person would come up and ask for "that song". If you worked in a record store, you know what I'm talking about. If you didn't, then you've been the person asking. The conversation goes like this; Customer: Do you have that old song by that band? Record store: Which one? Customer: It's the one with the guitar that's like 'daaa da da daaa DA!" Record store: Hmmm, do you know any of the words? Customer: Umm.... He says 'oh baby' in it, I know that for sure!
Generally inside of a half hour, someone at the record store figured it out for you. And it was cool as hell to either be that guy or have that guy around. One of my favorite such stories happened to me while working for Media Play. In the same fashion as above a customer once asked me for the "new AC/DC" and seeing as they hadn't had a new album for a while, I started to find out if it was a certain tune he was looking for. After about 40 minutes of discussion, I found out he was looking for Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes which I found amazing on many levels. Not everything sounds the same to all ears, but to this day I'm astounded that he heard Seven Nation Army and somehow thought it was AC/DC!
The record store was always a great place to get an opinion too. Most of the time, whether you were asking or not, they would share their opinion with you on what you were buying or what you should buy. I always used to laugh when I'd over hear conversations like these. You would have a counter top surrounded by promotional materials for say the new Def Leppard release and a record store employee complaining about hating "corporate rock".
For me though, I would always love the recommendations that came along with the record store. Employees always had a band or artist they were passionate about that you HAD to hear. Or if you were looking for a certain artist, they could introduce you to something or someone similar. Most of the time it was an artist who had originated the sound you were looking for from that new artist. There was nothing quite like picking up an artist you'd never heard of or got a chance to listen to and wondering where it had been all your life! You owed the record store employee for changing that for you.
Today, by and large The Record Store doesn't exist. People trade music the old fashioned way on the internet but it's just not the same. To those stores out there still hanging on: YOU ARE LOVED! If you're reading this and you have an establishment near you still, please I beg you, give them your business. These are experts trained in the art of what they love. You may pay $2-3 more for a new release as opposed to a Big Box, but I assure you the experience alone is worth the few extra dollars.
If you have a favorite record store that's still in business, please comment on this post with their name and website if available!
-R
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Name of the Band is Cowboy Mouth!
Every once in a while you experience a band that literally blows you away! It was spring of 1999 that I went to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.... The fact that New Orleans has offered up such amazing musical contributions makes it a great place to visit for a music fan. People say they want to go to Mardi Gras, etc... let me tell you it's just a crazy during Jazzfest than any other time of the year. The Fest itself offers such a diverse line-up, that you know that you're in for a good time.
2 of the 3 other people I attended the fest with came to see Cowboy Mouth specifically, as did a few other of the thousands of fans who attended the fest. After an afternoon of beers, New Orleans food (whole BBQ shrimp and gumbo among others), and grooving to other New Orleans acts the Neville Brothers and Zachary Richard, Cowboy Mouth was up!
They really brought it that day. Fred LeBlanc the frontman and drummer steals the show. His kit is center stage and his energy goes unmatched. I was hooked. After I got home, I bought the CD's, listened to the music and bought tickets to see them in Chicago around St. Patricks Day 2000. Again, they ripped up the House of Blues and brought the house down! The best $20 I'd spent on a concert ticket! Truely an amazing experience!
I've seen them numerous times since then. Including a 2 night stand over my 30th Birthday... We rode the elevator with the band, and met Fred in the lobby of the hotel. He sang happy birthday to me! I took my kids to see them once at a festival which I consider my kids first concert. New Years Eve 2001 was great with Cowboy Mouth and Better Than Ezra sharing the stage! This is the first and only time I attended the show on NYE. I also include the Minnesota State Fair in front of about 100 fans, and the Lincoln Park Zoo gig where I almost got kicked off the train for swearing!
If you get a chance check them out... they make their living touring and giving it all they got. Check out their live release "All You Need Is Live" to get you started. They transitioned some members over the years. They are my #1 pick for great band that nobody has heard of!
The name of the band is Cowboy Mouth!
Enjoy!
-Mike
2 of the 3 other people I attended the fest with came to see Cowboy Mouth specifically, as did a few other of the thousands of fans who attended the fest. After an afternoon of beers, New Orleans food (whole BBQ shrimp and gumbo among others), and grooving to other New Orleans acts the Neville Brothers and Zachary Richard, Cowboy Mouth was up!
They really brought it that day. Fred LeBlanc the frontman and drummer steals the show. His kit is center stage and his energy goes unmatched. I was hooked. After I got home, I bought the CD's, listened to the music and bought tickets to see them in Chicago around St. Patricks Day 2000. Again, they ripped up the House of Blues and brought the house down! The best $20 I'd spent on a concert ticket! Truely an amazing experience!
I've seen them numerous times since then. Including a 2 night stand over my 30th Birthday... We rode the elevator with the band, and met Fred in the lobby of the hotel. He sang happy birthday to me! I took my kids to see them once at a festival which I consider my kids first concert. New Years Eve 2001 was great with Cowboy Mouth and Better Than Ezra sharing the stage! This is the first and only time I attended the show on NYE. I also include the Minnesota State Fair in front of about 100 fans, and the Lincoln Park Zoo gig where I almost got kicked off the train for swearing!
If you get a chance check them out... they make their living touring and giving it all they got. Check out their live release "All You Need Is Live" to get you started. They transitioned some members over the years. They are my #1 pick for great band that nobody has heard of!
The name of the band is Cowboy Mouth!
Enjoy!
-Mike
Top ten (guitarist edition)
Before I post this let me say a couple of things about it.
First off.... This list could have gone to 20 easy, it is a tough list for me as there are so many influential guitarists out there, but 10 seems like a good number.
2nd... I did not include any "solo players". Guitarists that are known more for their solo recordings, so no Satriani, Vai, etc. I think it is harder to stand out in the confines of a song then the song being built around your riff. Also if a guitarist who has great solos that don't fit into the song then you won't be on here.
So here we go.....
10. Vernon Reid- Living Colour
To me he is a very underrated guitar player for a very underrated band. He can sound like he is coming from outer space or playing on the corner and his playing fits in every song very well.
9. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott- Pantera
Pantera's whole thing was the guitar sound, for it's time it was unique, but not off putting... Speed with melody, a hard combo to pull off. The melody in his playing made this band's aggressive style a top 10 charting band.
8. Dave Gilmore- Pink Floyd
I have never been a huge Floyd fan, I do like a lot of their songs, I'm just not a guy who can tell you all the ins and outs of their story (We got Russ for that anyways, LOL). However I do like Gilmour's playing. His blues based, fluid playing fits the songs but is still memorable on their own, which helps the songs be memorable also.
7. Stevie Ray Vaughn
Stevie truly played the blues, with a southern twist, but it was the truest blues since the 40s. Much more then Clapton or Page, Stevie played with the slow burn and fuzzy sound that was those old blues records. If you played the old blues masters along SRV from the 80s I doubt you could tell much different in the eras.
6. Tom Morello- Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave
Morelo's playing is so unique and so related to him that many love it, but no one dares copy it because people will just assume it's him. Anyone who can make his instrument sound like a different instrument while playing is doing something special. He then takes that unique sound and somehow fits it right into the song, though I do feel it fit better into Rage's aggression then Audioslaves poppy sound.
5. Jimmy Page- Led Zeppelin
Jimmy was one of the first to really be a name player in a band. Yes it was Led Zeppelin, but everyone knew Page and his sound. And his solos were so smooth within the songs that they are what is memorable.
4. Randy Rhoads- Ozzy Osbourne
Randy is the only one on the list who is technically in a backing band, however he is the main reason Ozzy is still a known name today. Without Randy Ozzy probably fades into obscurity quickly. Once again a guy who can play fast but melodic. His solo in "Crazy Train" is still echoing in sports stadiums across the world.
3. Nuno Bettencourt- Extreme, Mourning Widows
Nuno may be the most underrated guitarists I have ever heard. His playing is amazing on record and reproduced perfectly live. Much like Vernon Reid, he sounds like he came from another planet, yet the song structure is still there. Even the acoustic playing on "More Than Words" is outstanding. He has also lent his talent to lots of other artist and I can always hear him, even if he is uncredited.
2. Brian May- Queen
It had to be hard to stand out in a band with Freddie Mercury... The guy was so flamboyant and talented... How do you get noticed? Play a sound that nobody has ever heard before. Brian's playing on "Stone Cold Crazy" practically invented the heavy metal the Metallica plays, his playing actually equaled Freddie, and that ain't easy to do.
1. Eddie Van Halen- Van Halen
The most innovative player of all time in my opinion. Players have been trying to copy him for decades, but when it's Eddie.... You know it's Eddie. The guy's playing is exciting, he can make his guitar sound like a church organ, he makes you get excited when that solo is coming.... And he can out shine his very ego driven singers. He does everything these other players do, plus some and he does it live.
So there you go... My list, I'm sure there are others that could have been on there (Hendrix and others almost made it) I have my reasons why some of the typical players aren't there. Hopefully if you haven't heard all these guys you will check them out for more then the hits.
-G
First off.... This list could have gone to 20 easy, it is a tough list for me as there are so many influential guitarists out there, but 10 seems like a good number.
2nd... I did not include any "solo players". Guitarists that are known more for their solo recordings, so no Satriani, Vai, etc. I think it is harder to stand out in the confines of a song then the song being built around your riff. Also if a guitarist who has great solos that don't fit into the song then you won't be on here.
So here we go.....
10. Vernon Reid- Living Colour
To me he is a very underrated guitar player for a very underrated band. He can sound like he is coming from outer space or playing on the corner and his playing fits in every song very well.
9. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott- Pantera
Pantera's whole thing was the guitar sound, for it's time it was unique, but not off putting... Speed with melody, a hard combo to pull off. The melody in his playing made this band's aggressive style a top 10 charting band.
8. Dave Gilmore- Pink Floyd
I have never been a huge Floyd fan, I do like a lot of their songs, I'm just not a guy who can tell you all the ins and outs of their story (We got Russ for that anyways, LOL). However I do like Gilmour's playing. His blues based, fluid playing fits the songs but is still memorable on their own, which helps the songs be memorable also.
7. Stevie Ray Vaughn
Stevie truly played the blues, with a southern twist, but it was the truest blues since the 40s. Much more then Clapton or Page, Stevie played with the slow burn and fuzzy sound that was those old blues records. If you played the old blues masters along SRV from the 80s I doubt you could tell much different in the eras.
6. Tom Morello- Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave
Morelo's playing is so unique and so related to him that many love it, but no one dares copy it because people will just assume it's him. Anyone who can make his instrument sound like a different instrument while playing is doing something special. He then takes that unique sound and somehow fits it right into the song, though I do feel it fit better into Rage's aggression then Audioslaves poppy sound.
5. Jimmy Page- Led Zeppelin
Jimmy was one of the first to really be a name player in a band. Yes it was Led Zeppelin, but everyone knew Page and his sound. And his solos were so smooth within the songs that they are what is memorable.
4. Randy Rhoads- Ozzy Osbourne
Randy is the only one on the list who is technically in a backing band, however he is the main reason Ozzy is still a known name today. Without Randy Ozzy probably fades into obscurity quickly. Once again a guy who can play fast but melodic. His solo in "Crazy Train" is still echoing in sports stadiums across the world.
3. Nuno Bettencourt- Extreme, Mourning Widows
Nuno may be the most underrated guitarists I have ever heard. His playing is amazing on record and reproduced perfectly live. Much like Vernon Reid, he sounds like he came from another planet, yet the song structure is still there. Even the acoustic playing on "More Than Words" is outstanding. He has also lent his talent to lots of other artist and I can always hear him, even if he is uncredited.
2. Brian May- Queen
It had to be hard to stand out in a band with Freddie Mercury... The guy was so flamboyant and talented... How do you get noticed? Play a sound that nobody has ever heard before. Brian's playing on "Stone Cold Crazy" practically invented the heavy metal the Metallica plays, his playing actually equaled Freddie, and that ain't easy to do.
1. Eddie Van Halen- Van Halen
The most innovative player of all time in my opinion. Players have been trying to copy him for decades, but when it's Eddie.... You know it's Eddie. The guy's playing is exciting, he can make his guitar sound like a church organ, he makes you get excited when that solo is coming.... And he can out shine his very ego driven singers. He does everything these other players do, plus some and he does it live.
So there you go... My list, I'm sure there are others that could have been on there (Hendrix and others almost made it) I have my reasons why some of the typical players aren't there. Hopefully if you haven't heard all these guys you will check them out for more then the hits.
-G
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