A Selection Of Notable Modern Guitarists
0 Comments Delivered by TakeoffZebra on 04 June 2007 at 7:03 PM.
Hello folks, I feel the urge to post. Whilst listening to music lately, I have put most of my focus into the guitar parts like I used to. I generally listen to songs as a whole or a mixture of sounds that melt into one, but it's still fun to pick apart the peices and find new and interesting things. Anyway, while focusing on guitar, I realized that modern guitarists do not necessarily get the attention that the classic rock legends (ie Angus Young, EVH, Brian May, Hendrix, SRV, etc.) seem to bask in. Perhaps it's because we haven't been listening to these modern songs over and over again for twenty years, or maybe the technical skill and showmanship involved in Guitar Deism have taken a backseat to ellaborate stage shows and vocal performances. Only time will tell, and until then I have put together a few songs that feature some modern guitarists that I feel are worth mentioning. First off is a 12 and a half minute jam by The Mars Volta called "L'Via L'Viaquez" from the "Frances The Mute" album, and the single by the same name. The first two guitar solos are by John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame. But RHCP aren't his only output, his solo releases come highly recommended by yours truly. The third solo is Omar A Rodriguez-Lopez (pictured above) or Omar Rodriguez for short. Omar is half of The Mars Volta alongside Cedric Bixler Zavala, and also releases several solo albums and collaborations. The song starts off slow with overlapping loops, slowing grows and then Frusciante melts face. Being a Mars Volta track, expect a psychadelic experimental rock song with noticable Latin influence.The Mars Volta- "L'Via L'Viaquez" [Removed]
Next in line is Stephen Malkmus of Pavement, Silver Jews, and solo fame. Favored for his heavily distorted and evolving guitar parts that range from lo-fi garage rock to blues to psychadelia and back again. This Californian actually borders on legendary status already from being the Pavement frontman, and only continues to release new material (new album anticipating commercial birth in early 2008). Here's a track from his latest album "Face The Truth" that highlights his bluesy rock-jam side of guitar. It really reminds me of Traffic's "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" but I can't seem to understand why.
Stephen Malkmus- "No More Shoes" [Removed]
Jack White. Familiar name I'm sure. This Detroit blues rocker has been everywhere. He's half of The White Stripes, apparent figurehead for The Raconteurs, he produced the latest Loretta Lynn album, provided vocals for Electric Six's "Danger! High Voltage", played bass on Beck's "Go It Alone", contibuted to the Cold Mountain soundtrack and a Coca-Cola commercial. Oh, he also won some Grammys and married a supermodel. Wow. His guitar style is heavily blues-based, and his live performances with The White Stripes are incredible. I super highly recommend the concert DVD "Under Blackpool Lights". The song I selected has three guitar solos and was performed when Jack "Three Quid" White made a suprise appearance with Bob Dylan in Detroit. I don't have the recording of that performance, but I do have the album version from "Elephant". That should suffice.
The White Stripes- "Ball And Bisquit" [Removed]
Belle & Sebastian's guitarist, Stevie "Reverb" Jackson, has a warm retro sound that's hard to resist. His songs add a smoother, 60s vibe to the usual (but still amazingly enjoyable) Stuart Murdoch tracks. For dowload below is a Jackson penned song from "Dear Catastrophe Waitress".
Belle & Sebastian- "Roy Walker" [Removed]
So there you go. John Frusciante, Omar Rodriguez, Stephen Malkmus, Jack White, and Stevie Jackson. Just a few of the amazing guitarists out there today that deserve to be heard. Enjoy and feel free to comment. I really like feedback.
Labels: belle and sebastian, stephen malkmus, the mars volta, the white stripes
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