Cliffs of Dover (Eric Johnson ‘Ah Via Musicom’)

I adore Eric Johnson. I love his guitar sounds and his playing. Truly awesome. I mean, just watch that video above!! It actually had me laughing and shouting at the end. Absolutely astonishing. I’d love to see what he could do in some other musical environments though. Imagine him on a Porcupine Tree album or something! I think that’s a bit of a pipe dream of mine…

For the Love of God (Steve Vai ‘Passion and Warfare’)

I remember all the press running billboards and full page ads for this. Everywhere you went you saw a giant Vai with a fairy in his hand. What was really nice about this album was Steve was quite happy and open about how it was made, the gear he used and sometimes even the settings. He really did open his box of tricks up to us all really. This album had us all wishing we had Eventide Harmonizers, that’s what I really remember about 1990! Everyone wanted an Eventide because in 1990 you couldn’t be a guitar player and not have one. However, the simple straight ahead ballad FTLOG seems to be the place where people get their most kicks from Vai. It’s interesting that he tried so hard to baffle us all with production and we all said “that track 7, the one with nothing fancy on it… I like that one”! Personally, I really liked Love Secrets, Blue Powder, Answers and The Riddle from this album and I wouldn’t really listen to FTLOG now (sick of it!) but at the time it was pretty much the yardstick for a rock guitarist.

Demon Driver (Yngwie Malmsteen ‘Eclipse’)

I thought Eclipse was a welcome change! I’d got a bit bored with the band and was happy to see it had been shaken up a bit and of course Goran Edman’s voice was just incredible. Well, it still is in actual fact! I bought everything I could of this record. 12″ singles, tab books etc. I loved it! I picked out Driver because it’s got an awesome riff and those ridiculous turbo charged 3 string sweeped arps that are deceptively difficult.

Holy Wars (Megadeth ‘Rust in Peace’)

I loved this album! Up until Rust I hadn’t quite realised just how clever this band were. I liked Peace Sells but it never hit me like this album did. It was more the song writing that attracted me than the fact that Mustaine had hired the incredible Marty Friedman. However, there’s a lot of guitar on this record!! And it’s hard not to be in awe of how they intelligently weave amazing riffs and solos into every minute.

It’s Love (King’s X ‘Faith Hope Love’)

The third studio album from King’s X was a bit of a weird one. Gretchen was such an amazing album I had high expectations and Faith Hope Love certainly started well!! We Are Finding Who We Are is an absolutely blinding riff!! And it’s followed by It’s Love which has another screaming riff. Absolutely stunning stuff. How this band never took over the world I will never ever know!!

Have a good weekend guitar lovers!
Paul

:o)