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Level Five (King Crimson ‘The Power to Believe’)

I love this track. It has everything that defines the modern King Crimson era and sound. And that to me is great so I’m never going to complain about that! Robert’s solo is one of the more memorable guitar solos I’ve heard in some time. So simple but it just sticks in your brain! But when Adrian’s solo comes in… wow, it’s like the world is splitting in two. In my opinion these two are still the best guitar players I’ve seen live. The voodoo is just overwhelming!

Seasons (Jeff Beck ‘Jeff’)

This is, I think, my favourite of all of Jeff’s tracks ever. It deserves to be the highlighted piece of this 5 but there wasn’t a video for it. And I’m glad because this is so special I wouldn’t want a live performance to ruin the perception I have of this stunning piece of music. The playing here is exquisite, there’s so much emotion in there it’s scary. And I absolutely adore the guitar sound. As on his last record before ‘Jeff’ I believe it’s just a Marshall JCM2000; the DSL50 I think. Playing with fingers certainly helps get closer to this kind of sound but it’s still pretty elusive. What I love most about Seasons is that no matter how many times I hear it I’m still shivering and holding back tears. If once in my life I could record something this good I would have achieved more than I could ever have imagined. I simply can’t imagine electric guitar playing more expressive than this.

2 + 2 = 5 (The Lukewarm) (Radiohead ‘Hail to the Thief’)

Occassionally Radiohead are ridiculously good. Godly good. This track is definitely one of those occassions! In fact I’d say this is maybe my favourite Radiohead song. I love the changes, the noises, the energy but more than anything I love that cross rhythm interlude. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard in my life. The tension that builds through that section is stunning. Shivers abound. And I love how it spits out into the next riff. This stuff is genius.

Elektrik (King Crimson ‘The Power to Believe’)

I hate to say it but I was a little disappointed when I first heard KCs 2003 album The Power to Believe. It was about 4 years later that I revisited it and completely fell in love with it. I would now say it’s an almost perfect record. I guess when you’ve released so much exceptional material, as the Crimson boys have, that you set extremely high expectations.

Elektrik is one of those pieces where it’s the sum of all the parts that makes it great. And I love these clean guitar sounds, Belew and Fripp certainly know how to get good clean guitar sounds that’s for sure. The way these chords wind in and out of each other falling like a waterfall, the way the tonal centre meanders from key to key in a slightly bad mood or simply how the groove is firmly locked in… it all works together to create something far greater than the individual parts and consequently something unique. Great stuff.

When Girls Telephone Boys (Deftones ‘Deftones’)

There’s so much energy in this track it’s ridiculous! Talk about building tension! When I’m in a bad mood I put this on and erm… get wound up even tighter. I love Steph’s detuned 7 string on this record. I’ve mentioned before how I admire his constant evolution and how it changes the sound of the Deftones from album to album. This album is completely different to the rest of the Deftones catalogue and yet sounds exactly like Deftones should. There’s some amazing stuff on the album, Hexagram, Battle-Axe, Bloody Cape and Moana in particular are stunning Deftones songs.

2003 was a very strong year and there is a wealth of amazing material I haven’t included in the five, I’ve tried to stay honest to my personal faves and not just swamp the list with Jeff or KC. Don’t let that stop you commenting and leaving your own guitar oriented picks for the year!

Have a good w/e guys!
P.

Innamorata (Al Di Meola ‘Flesh on Flesh’)

After the incredible 2000 release, The Grande Passion, what more could Al Di do? That’s right, more of the same! And when it’s music as stunningly moving as this I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with an expansion of more-of-the-same. The video clip is from what is personally the best live DVD I’ve ever seen, One of The Nights. The band walk on, tune up and open with this track. Can you imagine opening a concert with this?! Talk about a challenge. And it sets the tension/excitement for the rest of the show perfectly. I cannot recommend the DVD enough for anyone curious. Al Di’s playing is sublime as ever and he’ll baffle you as you see some of the most confusing finger patterns you’ll ever see.

For anyone who doesn’t know about his gear setup he’s using his Ovation/Godin acoustics, which are loaded with Roland GK pickups. Those are running into a Roland VG-88 (if I remember correctly it was an 88 not and 8). So at times Al Di will be playing acoustic, electric and synth lines in unison, or switching to a bass line on a modelled acoustic bass, or it’ll suddenly sound like his Les Paul through a Marshall. So don’t get surprised and weirded out by it!

Well to the Bone (Scott Henderson ‘Well to the Bone’)

I love Scott Henderson. Ever since I saw his amazing, if quirky, instructional videos in the early 90s I knew this was a guy that I was going to be interested in following for some time to come. Those videos are pretty awesome so do all you can to watch them! Scott is just an amazing guitar player and I’m pretty surprised I forgot to put any Tribal Tech stuff in this feature before now. But nevermind, my brain doesn’t always work obviously. Scott is one of those guys that is quite happy to share everything he does and knows, and the guy coaxes some of the best guitar tones you’ll hear out of all sorts of setups. So be sure to check him out further if you’ve never done so.

Trains (Porcupine Tree ‘In Absentia’)

I guess most people would have picked The Sound of Muzak, it’s got a real cool riff. However, I’m picking Trains because I just simply adore that song and it’s not solely because of the guitar that I like it but it’s always that acoustic part I remember when I think of this song. Before I think of the vocal melody, which is a great melody, it is the guitar chords that tune my memory into the song. So that for me speaks volume. This is one of those weird moments where I feel strongly about some simple acoustic strumming that gets under my skin and I can’t stop playing it. Heartattack In a Layby is my fave piece of the record, it’s just a stunning piece of work.

No One Knows (Queens of the Stone Age ‘Songs for the Deaf’)

I saw QotSA play this live on the BBCs Jools Holland show and thought “wow, I have to buy that album”. And so I did. And I didn’t love it. I liked it but didn’t love it. This song however, I love. Catchy riff, crunchy detuned fuzzy guitar sounds, slightly crazy b-sections and those Cream-esque harmonized vocals. Nice. Not quite as cool as Alcatrazz’s Bigfoot but still awesome.

Streamline (System of a Down ‘Steal This Album!’)

I think this could be System’s best album. American Dream Denial is the standout track for me but the riffs from Streamline will always be what I think of first when I think of the record. It’s strange how even the simplest syncopation can sound so complex at first!

So, we’re definitely in a period where my exposure to current music was very poor. Particularly with guitar as I really didn’t care so much about guitar oriented music anymore. That’s not to say I’ve picked a dud 5. It’s simply a disclaimer to say there will be lots of music (of which some may change my life when I eventually “discover” it) that I am unaware of. So summing up, if you know of something I should know about … you simply gotta tell me on the Comments page.

Have a great weekend.
P.

Nadia (Jeff Beck ‘You Had It Coming’)

This is a cover of Nitin Sawhney’s beautiful track from the 1999 album Beyond Skin. Nitin Sawhney is definitely one of my favourite artists, I adore his work. And in fact he’s one very, very fine guitar player too and he nearly made it in to one of the earlier 5s. Anyway, I should get back to Jeff! The melody in the original is an incredible and heavenly vocal. Frankly Jeff Beck does an astonishing job of capturing that vocal on a guitar. Until I saw him play this live I had absolutely no idea how he had managed it. Was it whammy bar? Was it a slide? Watching the video it’s like “ah, ok… it’s both!”.

Loose Cannon (Jeff Beck ‘You Had It Coming’)

I totally loved this track when I first heard it. It’s been “borrowed” so much since by guitar players that obviously felt the same way! I adore the melody and how it’s played. Jeff has this way of getting stuff going on that no-one else seems to be able to do. But my favourite thing with Jeff’s playing is that he is one of the few who is absolutely unafraid of playing with a massive dynamic range. The solo on this is an amazing example lightly picked fuzzy harmonics. Just awesome.

Thinking about it now, this album is jammed full with great guitar. Some of my highlighst would be, erm… Roy’s Toy has a ring modulator and stuff in the solo. I love ring modulators. It deserves an entry just for that. I love the riff on the track Dirty Mind. What an amazing riff that is. Suspension is haunting. Anything by Jeff would be recommended to guitar players so I won’t even state it.

Schism (Tool ‘Lateralus’)

I think Schism was a riff that Tool bass player, Justin Chancellor, took to rehearsal and it obviously evolved into this massive multi layered piece. Adam Jones has featured a few times as an inspiration of mine and I think Schism is a fine example of why. He knows how to join the band, weld his playing together, work against, drop off into the background, come to the foreground and he writes some pretty fine parts too. It’s so easy to miss just how this style he has of evolving his layered guitars throughout a piece helps to build the unique sound of Tool.

Aerials (System of a Down ‘Toxicity’)

Toxicity is an absolutely awesome album. This album made me depressed for a while! The truth is the whole of Toxicity is fantastic. I picked out Aerials just because I love the song.

Believe (King’s X ‘Manic Moonlight’)

A great riff from Ty Tabor. He really has a great gift for building this amazing understated grooves.

Have a great weekend!
Paul.

Misterio (Al Di Meola ‘The Grande Passion’)

Misterio is awe-inspiring. Al Di is awe-inspiring. He seems so rejuvenated with such incredible inspiration at this point in his career. Double Concerto, Al’s interpretation of the Astor Piazzolla composition is absolutely astonishing and quite possibly the most expressive thing I’ve ever heard in my life. The way that piece builds is head-shakingly good, a lesson in composition to say the least.

For me, this was the album where Al Di launched himself out into orbit and into music heaven. I’d never heard anything quite as special as The Grande Passion. Sometimes an album is so good you can only sit down and weep. Trust me, this is one of those albums. There simply isn’t much music on the planet as good as this. The good news is… there’s more of it to come.

Welcome to Shivers-ville, grab a tissue.

The ConstruKction of Light (King Crimson ‘The ConstruKction of Light’)

Have I ever mentioned I saw KC on this tour? I have? More than once, you’re kidding? I was fortunate enough to pretty much over Robert Fripp’s shoulder in Madrid and the whole experience just left me totally awe-struck. To understand how far from greatness and mastery you are you have to see and experience it first hand. Whilst most folks were watching Pat Mastelotto on the rather unique at the time V-Drums I was captivated by Fripp and Belew. Without question the two best guitarists I’ve ever seen first hand. The expectation and tension these guys play under is absolutely immense and they hardly fail to deliver.

You’ll see Belew shake his head at something Fripp’s just done that is mind-blowing. Later Robert will crack a smile at one of Adrian’s amazing solos. I remember there was an astonishing bend and whammy thing that was so obviously a spur of the moment thing. It was a once in a lifetime moment and the whole place just erupted with appreciation.

It was at that moment I thought “I can simply not practice enough to be that good so I’m just gonna enjoy this instead of fretting about my own playing”. I’ve never fretted since. Apart from all my left hand fretting. That’s not the same thing.

TCoL is one of my fave guitar instrumentals. I went totally nuts watching these guys pull it off flawlessly with so much ease. This is my clean sound… I adore this sound.

Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Pt. 4 (King Crimson ‘The ConstruKction of Light’)

Erm… where to start with this track? There is so much guitar to talk about in Larks 4! Well, firstly, on record it doesn’t quite come across as it does live. The overwhelming battering you get from a live performance really is something special.

The expectation as chapter 2 of Larks 4 approached was unbevievable. I think the whole audience was sweating thinking “surely they can’t do those stabs… surely not”. But sure enough… stabs were fine and somehow… and I have no idea how… Robert’s fingers flew all over the neck and hit every single impossible note in those runs. You could almost hear jaws hitting the floor. The floor got slippy with drool. It was the most spectacular thing I have witnessed in music. As if that wasn’t astonishing enough it’s Adrian’s turn. And if I could solo like this just once in my life I would give it all up with a happy smile on my face! Next day I checked Robert’s online diary. Turns out the boys thought they’d had an off night!

Gods do walk this Earth…and I’ve been fortunate enough to share a moment of my life in their greatness. Oh yes, I do love these guys. You gotta have a hero right?

Pink Maggit (Deftones ‘White Pony’)

My favourite metal album of the noughties and one of my favourites ever recorded. It’s crammed full with some incredible riffs. I think the whole record is in Drop C tuning and it just gives it all such a unique character. I like that. Very clever stuff from Steph Carpenter to use unique tunings on each Deftones album.

I had a real hard time trying to single out anything from White Pony because I love every single second. I’m still listening to it day after day after day after day and I never tire of it. When I first got the record it was the last two tracks that totally blew me away, leaving me stunned. So that swayed my choice.

Change (In the House of Flies) is quite possibly my fave song of all time. However it’s the riff in Maggit that I would say defines this entire album. It’s one heck of a stunning moody riff. From the opening echoing broken arps to the massive main riff I adore this. I so wish it could have been me in this band!

The Hollow (A Perfect Circle ‘Mer De Noms’)

Where did this album come from?! Such a brilliant album from a super talented bunch. I love ring modulators so The Hollow got the pick but maybe Magdalena is my fave song of the record. Nice to hear this tuning too, always one of my faves.

I am so excited about this 5 for the Weekend. Anyone that said “there just isn’t any good music anymore” back in the early noughties must have had their ears sewn shut; there were so many great albums in 2000 alone. Crimson wholeheartedly deserve two entries and truthfully Di Meola, KC and Deftones could have easily filled a 20 for the Weekend feature.

This is soooooo 80s… “ENJOY!”
:o)

Paul.

The Deception of the Thrush (ProjeKct Four ‘King Crimson The ProjeKcts’)

Having been fortunate enough to have witnessed a mesmerizing live performance of this piece I can honestly say there’s nothing quite like it. Absolutely astonishing, jaw dropping, emotive, colourful art at it’s very best. There isn’t a single riff, hook or pentatonic lick in sight. When I watch the Crimson boys improvise I recognize just how far from greatness I am. The Deception of the Thrush won’t gather enough popularity to make the Guitar Hero game that’s for sure but this is truly spell-binding, beautiful, visionary music.

Declan (Jeff Beck ‘Who Else!’)

This is a cover of a Dónal Lunny tune and if this doesn’t make your heart bleed then you’re surely made of stone. This is one of the most amazing recordings I’ve ever heard. Truly beautiful and haunting. What’s especially humbling is that even though Jeff is phenomenal and so expressive, he simply doesn’t convey as much chilling sadness as the absolutely stunning players accompanying him. If only there were more music as good as this. At this point in his career I would say that this was the best recording Jeff had done to date.

Just Like You Imagined (Nine Inch Nails ‘The Fragile’)

Think of NIN and you think more about synths, machines and Trent’s vocal. And yet there is actually a wealth of amazing experimental guitar work on these records, although it’s sometimes disguised so much you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a machine. As he had done previously on The Downward Spiral Trent drafted in the ridiculously talented Adrian Belew to add some texture. I still can’t quite work out whether some of the parts are a synth or guitar and I love that. The Fragile is one of my absolute fave albums ever made.

Fever Dream (Steve Vai ‘The Ultra Zone’)

Lil Stevie Vai won a Grammy for the seventh track on the album but for me it’s Lucky Charms and Fever Dream where he really blows my mind. Fever Dream was the track where I had to pick up my guitar and try to work out what was going on. Steve’s playing is scary. There’s some whammy pedal work that is truly frightening that he has that kind of accuracy at such pace.

Blitzkrieg (Yngwie Malmsteen ‘Alchemy’)

This was the first Yngwie album that I really enjoyed since his 1990 release, Eclipse. I was so excited that it had the singer from Yngwie’s 1986 album Trilogy. To me this album was Yngwie-squared, magnified Malmsteen and I honestly used to lie awake late at night with it on headphones unable to sleep as I just kept listening over and over. There are some great tracks on this record and of course Yngwie is on fire throughout. Listening back now I still get excited by the energy that Yngwie captures in his recordings. His guitar tone is astonishing. His rhythm playing is incredible, so much energy and finesse. His solos simply spark off the fretboard with dazzling electricity.

Surprisingly I had a fair number of other inspirational tracks I had to hold back for 1999. A bit of hope for a new decade and millenium maybe? Y2K bug permitting we were all excited that something new and spectacular was going to happen in the new millenium. If only we’d had the gift of foresight and could see what was going to come and influence this art we love so much.

I wish you all a very happy holiday!

Many thanks from me to Jon for allowing me to ramble on here and for being so patient with my very slow review output (something I hope to address in my new year’s resolutions!).

I hope you all get everything you dream for!

:o)

Pauly.

Crystal Planet (Joe Satriani ‘Crystal Planet’)

On this album Satch seemed rejuvenated by the success of the G3 tours. It was definitely his best effort for a number of years. Obviously with a Satch record there’s a lot of great guitar playing but in 98 we were wondering whether he had anything new to offer. He’d attempted to deliver new directions on his previous records and hadn’t quite hit the mark. Crystal Planet kind of went forwards and backwards at the same time. He went back to the Surfing song based formula, just doing what he does best, melodic instrumentals with incredible guitar but took his tone, licks and image into a brand new direction. And it worked very well indeed!

Azzura / Big Sky Azzura (Al Di Meola ‘The Infinite Desire’)

This is one of my fave pieces of music. The live version on the DVD One Of The Nights is absolutely incredible and literally chokes me to tears. That’s one of the best music DVDs money can buy. Al Di is on extremely fine form, like always, so it’s no surprise to find some incredible rhythm playing dotted with some absolutely stunning runs. The rest of the album has some amazing guitar work too, with Steve Vai joining Al Di on another Race With Devil On Spanish Highway update, Race With Devil On Turkish Highway! As Di Meola matured so did his composition. This is truly wonderful music.

Suddenly Spring (Warren Cuccurullo ‘Road Rage’)

After the phenomenal Thanks To Frank, Warren released the record Machine Language in 97. I bought it without hesitation. However, it was not what I had been hoping for. It was not more Thanks To Frank but was some very ambient stuff all created with a rather spectacular effects setup. It wasn’t a bad album, it just wasn’t full of melody and awesome guitar solos. It was spectacular but in a totally different kind of way. So when Road Rage was released I again bought without hesitation hoping for more Thanks To Frank! The formula is similar … maybe Warren’s a little more off-the-wall throughout and there’s a lot more jamming. Not as good as Thanks To Frank but at times it’s absolutely blinding. Suddenly Spring is a fantastic little acoustic piece that you could be forgiven for thinking is Jimmy Page!

Prelude to April (Yngwie Malmsteen ‘Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra’)

It had to happen eventually. Eventually Yngwie was gonna get to play with an orchestra. And the strange thing is that he fits right in, even when his Stratocaster is screaming out of his 2 Marshall 4x12s! But it’s when he gets chance to grab the neck of his nylon acoustic he really shines. And my fave is Prelude to April, which is a wonderful example of exactly that!

Sugar (System of a Down ‘System of a Down’)

One of the best bands of modern times in my opinion and quite possibly one of the finest debut records. This is relentless from start to finish!

Have a great weekend! It’s snowing here, I may well have to get the valves humming to keep warmed up, get some great music in my ears, fire up the DAW and try some christmas carols drop tuned to C (for Christmas of course!).

:o)
P.