Facebook keeps asking me what's on my mind.
And with the inability to answer such a simple question, I turn my mind to the events of my fantastically uneventful weekend. And the fact that I'm posting for the 14th time this month, which is a bit of a record for me, cos it's double the amount of the average amount of posts per month (which is 7) and five more than the highest-posting month (9) so far this year! Good stuff!
The weekend started off looking pretty great. Went on an awesome early morning skate (7pm!) with Beka and Sarah, spent my entire morning jamming Beatles songs with Dan, and then had the best practice EVER in the afternoon. Spent quite some time on our original, and got it sounding really good musically. Hopefully the vocals will be the icing on the cake.... It's actually super interesting: never thought I'd be writing a reggae song and enjoying it!
That being said, even though I like the lyrics, I wouldn't rate it as my best piece of work....
Then after I got home from a long day, I made a snap decision to go play some soccer with my mates. One minute into the game, I went into a tackle wrong, and ended up spraining my toe pretty bad. Kind of an epic fail, and I had to limp back home for tea. Still got the limp - it's a little bit difficult to walk without all your toes working properly. Man, you never notice how much you need them until they stop working!!!
On Saturday, I had work for the morning. It was really quiet so I got to leave early, which is always a bonus. Still loving the new job. Only problem with working in a cafe is that I always tend to get super hungry!!
The rest of the afternoon I did a bit of study, chilled out, and watched a bit of the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Today I walked (or rather, limped) to work which was quite exhausting. Even worse was the walk back when I had to limp past the Parkour crew. If my foot hadn't been so sore, I would've totally joined in....
The afternoon was really boring. Grabbed some lunch, played some guitar.... generally did nothing.
Church tonight was pretty good. Good to see everyone again! Man, going to Crossroads is so cool! Like literally one of the big highlights of my week! The message was pretty good too. It was nice to be reminded how much we need God's strength, especially with me not feeling on top of the world.... man God has the sweetest timing!
Apart from that, most of my weekend has been spent learning a whole lot of music! These are the tunes I've been jamming:
1. So True - The Black Seeds (kinda have to, as it's one of my reggae covers....)
2. Blindsided - Bon Iver (quite possibly my favourite song at the moment!)
3. Flake - Jack Johnson
4. Upside Down - Jack Johnson. (I actually really liked this song!)
5. Best Of My Love - The Eagles
6. Pachabel's Cannon in D - my next classical piece to master on the guitar!!!!
7. Freedom at 21 - Jack White (the tab only had the main riff in, not the solo, so it was never completed.... but still, that riff is super cool! It's Jack White after all!!!)
8. Sixteen Saltines - Jack White (The reason for all this Jack White is I bought his cd the other day! It's epic! This is probably my favourite track off the album though.... it's soooooo good!!!!)
9. Hello Goodbye - The Beatles. (Old-school, but still awesome. One of my faves from the Fab Four)
10. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix. (Finally learnt all of this the other day. I'm just loving being able to play some Hendrix!)
So how's your weekend been? Hopefully more entertaining than mine! Feel free to spin some yarns in the comments below!
Until next time, fellow bloggers....
Music
Music
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Featured New Artist: The xx
WHAM! Told you I'd make this a feature!!!
Ok, so it has been a while since the first one (which you can read here) but this is my second post in a running feature where I talk about a new (or relatively new) artist. So if you're looking for some good new music (after all it's been a while since I've posted on my Youtube account), here's a great place to start!
I first heard about The xx from my sister, who's a bit of a fan. For some reason though, maybe judging on the name, I was expecting some sort of punk-rock band.
Which is what The xx is NOT.
The thing about this band is it took me quite a few listens (mostly on Youtube and Spotify) for me to decide that I like them. They have a really quite a different sound, while it takes some time to get adjusted to, is actually really cool.
One of the more awesome things about this group is they have both male and female vocals combining really nicely in quite a few of their tracks, courtesy of singers Oliver Sim and Romy Madley-Croft. Even though it seems Madley-Croft is the predominant lead (at least on their self-titled 2009 debut anyway), the two sing some awesome duets together. Check out the tracks "Stars" and "Islands " for a sampler!
Another factor in the favour of this English indie-pop band is their excellent guitar work. Before I go any further I must once again point out (yet again) that this is really different from the usual. So don't go expecting any blistering solos, or chugging power-chords. Instead The xx go for a less-is-more approach, choosing well placed licks and notes instead of pounding lead lines. But still, in today's pop saturated world it's nice to find a band who actually know how to play their instruments really well, and also know how to do it with a tone that sounds signature. If I was to compare it to any style of playing it would probably be slightly (but only slightly) leaning towards players like The Edge and Andy Sommers. In fact, speaking of Sommers, the lead riff into "Island" sounds slightly like The Police's smash hit "Message in a Bottle".... but at the same time still a little different. For more great guitar work apart from the aforementioned "Islands", go no further than "Heart Skipped A Beat", "Crystalised" and my current favourite, the magnificent "Intro".
Dark and atmospheric, with a low, almost whispering quality to the overall production, The xx are a band with a sound of their own. The vocals are tight, the basslines are pounding, the guitar lines are refreshingly different, and the lyrics are pretty decent to - I especially like the line "We'll watch things on VCR's, with me and talk about being love" (VCR). Gives me a great sense of nostalgia... good old videotapes haha.
Overall it's quite a winning combination, and something which works quite well for this band. Make sure you check them out!
Ok, so it has been a while since the first one (which you can read here) but this is my second post in a running feature where I talk about a new (or relatively new) artist. So if you're looking for some good new music (after all it's been a while since I've posted on my Youtube account), here's a great place to start!
I first heard about The xx from my sister, who's a bit of a fan. For some reason though, maybe judging on the name, I was expecting some sort of punk-rock band.
Which is what The xx is NOT.
The thing about this band is it took me quite a few listens (mostly on Youtube and Spotify) for me to decide that I like them. They have a really quite a different sound, while it takes some time to get adjusted to, is actually really cool.
One of the more awesome things about this group is they have both male and female vocals combining really nicely in quite a few of their tracks, courtesy of singers Oliver Sim and Romy Madley-Croft. Even though it seems Madley-Croft is the predominant lead (at least on their self-titled 2009 debut anyway), the two sing some awesome duets together. Check out the tracks "Stars" and "Islands " for a sampler!
Another factor in the favour of this English indie-pop band is their excellent guitar work. Before I go any further I must once again point out (yet again) that this is really different from the usual. So don't go expecting any blistering solos, or chugging power-chords. Instead The xx go for a less-is-more approach, choosing well placed licks and notes instead of pounding lead lines. But still, in today's pop saturated world it's nice to find a band who actually know how to play their instruments really well, and also know how to do it with a tone that sounds signature. If I was to compare it to any style of playing it would probably be slightly (but only slightly) leaning towards players like The Edge and Andy Sommers. In fact, speaking of Sommers, the lead riff into "Island" sounds slightly like The Police's smash hit "Message in a Bottle".... but at the same time still a little different. For more great guitar work apart from the aforementioned "Islands", go no further than "Heart Skipped A Beat", "Crystalised" and my current favourite, the magnificent "Intro".
Dark and atmospheric, with a low, almost whispering quality to the overall production, The xx are a band with a sound of their own. The vocals are tight, the basslines are pounding, the guitar lines are refreshingly different, and the lyrics are pretty decent to - I especially like the line "We'll watch things on VCR's, with me and talk about being love" (VCR). Gives me a great sense of nostalgia... good old videotapes haha.
Overall it's quite a winning combination, and something which works quite well for this band. Make sure you check them out!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Just see how far we've come...
I'm pretty sure I'm close to bursting with the amount of positivity I have inside me at the moment!
I don't even know why, but I'm just feeling like I'm on top of the world, and that no matter what happens, everything's going to work out for good!!! There's something so satisfying about trusting God with your life... you don't know where he's going to take you, but you know he's got a purpose for it all. And somehow, circumstances, people you meet, and just things in general weave an intricate web of LIFE! You follow one strand in the hope that'll take you somewhere, and then BAM! Next thing you know you're somewhere completely different, except that it's like 100 times more awesome than you ever dreamed it would be!!!
At the start of this year, I never thought I'd be going to 3 different churches at once. I never thought my music course would take the format that it did. I didn't even dream of meeting so many amazing people in a few short months! I didn't even think I'd see that much of Beka, let alone have her move next door to me!!! I didn't know I'd learn how to play guitar with the top of a wine bottle, or even know I'd come to appreciate the blues almost as much as I do punk rock. At the start of the year I didn't know you could go into town, have a few drinks, NOT get wasted, and still have a good time - I didn't even know what apple cider was, let alone appreciate it's finer points. I didn't know that reading a few chapters of the Bible could change your life in more ways than you ever thought possible! I didn't know I'd end up in a Lifegroup which would become like a family to me! I had no idea I would gig more often than I ever have, and even appreciate the art of performing on a stage smaller than my room at the hostel. I didn't even know I could stay on a skateboard, let alone be buying a board longer than my guitar case! I didn't even consider being able to play Bullet for My Valentine, Tool, and Stevie Ray Vaughn! I didn't even think I could master the solo of "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix! I didn't think I would be living by myself for a week.... I didn't even know what a Hydrangia was. I didn't think I end up getting a job in a cafe with a few old friends from Dannevirke...
I hadn't even heard of Imagine Dragons, Bon Iver and Broken Records (who are now three of my favourite bands EVER!). I didn't know I'd be meeting Lydia Cole : ). I didn't think I could play anything more than four-chord songs on the ukulele. There's some people I thought I would see more of, and other's I didn't even know I'd meet who I hang out with all the time. There's songs I've written this year which have been so different from everything I've ever written previously. Six months later, and I still haven't found a band... but is that even important anymore? I feel sure that God has everything in my life IN HIS HANDS and he's a lot better at timing things than I ever will be.
Now that I look back, I can see just how I've grown. In a way, it feels like I've experienced even more than I have in the last six years! And I am floored by God's goodness, his mercy, his grace, and just how he has his fingerprint on all we do, and all we see. And how he is shaping us into his people.
And how it's all so, SO beautiful.
I don't even know why, but I'm just feeling like I'm on top of the world, and that no matter what happens, everything's going to work out for good!!! There's something so satisfying about trusting God with your life... you don't know where he's going to take you, but you know he's got a purpose for it all. And somehow, circumstances, people you meet, and just things in general weave an intricate web of LIFE! You follow one strand in the hope that'll take you somewhere, and then BAM! Next thing you know you're somewhere completely different, except that it's like 100 times more awesome than you ever dreamed it would be!!!
At the start of this year, I never thought I'd be going to 3 different churches at once. I never thought my music course would take the format that it did. I didn't even dream of meeting so many amazing people in a few short months! I didn't even think I'd see that much of Beka, let alone have her move next door to me!!! I didn't know I'd learn how to play guitar with the top of a wine bottle, or even know I'd come to appreciate the blues almost as much as I do punk rock. At the start of the year I didn't know you could go into town, have a few drinks, NOT get wasted, and still have a good time - I didn't even know what apple cider was, let alone appreciate it's finer points. I didn't know that reading a few chapters of the Bible could change your life in more ways than you ever thought possible! I didn't know I'd end up in a Lifegroup which would become like a family to me! I had no idea I would gig more often than I ever have, and even appreciate the art of performing on a stage smaller than my room at the hostel. I didn't even know I could stay on a skateboard, let alone be buying a board longer than my guitar case! I didn't even consider being able to play Bullet for My Valentine, Tool, and Stevie Ray Vaughn! I didn't even think I could master the solo of "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix! I didn't think I would be living by myself for a week.... I didn't even know what a Hydrangia was. I didn't think I end up getting a job in a cafe with a few old friends from Dannevirke...
I hadn't even heard of Imagine Dragons, Bon Iver and Broken Records (who are now three of my favourite bands EVER!). I didn't know I'd be meeting Lydia Cole : ). I didn't think I could play anything more than four-chord songs on the ukulele. There's some people I thought I would see more of, and other's I didn't even know I'd meet who I hang out with all the time. There's songs I've written this year which have been so different from everything I've ever written previously. Six months later, and I still haven't found a band... but is that even important anymore? I feel sure that God has everything in my life IN HIS HANDS and he's a lot better at timing things than I ever will be.
Now that I look back, I can see just how I've grown. In a way, it feels like I've experienced even more than I have in the last six years! And I am floored by God's goodness, his mercy, his grace, and just how he has his fingerprint on all we do, and all we see. And how he is shaping us into his people.
And how it's all so, SO beautiful.
Loving this!
Staying up late, listening to punk rock and thinking about how good life is sometimes...
Just went out on a crazy adventure in town with two friends from my hostel, skating round on our various wheeled vehicles.
Argh I think I'm becoming addicted to longboarding! Really need to get myself one!
We found a couple of really good places, some sweet as hills and ramps, a few smooth carparks...
And then there was that slight misadventure where we almost got arrested by security!!!!!
Pretty sure these are the best nights of our lives : )
Jordan
Argh I think I'm becoming addicted to longboarding! Really need to get myself one!
We found a couple of really good places, some sweet as hills and ramps, a few smooth carparks...
And then there was that slight misadventure where we almost got arrested by security!!!!!
Pretty sure these are the best nights of our lives : )
Jordan
Friday, July 20, 2012
In the meantime...
Don't really have much time to do any super long post's tonight, so I'll make this a pretty quick short one....
I've had a pretty relaxing day, as we didn't really have class today. Still got a bit of band practice done, but that's pretty much it. Nice way to spend a Friday I guess. Played heaps of guitar which is always a great thing to do. And practiced reading rhythms, which is a lot harder than it sounds!
Oh and I went and saw Lydia Cole and Tom Lark play tonight at The OE Cafe on the Square. It was a sweet concert - the music was soooooo good! Lydia Cole probably has to be one of my favourite New Zealand artists around at the moment. And Tom Lark was really good too - very interesting style. And loving the auto tune & acoustic guitar! Doesn't sound like it'd work, but in his case it actually sounded really cool...
After that I just hung out at my sister's flat for a while, then rolled back here.
And that was pretty much my day....
I'll try and be more interesting with my posts tomorrow, sorry...
I've had a pretty relaxing day, as we didn't really have class today. Still got a bit of band practice done, but that's pretty much it. Nice way to spend a Friday I guess. Played heaps of guitar which is always a great thing to do. And practiced reading rhythms, which is a lot harder than it sounds!
Oh and I went and saw Lydia Cole and Tom Lark play tonight at The OE Cafe on the Square. It was a sweet concert - the music was soooooo good! Lydia Cole probably has to be one of my favourite New Zealand artists around at the moment. And Tom Lark was really good too - very interesting style. And loving the auto tune & acoustic guitar! Doesn't sound like it'd work, but in his case it actually sounded really cool...
After that I just hung out at my sister's flat for a while, then rolled back here.
And that was pretty much my day....
I'll try and be more interesting with my posts tomorrow, sorry...
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Life is amazing!
Had the bestest of days today!
For class today, we had to travel to Wanganui and play a gig. Just casual as! It went really well, we set up everything pretty much all by ourselves, and in double-quick time too! And everyone played super well too! All the songs I was playing in were first on the setlist, which was pretty cool cos I got to watch everyone else. The weather was actually really nice, and we were playing on a sweet outdoor stage in the square with awesome acoustics. I love playing outdoors!
Oh and a few of us walked around taking heaps of pictures, so once I get hold of a them, I might put a few up.....
Apart from a bit of study, that was pretty much my afternoon. Then tonight we had Lifegroup, which was SO awesome! I actually missed it heaps over the holidays.... it was great to see everyone again! And when we got into it, things got even better! Had some super deep conversations - but it was so good! I came away feeling super encouraged and MEGA excited about what God's doing in me, in our group, in Palmerston North, and just LIFE itself!!!
Plus, me and my friend Nathan had this great idea of helping each other out with reading the Bible, which is something I've been getting into heaps lately. And I'm SO EXCITED for it! It'll be great to get another opinion on some of the more confusing chapters in there, as well as general encouragement from the Bible's awesome pages.
YUSS! Stoking over everything right now! Life is awesome! God is awesome! Things are just awesome!
Hope you've had just as good a day as me. Because you're pretty awesome too!
Catch you on the flipside!
For class today, we had to travel to Wanganui and play a gig. Just casual as! It went really well, we set up everything pretty much all by ourselves, and in double-quick time too! And everyone played super well too! All the songs I was playing in were first on the setlist, which was pretty cool cos I got to watch everyone else. The weather was actually really nice, and we were playing on a sweet outdoor stage in the square with awesome acoustics. I love playing outdoors!
Oh and a few of us walked around taking heaps of pictures, so once I get hold of a them, I might put a few up.....
Apart from a bit of study, that was pretty much my afternoon. Then tonight we had Lifegroup, which was SO awesome! I actually missed it heaps over the holidays.... it was great to see everyone again! And when we got into it, things got even better! Had some super deep conversations - but it was so good! I came away feeling super encouraged and MEGA excited about what God's doing in me, in our group, in Palmerston North, and just LIFE itself!!!
Plus, me and my friend Nathan had this great idea of helping each other out with reading the Bible, which is something I've been getting into heaps lately. And I'm SO EXCITED for it! It'll be great to get another opinion on some of the more confusing chapters in there, as well as general encouragement from the Bible's awesome pages.
YUSS! Stoking over everything right now! Life is awesome! God is awesome! Things are just awesome!
Hope you've had just as good a day as me. Because you're pretty awesome too!
Catch you on the flipside!
Monday, July 16, 2012
What would be awesome....
Things that would be awesome right now:
- Skittles.
- If I found out Imagine Dragons were coming to play in New Zealand.
- A plane ticket to Italy.
- No writers block, so I didn't have to revert to lists....
- My computer to work properly.
- Being in a band.
- Not having to play reggae tomorrow. One-chord songs get a little bit boring.
- There being a decent tab for "Exodus" by Bob Marley, so I could play a little more than one chord...
- A mandolin.
- Finally finishing this new song of mine.
- If they sold Broken Record's cds in New Zealand.
- And Imagine Dragons' cds for that matter.
- Some awesome person deciding to be the 31st follower of my blog.
- Some equally awesome person suggesting it to some fellow bloggers. If you can do that....
- Zombies.
Actually wait, now that I think about that, that particular thing might not be that great.
- What would be great though, was if the new season of The Walking Dead came out on TV so I could watch some fake zombies getting fake killed. It's a great show.
- This year going slow instead of fast.
- 10 + comments. Haha.
- Getting my act together, and doing all those things I keep putting off.
- Getting an email which was actually from someone rather than just spam or notifications from Trademe, Facebook, NoiseTrade, whatever.
- Owning a longboard.
Things that are awesome right now:
- That people still read my blog : )
- Spotify! I love listening to new music! And it streams so fast, and is ethical for artists as well! TOO MUCH AWESOMENESS IN ONE PLACE!
- The Bible.
- That I can write a whole blog post, when I thought I had nothing to say. Even if it's not one of my best....
And finally...
- Despite the fact that today could have been so much better, the great thing about life is I still have the potential, and the means to do something about most of those things which could be better.
After all, life is 10% what you're handed, and 90% what you make it.
- Skittles.
- If I found out Imagine Dragons were coming to play in New Zealand.
- A plane ticket to Italy.
- No writers block, so I didn't have to revert to lists....
- My computer to work properly.
- Being in a band.
- Not having to play reggae tomorrow. One-chord songs get a little bit boring.
- There being a decent tab for "Exodus" by Bob Marley, so I could play a little more than one chord...
- A mandolin.
- Finally finishing this new song of mine.
- If they sold Broken Record's cds in New Zealand.
- And Imagine Dragons' cds for that matter.
- Some awesome person deciding to be the 31st follower of my blog.
- Some equally awesome person suggesting it to some fellow bloggers. If you can do that....
- Zombies.
Actually wait, now that I think about that, that particular thing might not be that great.
- What would be great though, was if the new season of The Walking Dead came out on TV so I could watch some fake zombies getting fake killed. It's a great show.
- This year going slow instead of fast.
- 10 + comments. Haha.
- Getting my act together, and doing all those things I keep putting off.
- Getting an email which was actually from someone rather than just spam or notifications from Trademe, Facebook, NoiseTrade, whatever.
- Owning a longboard.
Things that are awesome right now:
- That people still read my blog : )
- Spotify! I love listening to new music! And it streams so fast, and is ethical for artists as well! TOO MUCH AWESOMENESS IN ONE PLACE!
- The Bible.
- That I can write a whole blog post, when I thought I had nothing to say. Even if it's not one of my best....
And finally...
- Despite the fact that today could have been so much better, the great thing about life is I still have the potential, and the means to do something about most of those things which could be better.
After all, life is 10% what you're handed, and 90% what you make it.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Featured New Artist: Future of Forestry
First of all, this is a bit of a new thing for me, but this might be something I continue doing. Seeing as I listen to music SO much and am constantly discovering awesome new artists, I thought it might be an idea if I took to posting my finds to the internet at large. So please feel free to leave feedback on how you think I'm doing so far, and if it works out, this might become a running feature on my blog; be it monthly, fortnightly, or maybe even weekly. How does that sound?
Anyway, here goes....
"Future of Forestry" are a relatively new band to me. In fact, I heard their music for the first time probably slightly less than a week ago when I downloaded their Young Man Follow EP off Noisetrade.
Though their music is quite fresh to my ears, I have heard of them before, as their name is oft-banded around Christian music sites such as Jesusfreakhideout.com which I tend to frequent quite often. So with that in mind, and the promise of "ambient rock" goodness, I hit the download button. And was suitably impressed.
These guys are an indie-rock band based in Southern California, who have been playing music under the name "Future of Forestry" since 2006 (their name being taken from a poem by renowned author CS Lewis). As far I can tell, the band is largely based around the lead singer/songwriter Eric OwYoung (whose last name sounds quite familiar to a friend of mine). Eric's voice and songwriting talents are at the fore of the Young Man Follow EP, and the beautiful way these songs are crafted and delivered help this EP be one of the best new finds of 2012 for me.
For me, the ambiance of the music is what helps to make this band stand out from the crowd. As anyone who knows me well enough can guess, I'm a bit of a sucker for ambient music. And considering I'd just spent the last week with Sigur Ros's cd Valtari on repeat on my Ipod, the fact that these guys stood up quite well comparatively (yet still having their own distinct sound) was quite a pleasant surprise. The EP had only four songs on, and of these my favourites would be "Would You Come Home" and "Chariots". "Would You Come Home" is an amazing acoustic-guitar based song which is played over a lush background of synths, making a lovely ambient piece. While "Chariots" starts off sounding much the same, it picks up and is one of the rockier songs on the album, with an incredibly catchy hook. It takes a few listens, admittedly, but fairly soon it gets stuck in your head, and it'll take something quite incredible to get it out.
This band is a refreshing new find, especially among Christian artists, as so few of their songs fall in the same format as each other. The orchestral arrangements, soaring vocals, and inspiring lyrics are what make them such a promising young band, and one I will definitely keep an eye on. If you want a break from the normal, then look no further than "Future of Forestry".
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Plans!
I like having a plan.
It gives me something to look forward to.
And life seems less boring and more awesome when you've got something to get excited about!
I'm pretty super excited for the weekend at the moment! It's going to be SO good!!!! Rachel - I'm SO keen for our catchup! And looking forward to writing some sweet-sounding music. The Invisible Sign featuring The Falling Movement sounds like an awesome combination indeed!
And it'll be good to see you again. Feels like ages since we saw each other last....
And and and then my awesome sister's taking us to a meeeean looking conference in Wanganui! Apart from the fact that I'm excited about the actual event, I'm super keen for the ride too! Haven't been on a decent roadtrip for yeeeears!
Then after that there's Sunday, which will be awesome as usual because Crossroads is such a good church.
AND
then Monday will roll around and it'll be the start of Term Three. Although the year at UCOL has been awesome already, I'm really keen for Term Three. I want to do the best I can this term, just work hard at everything and really make the most of my time there. After all, I payed good money to be there, and now that it's well into 2012, I'm painfully aware of how little time I have left...
So it's going to be full on. But I'm ready for it...
Man, life is AMAZING!
It gives me something to look forward to.
And life seems less boring and more awesome when you've got something to get excited about!
I'm pretty super excited for the weekend at the moment! It's going to be SO good!!!! Rachel - I'm SO keen for our catchup! And looking forward to writing some sweet-sounding music. The Invisible Sign featuring The Falling Movement sounds like an awesome combination indeed!
And it'll be good to see you again. Feels like ages since we saw each other last....
And and and then my awesome sister's taking us to a meeeean looking conference in Wanganui! Apart from the fact that I'm excited about the actual event, I'm super keen for the ride too! Haven't been on a decent roadtrip for yeeeears!
Then after that there's Sunday, which will be awesome as usual because Crossroads is such a good church.
AND
then Monday will roll around and it'll be the start of Term Three. Although the year at UCOL has been awesome already, I'm really keen for Term Three. I want to do the best I can this term, just work hard at everything and really make the most of my time there. After all, I payed good money to be there, and now that it's well into 2012, I'm painfully aware of how little time I have left...
So it's going to be full on. But I'm ready for it...
Man, life is AMAZING!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
My Top 15 guitarists
I was meant to do this list ages ago.
And it was meant to be ten. But I don't know if I can nail it down to so few.
Anyway, here goes.
15. The Edge (U2)
I'm going to start the list with a guitar player which, according to a few people I know, should be nowhere near a list called "Top 15 Guitarists". I've found The Edge always causes a bit of controversy amongst my fellow guitar players: it could be because he's more of an "anti-guitar hero" than most players. But I like him, and his playing and how it contributes to U2's music as a whole has had a massive impact on both me and my guitar playing.
One of the reasons why I love listening to the Edge play is his tone is unbelievably good. He plays lots of different guitars through lots of different pedals and into some amps which are probably quite different. But you can always tell it's The Edge playing. He has a playing style which is very minimal - which could explain why lots of other guitar players despise him. But why would you need to play a million notes when you can make a few sound so good? His note placement, chord knowledge and use of pedals work well in his favor also. AND on top of all that, he's an amazing singer - check out his solo performance of "Love is Blindness" if you don't believe me!
Songs to check out: Where the Streets Have No Name, One, The Fly, Walk On, Miracle Drug, Magnificent.
Songs of his I can play: Seeing as U2 are probably one of my favourite bands, I love their guitar playing, and the songs aren't freakishly hard to learn, I know quite a few U2 songs already, including: Walk On, Stuck in A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, In A Little While, Vertigo, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and Sunday Bloody Sunday. It may seem like quite a few, but my aim is to learn at least one song from every U2 album! And seeing as they've got a TON of albums, this could take me awhile!!!
14. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
Like The Edge, Matt Bellamy's playing seemed incredible to me the first time I heard it in all it's glory. The first time I heard Muse was when their 2009 single Uprising, but apart from thinking the song was a little bit weird, didn't take much notice of either the band or the guitar playing. Then a few years later, a friend loaned me her copy of Muse's live CD/DVD compilation HAARP: Live at Wembley Stadium. And after watching the DVD from start to finish, I was hooked. Muse had this sweet blend of space rock and alternative which was heavily based around Bellamy's phenomenal playing and singing. As well as having this knack for writing and playing the catchiest, down-right rocking riffs ever, he can take his guitar up into the furtherest reaches of space with high warbling notes and plenty of effects. As well as that, he incorporates technology into his playing by using custom built guitars with knobs for turning up the gain or MIDI scratch pads which give him a whole new way to play guitar. His style of playing was weird, it was different, it was rocking, and above all, totally cool.
And on top of all that, he's got an amazing voice and can play the piano beautifully. What a legend - definitely one of today's finest musicians!
Songs to check out: Invincible, Supermassive Black Hole (Live Version), Plug in Baby, Stockholm Syndrome, Knights of Cydonia.
Songs of his I can play: Time is Running Out, Supermassive Black Hole.
13. George Harrison (The Beatles, Solo Artist)
As one of the "Fab Four", George Harrison was always going to go down in history, even before I put him on this list. I came to the Beatles as a bit of a latecomer, in fact only hearing a full song of theirs about two years ago. So as a result, they seem so new and amazing to me! George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the group, always seems a bit underrated when compared to the "superstars" Lennon and Mcartney. But he is every bit a superstar in his own right when it comes to the guitar. He has influenced so many others with his simple, yet effective, playing, and was definitely part of the sound of the Beatles. And he was also a great songwriter - I'd rate "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something" as two of the best Beatles songs ever! On top of all this, he helped introduce Eastern ideas and influences into Western Music, beginning with his use of sitar on the classic "Norwegian Wood".
Songs to check out: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Paperback Writer, Ticket To Ride, And Your Bird Can Sing, Something, The End, I Feel Fine.
Songs of his I can Play: I Feel Fine, Norwegian Wood.
12. Zachy Vengeance & Synster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)
I decided to put these two together seeing as a lot of their playing is based around each other. But of the two I'd probably prefer Zachy Vengeance... ok so officially he plays "rhythm" but he seems to do nearly as much lead work as Gates. And his guitar looks cooler too. But anyway, I digress...
My brother is addicted to Ax7. While I don't share the same fascination, as most of their music is not too my taste, I certainly have to admire the musical ability of the members of the band. Especially their two guitarists.
They are as metal as metal can be in spite of their singer using clean vocals most of the time. They can pull of some blisteringly fast solos that almost make my hands bleed just from watching it. And on the rare occasion when the music softens a bit, their playing is actually really nice and smooth. I'm not a huge fan of the band, but when I do listen to them, I always keep an ear out for the juicy guitar parts Gates & Vengeance will obligingly throw my way.
Songs to check out: M.I.A, Afterlife, Lost, Buried Alive, Critical Acclaim, Gunslinger, Dear God.
Songs of theirs that I can play: I started learning Dear God about nine months ago, and I haven't even got up to the solo yet...
11. Chuck Berry (Solo Artist)
Chuck Berry deserves to be on this list, as he was the first guitar hero of them all.
Back in the 50's, Chuck was one of a the big stars of a new type of music called rock 'n' roll. Chuck differed from all the other main performers as he wrote most of his own songs, and was one of the few successful African-American performers at the time (this was back before segregation was banished in the USA, and "blacks" were treated unfairly most of the time). Chuck Berry made it big with his hits and inspired hundreds to pick up the guitar. His riffs are clever and grooving, and his lead breaks are fast, inventive and note perfect. Chuck Berry played in a way that few have been able to imitate. No wonder he's one of the greats.
Songs to check out: Johnny B. Goode, Maybelline, Roll over Beethoven, You Can't Catch Me, School Days.
Songs of his I can play: I started learning Johnny B. Goode, but never got to the end of it. Those solos are tricky!!!
10. Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp & Solo Artist)
"Phil Who???!!!" is the reply I'd get if I told them this guy was one of my favourite guitar players EVER. I first came across this underrated gem of a player about a year ago in a book called "Best Guitar Players of All Time" (or something like that). Anyway, I liked what I read about Mr Keaggy, so I looked him up on the internet.
This guy is SO underrated. If the world was fair, he'd be as famous as some of the big names like Pete Townshend and Keith Richards. Yet despite his mad skills, Phil chooses to keep a low profile, playing the odd acoustic gig and releasing CDs which generally go under the radar. He was in a band called Glass Harp back in the 70s -80s, but left them soon after he quit drinking and found God. After that he was one of the pioneers of the early Christian Rock movement at the same time as his other, more famous contemporaries Keith Green and Petra. I am so humbled by this guys story, and how he forsook fame & fortune to follow God's call on his life. That in itself is more inspiring than his great playing.
Songs to check out: The Wind & The Wheat, Changes (Glass Harp) and Your Love Broke Thru (a song written by Keith Green, but rocked up by Keaggy)
Songs of his I know: None (yet).
9. Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin)
Jimmy Page, as well as forming one of the most famous bands in the world, Led Zepplin, is also a stunningly good guitar player. Of course everyone knows his classic Stairway to Heaven - one of the most famous and well known guitar songs ever. You can bet your bottom dollar that at least once a day in the world, someone in a will walk into a shop that sells guitar, pick up an axe, and try and pluck out the gentle intro to this song. Yet the rest of the song is filled with even BETTER guitar parts! I would love to see someone at least try to play the whole song.
Through his playing in Led Zep, which was actually mostly blues based, Page is credited as one of the founders of what today is known as hardcore/heavy metal. While there is a definite "heavy" sound to his playing, there is also a lovely bluesy twang which is evidence of his time in the British blues band The Yardbirds.
Plus he plays the mandolin too (The Battle of Waterloo) which just makes him instantly awesome.
Songs to Check out: Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lot of Love, oh and fine then, Stairway to Heaven.
Songs of his I can play: While I can play all of Heartbreaker and Whole Lot of Love, I am forced to draw the line at those solos. Most people would.
And no, I haven't learnt Stairway to Heaven yet. Mostly because it's been played almost to an overkill.
But if I do learn it, I'm learning the whole song!
8. Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Solo Artist)
Jack White is one of the few guitar heroes left to us in this day and age. He first came to my attention when his name kept popping up in books about famous guitarists. While his work with the White Stripes was awesome, I find myself more drawn to his work as a solo artist. He contributed to the latest James Bond film by having a song he did with Alica Keys as the intro, and more importantly, has recently released his solo album, Blunderbuss. I've listened to quite a few tracks now, and I'm very impressed. Have to buy this record at some point.
I love Jack White's playing, cos it's so punk! But at the same time, he can pull out an awesome slow ballard or even a blues driven song. His originality and variety, as well as the amazing sounds he pulls out of the Airline Guitars he favours, are what do it for me.
(Disclaimer: The reason he's above Page on this list is only because I enjoy his music more - not because he's a better guitarist. He's good, but not THAT good!)
Songs to check out: Ball & Chain, Seven Nation Army, I Fought Piranhas (The White Stripes), Steady as She Goes (The Raconteurs), Sixteen Saltines (Solo).
Songs of his I know how to play: Seven Nation Army - best guitar riff ever!! And super easy song, cos it's just that one riff played slightly differently lots of times!
7. Brian May (Queen, Solo Artist)
Brian May is a legend. Not only did he write incredible riffs, guitar solos, and songs for arguably the most famous band ever, Queen, but he did it all with a guitar he built himself. May's afro and The Red Special, custom-made guitar are only part of this great guitarists arsenal. He can play blistering fast scales, and heavy, glam-rock riffs. And he is freakishly hard to imitate!!!! As well as this, he composed hits such as "Tie Your Mother Down" and "We will Rock you". I don't really know much of his other work after Queen, but most recently he broke into the charts again as a featured guest of a rapper called Dappy. This is just another demonstration of his versatility as a musician!
Songs to check out: The guitar solos in Bohemian Rhapsody, the last 30 seconds of We Will Rock You,
the solo at the end of Rockstar by Dappy, Tie Your Mother Down, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, I Want It All.
Songs of his which I can play: The day I nail those solos in Bohemian Rhapsody will be a great day for me! But I'm getting close!
6. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
While Van Halen where one of the more famous bands of the 80s, I only properly listened to their music quite recently.
Of course, the name wasn't completely unknown to me: I'd read a bit about Van Halen, heard a bit of their music in the Back to the Future soundtrack, and found that the phenomenal guitar solo in Michael Jacksons smash hit "Beat It" was played by Eddie Van Halen, the guitarist of the group. Apparently he recorded it in one take. If THAT doesn't aptly describe his skills, I don't know what will!
Van Halen's music is pure, unfiltered 80s rock, right down to the use of synths and almost impossibly fast solos. This is the music I should have been listening to years ago - I love it!!!
Songs to check out: Icecream Man, Hot For Teacher, Eruption, Jump, Panama, Beat It (Michael Jackson).
Songs of his I can play: Almost all of Dance The Night Away!
5. Eric Clapton (Cream, Derek And The Dominoes, Solo Artist)
Eric Clapton is a dour-faced bluesman who, when playing, stands almost completely still, eyes closed and head down, fingering out licks on what has now become his signature guitar: a black Fender Stratocaster. All this paints a rather bland picture of normality which would generally look quite unappealing to me.
If it wasn't for the magic coming out of his fingers.
I first got into Clapton when taught his smash hit, Tears in Heaven. Three years later, and it's still one of my favourite pieces to play on an acoustic.
However it's only recently I discovered how much of a rich blues history he has. Clapton was born to play the blues, and he does it remarkably well. As a guitar player, his name will (and probably already has) gone down in history.
Songs to check out: Layla (Derek and the Dominoes), Crossroads (Live with Cream), White Room (Cream), Sweet Home Chicago, Tears in Heaven, and Layla (acoustic version).
Songs of his I can play: Tears in Heaven, Sweet Home Chicago, White Room, and 90% of Layla.
4. Slash (Guns N Roses, Solo Artist)
Slash is a monster on the guitar. Leaning back into the ultimate guitar pose (which he somehow makes look like a slouch), a cigarette dangling from his mouth (though not anymore, he recently quit smoking), and his Gibson Les Paul slung low, Slash is the epitomy of a rockstar. And he is also the guitar hero most average axemen like me dream of being.
His guitar playing was the basis of most of Guns N Roses great work. Although they're still going, I don't think they are and ever will be the same without him. After all, the only thing which they've got going for them now is Axl Rose's vocals, which I never found particularly great anyway. In fact, the main reason I listen to Guns N Roses, apart from the overall classic rock sound, is Slash's great guitar playing. His riffs are classic, and his solos the ultimate challenge! And he also helped popularize the Gibson Les Paul to the point that it's almost as popular as the Fender Strat, which is no mean feat. While I haven't heard much of his solo work, his guitar playing is still nothing short of brilliance.
Songs to check out: Sweet Child Of Mine, Paradise City, Patience, November Rain.
Songs of his I can play: I was learning Sweet Child O' Mine a while back, but stopped practicing it. Must get around to finding the tab for it again...
3. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
The other day, a friend from my music course was discussing Pink Floyd with me and he said "I reckon David Gilmour is one of the most underrated guitarists ever". And I was inclined to agree, which is why he's been placed in the third top from the spot.
Although my mum's a huge fan, I never heard much of the 'Floyd till I was looking around on Youtube one day and happened to stumble across a great song called "Shine on You Crazy Diamond". Which is pretty much a full ten minutes of awesomeness. It was a great song, and I quickly became a bit of a fan.
I heard a few of their other songs after that: Another Brick on the Wall, Wish You were Here, and a song called Money. But it was only recently when the addiction to Pink Floyd and Gilmour's playing became complete. I borrowed a great DVD from the UCOL library which documented the recording of their hit album "The Dark Side of the Moon".
Gilmour's playing, while having a lovely bluesy tone too it, is lost in space. And that's why I find it so compelling. He places each note carefully and tenderly, and it has the impact of hitting you like a landslide. Evidence of this is the first four notes in the middle section of Shine on You Crazy Diamond. Before I even heard the song, I read a quote in a book which said every one of those notes epitomized sadness. And then I listened to it, and had to agree. Those notes are beautiful.
And yet it's not all 4 note solos for David Gilmour. The solo in Money, when it kicks into 4/4 timing instead of the strange bluesy riff played in 7/8, it's nothing short of a full rock & roll outing. This is one guitarist who knows his stuff.
Songs to check out: Wish You Were Here, Money, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Us and Them, Another Brick in The Wall, the solo of Comfortably Numb.
Songs of his I can play: Almost four minutes of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. I think I'm doing quite well, considering how complex this song is!!!
2. Joe Satriani (Solo Artist)
Satriani is the guitarist which other guitarists listen to. He is without doubt the most inventive and excellent guitar player I have ever heard. The thing I love about his music is he doesn't just play a ton of scales over some chords. Nor does he try and show off with technical prowress, which is a thing some solo artists tend to do. No, Satriani is a true instrumentalist, and uses his guitar to tell stories. It's sort of hard to explain, but the most powerful of his songs deliver every bit of a strong message as a song with lyrics. Sometimes it's even stronger. He just puts SO much emotion into his playing, and crafts some very clever tunes indeed with it. The very first time I heard Always With Me, Always With You, I couldn't believe that something that beautiful and incredible could be combined to make such a coherent and amazing song. And to this day, I have yet to see anyone play the full song!
He's also a versatile player. Not only does he play haunting music, but hard rock, and even a dabbling of funk. In fact, one of his nicknames is Professor Satchafunkilus. And the fact that he does it all on Ibanez guitars, definitely not the best guitars on the market, makes it so much better. He is indeed a professor at his craft. Evidence of this is that he used to teach Steve Vai, another amazing instrumentalist who is also a virtuoso on the guitar.
Songs to check out: Rubina, Always with Me, Always with You, War, Andalusia, Summer Song, Satch Boogie, Flying In A Blue Dream,
Songs of his I can play: Still in the process of learning Rubina and Always With Me, Always With You. This could take me some time!!
1. Jimi Hendrix. (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
I feel kind of compelled to put Hendrix at the top spot. After all, he is placed there frequently by magazines, websites, and books. And the people writing them tend to know more than me usually.
Also, I know I'll get my head chopped off by some ardent fan/ Hendrix wannabe/ guitar know-it-all if I don't.
But, those facts aside, Jimi Hendrix IS a great guitarist.
The blues plays hard on Jimi, but he plays it even harder. And even though it was the late 60s, and the world was basically engulfed in psychedelic hippyness, he still manages to sound fresh and new. Even now, some fifty or so years later, people still try and figure out just HOW he sounded so good. If he was still alive today, Hendrix would be a superstar. He is the guitarist everyone seems to have heard of. Not only did he revolutionize playing styles with his use of the wah, he also was an incredible performer. Basically it was like some guy with the playing ability of Clapton and the stage presence of The Who. Except even then he was better than both. I mean, he lit his guitar on fire!!! Who does that anymore? (Apart from wannabe metal bands - they don't count). While he may not play my favourite style of music (I'd rather listen to the music of The Edge, Satriani, or Van Halen), it's hard to find a better guitar player than him.
So Hendrix it is. His songs are full of intense riffing, and his solos are 7 times better. It is really, really, really, really, REALLY hard to topple that.
Songs to check out: Purple Haze, Angel, Little Wing, Castles of Sand, All Along the Watchtower, Foxy Lady.
Songs of his I can play: Need to get around to finishing "Purple Haze" off....
There's my top 15. Other notable exceptions listed below. It's super hard to shorten the list down to just 15...
John Butler - The Guitar Player From Tool - John Fruscinate - Pete Townsend - Keith Richards - BB King - Robert Johnson - Kurt Cobain -Matt Tuck & Michael Padget (Bullet For My Valentine) -Neil Young - Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) - Susan Tedesche - Randy Rhoads - Matt Hoopes (Relient K) - Steve Vai - Orianthi - Neal Schon (Journey) - Vito Bratta (White Lion)
And it was meant to be ten. But I don't know if I can nail it down to so few.
Anyway, here goes.
15. The Edge (U2)
I'm going to start the list with a guitar player which, according to a few people I know, should be nowhere near a list called "Top 15 Guitarists". I've found The Edge always causes a bit of controversy amongst my fellow guitar players: it could be because he's more of an "anti-guitar hero" than most players. But I like him, and his playing and how it contributes to U2's music as a whole has had a massive impact on both me and my guitar playing.
One of the reasons why I love listening to the Edge play is his tone is unbelievably good. He plays lots of different guitars through lots of different pedals and into some amps which are probably quite different. But you can always tell it's The Edge playing. He has a playing style which is very minimal - which could explain why lots of other guitar players despise him. But why would you need to play a million notes when you can make a few sound so good? His note placement, chord knowledge and use of pedals work well in his favor also. AND on top of all that, he's an amazing singer - check out his solo performance of "Love is Blindness" if you don't believe me!
Songs to check out: Where the Streets Have No Name, One, The Fly, Walk On, Miracle Drug, Magnificent.
Songs of his I can play: Seeing as U2 are probably one of my favourite bands, I love their guitar playing, and the songs aren't freakishly hard to learn, I know quite a few U2 songs already, including: Walk On, Stuck in A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, In A Little While, Vertigo, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and Sunday Bloody Sunday. It may seem like quite a few, but my aim is to learn at least one song from every U2 album! And seeing as they've got a TON of albums, this could take me awhile!!!
14. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
Like The Edge, Matt Bellamy's playing seemed incredible to me the first time I heard it in all it's glory. The first time I heard Muse was when their 2009 single Uprising, but apart from thinking the song was a little bit weird, didn't take much notice of either the band or the guitar playing. Then a few years later, a friend loaned me her copy of Muse's live CD/DVD compilation HAARP: Live at Wembley Stadium. And after watching the DVD from start to finish, I was hooked. Muse had this sweet blend of space rock and alternative which was heavily based around Bellamy's phenomenal playing and singing. As well as having this knack for writing and playing the catchiest, down-right rocking riffs ever, he can take his guitar up into the furtherest reaches of space with high warbling notes and plenty of effects. As well as that, he incorporates technology into his playing by using custom built guitars with knobs for turning up the gain or MIDI scratch pads which give him a whole new way to play guitar. His style of playing was weird, it was different, it was rocking, and above all, totally cool.
And on top of all that, he's got an amazing voice and can play the piano beautifully. What a legend - definitely one of today's finest musicians!
Songs to check out: Invincible, Supermassive Black Hole (Live Version), Plug in Baby, Stockholm Syndrome, Knights of Cydonia.
Songs of his I can play: Time is Running Out, Supermassive Black Hole.
13. George Harrison (The Beatles, Solo Artist)
As one of the "Fab Four", George Harrison was always going to go down in history, even before I put him on this list. I came to the Beatles as a bit of a latecomer, in fact only hearing a full song of theirs about two years ago. So as a result, they seem so new and amazing to me! George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the group, always seems a bit underrated when compared to the "superstars" Lennon and Mcartney. But he is every bit a superstar in his own right when it comes to the guitar. He has influenced so many others with his simple, yet effective, playing, and was definitely part of the sound of the Beatles. And he was also a great songwriter - I'd rate "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something" as two of the best Beatles songs ever! On top of all this, he helped introduce Eastern ideas and influences into Western Music, beginning with his use of sitar on the classic "Norwegian Wood".
Songs to check out: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Paperback Writer, Ticket To Ride, And Your Bird Can Sing, Something, The End, I Feel Fine.
Songs of his I can Play: I Feel Fine, Norwegian Wood.
12. Zachy Vengeance & Synster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)
I decided to put these two together seeing as a lot of their playing is based around each other. But of the two I'd probably prefer Zachy Vengeance... ok so officially he plays "rhythm" but he seems to do nearly as much lead work as Gates. And his guitar looks cooler too. But anyway, I digress...
My brother is addicted to Ax7. While I don't share the same fascination, as most of their music is not too my taste, I certainly have to admire the musical ability of the members of the band. Especially their two guitarists.
They are as metal as metal can be in spite of their singer using clean vocals most of the time. They can pull of some blisteringly fast solos that almost make my hands bleed just from watching it. And on the rare occasion when the music softens a bit, their playing is actually really nice and smooth. I'm not a huge fan of the band, but when I do listen to them, I always keep an ear out for the juicy guitar parts Gates & Vengeance will obligingly throw my way.
Songs to check out: M.I.A, Afterlife, Lost, Buried Alive, Critical Acclaim, Gunslinger, Dear God.
Songs of theirs that I can play: I started learning Dear God about nine months ago, and I haven't even got up to the solo yet...
11. Chuck Berry (Solo Artist)
Chuck Berry deserves to be on this list, as he was the first guitar hero of them all.
Back in the 50's, Chuck was one of a the big stars of a new type of music called rock 'n' roll. Chuck differed from all the other main performers as he wrote most of his own songs, and was one of the few successful African-American performers at the time (this was back before segregation was banished in the USA, and "blacks" were treated unfairly most of the time). Chuck Berry made it big with his hits and inspired hundreds to pick up the guitar. His riffs are clever and grooving, and his lead breaks are fast, inventive and note perfect. Chuck Berry played in a way that few have been able to imitate. No wonder he's one of the greats.
Songs to check out: Johnny B. Goode, Maybelline, Roll over Beethoven, You Can't Catch Me, School Days.
Songs of his I can play: I started learning Johnny B. Goode, but never got to the end of it. Those solos are tricky!!!
10. Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp & Solo Artist)
"Phil Who???!!!" is the reply I'd get if I told them this guy was one of my favourite guitar players EVER. I first came across this underrated gem of a player about a year ago in a book called "Best Guitar Players of All Time" (or something like that). Anyway, I liked what I read about Mr Keaggy, so I looked him up on the internet.
This guy is SO underrated. If the world was fair, he'd be as famous as some of the big names like Pete Townshend and Keith Richards. Yet despite his mad skills, Phil chooses to keep a low profile, playing the odd acoustic gig and releasing CDs which generally go under the radar. He was in a band called Glass Harp back in the 70s -80s, but left them soon after he quit drinking and found God. After that he was one of the pioneers of the early Christian Rock movement at the same time as his other, more famous contemporaries Keith Green and Petra. I am so humbled by this guys story, and how he forsook fame & fortune to follow God's call on his life. That in itself is more inspiring than his great playing.
Songs to check out: The Wind & The Wheat, Changes (Glass Harp) and Your Love Broke Thru (a song written by Keith Green, but rocked up by Keaggy)
Songs of his I know: None (yet).
9. Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin)
Jimmy Page, as well as forming one of the most famous bands in the world, Led Zepplin, is also a stunningly good guitar player. Of course everyone knows his classic Stairway to Heaven - one of the most famous and well known guitar songs ever. You can bet your bottom dollar that at least once a day in the world, someone in a will walk into a shop that sells guitar, pick up an axe, and try and pluck out the gentle intro to this song. Yet the rest of the song is filled with even BETTER guitar parts! I would love to see someone at least try to play the whole song.
Through his playing in Led Zep, which was actually mostly blues based, Page is credited as one of the founders of what today is known as hardcore/heavy metal. While there is a definite "heavy" sound to his playing, there is also a lovely bluesy twang which is evidence of his time in the British blues band The Yardbirds.
Plus he plays the mandolin too (The Battle of Waterloo) which just makes him instantly awesome.
Songs to Check out: Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lot of Love, oh and fine then, Stairway to Heaven.
Songs of his I can play: While I can play all of Heartbreaker and Whole Lot of Love, I am forced to draw the line at those solos. Most people would.
And no, I haven't learnt Stairway to Heaven yet. Mostly because it's been played almost to an overkill.
But if I do learn it, I'm learning the whole song!
8. Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Solo Artist)
Jack White is one of the few guitar heroes left to us in this day and age. He first came to my attention when his name kept popping up in books about famous guitarists. While his work with the White Stripes was awesome, I find myself more drawn to his work as a solo artist. He contributed to the latest James Bond film by having a song he did with Alica Keys as the intro, and more importantly, has recently released his solo album, Blunderbuss. I've listened to quite a few tracks now, and I'm very impressed. Have to buy this record at some point.
I love Jack White's playing, cos it's so punk! But at the same time, he can pull out an awesome slow ballard or even a blues driven song. His originality and variety, as well as the amazing sounds he pulls out of the Airline Guitars he favours, are what do it for me.
(Disclaimer: The reason he's above Page on this list is only because I enjoy his music more - not because he's a better guitarist. He's good, but not THAT good!)
Songs to check out: Ball & Chain, Seven Nation Army, I Fought Piranhas (The White Stripes), Steady as She Goes (The Raconteurs), Sixteen Saltines (Solo).
Songs of his I know how to play: Seven Nation Army - best guitar riff ever!! And super easy song, cos it's just that one riff played slightly differently lots of times!
7. Brian May (Queen, Solo Artist)
Brian May is a legend. Not only did he write incredible riffs, guitar solos, and songs for arguably the most famous band ever, Queen, but he did it all with a guitar he built himself. May's afro and The Red Special, custom-made guitar are only part of this great guitarists arsenal. He can play blistering fast scales, and heavy, glam-rock riffs. And he is freakishly hard to imitate!!!! As well as this, he composed hits such as "Tie Your Mother Down" and "We will Rock you". I don't really know much of his other work after Queen, but most recently he broke into the charts again as a featured guest of a rapper called Dappy. This is just another demonstration of his versatility as a musician!
Songs to check out: The guitar solos in Bohemian Rhapsody, the last 30 seconds of We Will Rock You,
the solo at the end of Rockstar by Dappy, Tie Your Mother Down, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, I Want It All.
Songs of his which I can play: The day I nail those solos in Bohemian Rhapsody will be a great day for me! But I'm getting close!
6. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
While Van Halen where one of the more famous bands of the 80s, I only properly listened to their music quite recently.
Of course, the name wasn't completely unknown to me: I'd read a bit about Van Halen, heard a bit of their music in the Back to the Future soundtrack, and found that the phenomenal guitar solo in Michael Jacksons smash hit "Beat It" was played by Eddie Van Halen, the guitarist of the group. Apparently he recorded it in one take. If THAT doesn't aptly describe his skills, I don't know what will!
Van Halen's music is pure, unfiltered 80s rock, right down to the use of synths and almost impossibly fast solos. This is the music I should have been listening to years ago - I love it!!!
Songs to check out: Icecream Man, Hot For Teacher, Eruption, Jump, Panama, Beat It (Michael Jackson).
Songs of his I can play: Almost all of Dance The Night Away!
5. Eric Clapton (Cream, Derek And The Dominoes, Solo Artist)
Eric Clapton is a dour-faced bluesman who, when playing, stands almost completely still, eyes closed and head down, fingering out licks on what has now become his signature guitar: a black Fender Stratocaster. All this paints a rather bland picture of normality which would generally look quite unappealing to me.
If it wasn't for the magic coming out of his fingers.
I first got into Clapton when taught his smash hit, Tears in Heaven. Three years later, and it's still one of my favourite pieces to play on an acoustic.
However it's only recently I discovered how much of a rich blues history he has. Clapton was born to play the blues, and he does it remarkably well. As a guitar player, his name will (and probably already has) gone down in history.
Songs to check out: Layla (Derek and the Dominoes), Crossroads (Live with Cream), White Room (Cream), Sweet Home Chicago, Tears in Heaven, and Layla (acoustic version).
Songs of his I can play: Tears in Heaven, Sweet Home Chicago, White Room, and 90% of Layla.
4. Slash (Guns N Roses, Solo Artist)
Slash is a monster on the guitar. Leaning back into the ultimate guitar pose (which he somehow makes look like a slouch), a cigarette dangling from his mouth (though not anymore, he recently quit smoking), and his Gibson Les Paul slung low, Slash is the epitomy of a rockstar. And he is also the guitar hero most average axemen like me dream of being.
His guitar playing was the basis of most of Guns N Roses great work. Although they're still going, I don't think they are and ever will be the same without him. After all, the only thing which they've got going for them now is Axl Rose's vocals, which I never found particularly great anyway. In fact, the main reason I listen to Guns N Roses, apart from the overall classic rock sound, is Slash's great guitar playing. His riffs are classic, and his solos the ultimate challenge! And he also helped popularize the Gibson Les Paul to the point that it's almost as popular as the Fender Strat, which is no mean feat. While I haven't heard much of his solo work, his guitar playing is still nothing short of brilliance.
Songs to check out: Sweet Child Of Mine, Paradise City, Patience, November Rain.
Songs of his I can play: I was learning Sweet Child O' Mine a while back, but stopped practicing it. Must get around to finding the tab for it again...
3. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
The other day, a friend from my music course was discussing Pink Floyd with me and he said "I reckon David Gilmour is one of the most underrated guitarists ever". And I was inclined to agree, which is why he's been placed in the third top from the spot.
Although my mum's a huge fan, I never heard much of the 'Floyd till I was looking around on Youtube one day and happened to stumble across a great song called "Shine on You Crazy Diamond". Which is pretty much a full ten minutes of awesomeness. It was a great song, and I quickly became a bit of a fan.
I heard a few of their other songs after that: Another Brick on the Wall, Wish You were Here, and a song called Money. But it was only recently when the addiction to Pink Floyd and Gilmour's playing became complete. I borrowed a great DVD from the UCOL library which documented the recording of their hit album "The Dark Side of the Moon".
Gilmour's playing, while having a lovely bluesy tone too it, is lost in space. And that's why I find it so compelling. He places each note carefully and tenderly, and it has the impact of hitting you like a landslide. Evidence of this is the first four notes in the middle section of Shine on You Crazy Diamond. Before I even heard the song, I read a quote in a book which said every one of those notes epitomized sadness. And then I listened to it, and had to agree. Those notes are beautiful.
And yet it's not all 4 note solos for David Gilmour. The solo in Money, when it kicks into 4/4 timing instead of the strange bluesy riff played in 7/8, it's nothing short of a full rock & roll outing. This is one guitarist who knows his stuff.
Songs to check out: Wish You Were Here, Money, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Us and Them, Another Brick in The Wall, the solo of Comfortably Numb.
Songs of his I can play: Almost four minutes of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. I think I'm doing quite well, considering how complex this song is!!!
2. Joe Satriani (Solo Artist)
Satriani is the guitarist which other guitarists listen to. He is without doubt the most inventive and excellent guitar player I have ever heard. The thing I love about his music is he doesn't just play a ton of scales over some chords. Nor does he try and show off with technical prowress, which is a thing some solo artists tend to do. No, Satriani is a true instrumentalist, and uses his guitar to tell stories. It's sort of hard to explain, but the most powerful of his songs deliver every bit of a strong message as a song with lyrics. Sometimes it's even stronger. He just puts SO much emotion into his playing, and crafts some very clever tunes indeed with it. The very first time I heard Always With Me, Always With You, I couldn't believe that something that beautiful and incredible could be combined to make such a coherent and amazing song. And to this day, I have yet to see anyone play the full song!
He's also a versatile player. Not only does he play haunting music, but hard rock, and even a dabbling of funk. In fact, one of his nicknames is Professor Satchafunkilus. And the fact that he does it all on Ibanez guitars, definitely not the best guitars on the market, makes it so much better. He is indeed a professor at his craft. Evidence of this is that he used to teach Steve Vai, another amazing instrumentalist who is also a virtuoso on the guitar.
Songs to check out: Rubina, Always with Me, Always with You, War, Andalusia, Summer Song, Satch Boogie, Flying In A Blue Dream,
Songs of his I can play: Still in the process of learning Rubina and Always With Me, Always With You. This could take me some time!!
1. Jimi Hendrix. (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
I feel kind of compelled to put Hendrix at the top spot. After all, he is placed there frequently by magazines, websites, and books. And the people writing them tend to know more than me usually.
Also, I know I'll get my head chopped off by some ardent fan/ Hendrix wannabe/ guitar know-it-all if I don't.
But, those facts aside, Jimi Hendrix IS a great guitarist.
The blues plays hard on Jimi, but he plays it even harder. And even though it was the late 60s, and the world was basically engulfed in psychedelic hippyness, he still manages to sound fresh and new. Even now, some fifty or so years later, people still try and figure out just HOW he sounded so good. If he was still alive today, Hendrix would be a superstar. He is the guitarist everyone seems to have heard of. Not only did he revolutionize playing styles with his use of the wah, he also was an incredible performer. Basically it was like some guy with the playing ability of Clapton and the stage presence of The Who. Except even then he was better than both. I mean, he lit his guitar on fire!!! Who does that anymore? (Apart from wannabe metal bands - they don't count). While he may not play my favourite style of music (I'd rather listen to the music of The Edge, Satriani, or Van Halen), it's hard to find a better guitar player than him.
So Hendrix it is. His songs are full of intense riffing, and his solos are 7 times better. It is really, really, really, really, REALLY hard to topple that.
Songs to check out: Purple Haze, Angel, Little Wing, Castles of Sand, All Along the Watchtower, Foxy Lady.
Songs of his I can play: Need to get around to finishing "Purple Haze" off....
There's my top 15. Other notable exceptions listed below. It's super hard to shorten the list down to just 15...
John Butler - The Guitar Player From Tool - John Fruscinate - Pete Townsend - Keith Richards - BB King - Robert Johnson - Kurt Cobain -Matt Tuck & Michael Padget (Bullet For My Valentine) -Neil Young - Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) - Susan Tedesche - Randy Rhoads - Matt Hoopes (Relient K) - Steve Vai - Orianthi - Neal Schon (Journey) - Vito Bratta (White Lion)
Monday, July 9, 2012
Adventures
Well.
Today was fairly uneventful.
I acted in part of a short film a friend has to make for an assessment at school for a couple of hours this afternoon, and then played my guitar for a few hours. I was meaning to practice reggae as that's the next genre we have to study at Ucol and I only know how to play one reggae song ("Always on my mind" by Tike Tane). I did a little bit, but after I breezed through Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" (minus the solo cos the tab had it in the wrong key), Six60's "Don't Forget Your Roots" and some random band called The Black Seeds "So True", I was getting just a little bit sick of the offbeat shuffle and the 2-4 chords which perpetrate most reggae songs and put down the guitar for the time being.
Apart from that, the rest of my day has been mostly consisted of reading...
Apart from that, the rest of my day has been mostly consisted of reading...
So at the time of writing my choices of how the next couple of hours are spent are fairly slim: a) read b) play guitar c) go on the internet d) play xbox e) watch the trash there is on TV (apart from Transformers 2 which I've already seen too many times), or f) read some more.
None of these appeal to me too much, as I've done far to many of them this last week already...
And seeing as I've just about exhausted my options of things to do at the moment, so it looks like I'm hitting the blogging for the evening.None of these appeal to me too much, as I've done far to many of them this last week already...
Enjoy,
Friday, July 6, 2012
10 Reasons why I like Holidays
1. Playing guitar with Nate.
Even though he sucks cos managed to almost nail a Bullet For My Valentine song which took me like three years to finally get!
Oh well at least I can play 'Forever and Always' better than him...
2. Ice Skating!!
It's pretty epic!
3. Longboarding around Palmerston for most of the weekend.
4. Chilling in Dannevirke while it's raining.
I'm not really much of a gamer to be honest, but my brothers have an Xbox and we "acquired" some extra remotes, so we've been gaming quite a bit lately. Once again, something I don't usually do but the wet weather has forced me to extreme measures haha. It's actually pretty fun. And we get way to into it which just makes things hilarious.
6. Having time to do nothing.
7. Learning new ways of playing guitar!
My mate from UCOL lent me a guitar magazine agggggeees ago but this last week has been the first chance I've had to have a proper look at it. I learnt a bit of Simon and Garfunkel, and then progressed onto a sweet article about finger-tapping on an acoustic. It sounds amazing!
8. Writing new music! OH YEAH!
9. Catching up with old friends! Well, hopefully anyway...
10. Watching Batman at 12.30 at night
...and getting amped up for The Dark Night Rises. So keen to see this when it hits cinemas in only just two weeks!!!!!
Oh yes, gotta love the holidays. It's so nice having a break.
What's your favourite holiday moments? Drop in a comment if you're passing through...
Even though he sucks cos managed to almost nail a Bullet For My Valentine song which took me like three years to finally get!
Oh well at least I can play 'Forever and Always' better than him...
2. Ice Skating!!
3. Longboarding around Palmerston for most of the weekend.
Man, I so want to get myself a longboard now! They're such fun to ride!
4. Chilling in Dannevirke while it's raining.
Although this could be considered a bad thing cause I'd usually get super bored, I don't mind it too much. Mostly because we took a trip to the library and I now have a small stack of books to sift through. I haven't done this much reading in ages! Haven't had enough time to I suppose. Either way, I've missed it a little bit. I used to be a mega bookworm back in the day, and even now I love divulging in a good novel (when I get the time).
5. Four-player HALO.
I'm not really much of a gamer to be honest, but my brothers have an Xbox and we "acquired" some extra remotes, so we've been gaming quite a bit lately. Once again, something I don't usually do but the wet weather has forced me to extreme measures haha. It's actually pretty fun. And we get way to into it which just makes things hilarious.
6. Having time to do nothing.
7. Learning new ways of playing guitar!
My mate from UCOL lent me a guitar magazine agggggeees ago but this last week has been the first chance I've had to have a proper look at it. I learnt a bit of Simon and Garfunkel, and then progressed onto a sweet article about finger-tapping on an acoustic. It sounds amazing!
8. Writing new music! OH YEAH!
9. Catching up with old friends! Well, hopefully anyway...
10. Watching Batman at 12.30 at night
...and getting amped up for The Dark Night Rises. So keen to see this when it hits cinemas in only just two weeks!!!!!
Oh yes, gotta love the holidays. It's so nice having a break.
What's your favourite holiday moments? Drop in a comment if you're passing through...
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Beautiful Music...
Genre: Post-rock/ Indie/ Ambient
Rating: 5/5
I feel kind of uneasy about starting off this review with a 5/5 review. After all, from what I know of reviews, that's the one thing you rarely ever see. Unless the artist in question has somehow created such a brilliant collection of music that the reviewer really, really enjoys.
Enter Sigur Rós.
Now I must point out that this Icelandic band is probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea. For instance, my brother, who mostly listens to metal these days, probably wouldn't be that into these guys. But for anyone who can just sit back and listen with an open mind and appreciate the beauty of music; then I can almost guarantee Sigur Rós is going to blow your mind.
As I sit and type, a little niggle in the back of my mind forces me to admit this is not the easiest of reviews to type. This is in part because this Icelandic band barely ever sings in the English language (or any discernible language for that matter). As there is a lack of understandable lyrics or even recognizable phrases, this album seems to lean more to being more of an immense, incredible soundtrack than a collection of short pieces of music. The other reason is because every song on this album is really long. The shortest track is just over five minutes, which in itself is a full minute over the length most pop songs. At first this confused me, because with only 8 'songs' I thought I was buying an EP or something. Thankfully not. Or at least, if anyone has the guts to call this an EP, it'll be the longest running one I'll have ever seen!
Yet while this change from the standard format of most albums these days might throw some people off, I found it one of the best things about this album. Both as individual pieces, and together as a whole, the songs off Valtari are absolutely incredible pieces of music.
The lack of discernable words, while somewhat disconcerting, also helps the listener relax and enjoy the music without focusing too much on what the words mean. And the music itself speaks volumes - as the band have created the most epic sonic landscape I've heard since listening to Pink Floyd. Like any good band, Sigur Ros exploit spaces in music to the full advantage.The first track on the album, Ég anda starts with a haunting violin and vocal and the music builds slowly until the singing finally starts at about 3.20 into the song. And that is great example of how the rest of the album flows, with the music and vocals are both very predominant, yet never overpowering
Although it's still early days yet, a few songs stand out. 'Dauðalogn' is also another great piece of music, starting off with the sounds of falling rain, and merging seamlessly into a lush, ethereal song which could almost put you to sleep. The title track 'Valtari' starts of sounding like an entire symphony mixed with a bunch of clicking noises which is then mixed with piano and drums to create an amazing instrumental. And then there is the final track 'Fjogur Piano', which could quite possibly be my favourite in the album if the rest of it wasn't so stunning. This song starts off played on one piano very slowly, and then another one is added a few bars ahead or behind of the first - I can't really tell. Either way it sounds incredible as it is both clashing with and contrasting with the first and it creates the most beautiful texture. Makes me want to learn piano even more, even if just to be able to play that one song. And when the violins come in, it almost makes you cry with how beautiful it all is.
This album never ceases to amaze me with its incredible contrasts. It is both extremely heady, and yet very relaxing. The music is filled with emotion, yet it is easily something you can just listen too without having to take to pieces. The singing is both confusing in that it lacks a discernible language and hauntingly beautiful simply because of that fact.
In a world full of musicians repeating the same tried-and-trued approach to music, it is refreshing and inspiring to come across a band this original and complex in it's ideas. And it is with that thought in mind that I come to the conclusion that I can never write a good enough review of this cd. Instead, all I ask is that you wait till sometime late at night, plug in some decent headphones, and listen to at least three tracks from this album in a row. The only real way to review Valtari is to have it playing in your ears.
And then leave a comment for me about what you think about Sigur Ros. Do you like what they're doing? How does their music make you feel? Is it your cup of tea?
Because personally, I'm already a huge fan.
Because personally, I'm already a huge fan.
Blessings,
Jordan
Monday, July 2, 2012
Late Nights and Early Parades...
I love doing this....
Just staying up late at night and listening to music.
It's almost strangely peaceful.
And after the busyness of the day, I just get to sit here and type.
And listen.
And type some more.
Music is just amazing how it can transport you to other places, and other lands. Ever since I was small, I've loved the feeling of travelling outside of yourself.
Now I know that sounds like some hippy statement, like I've been taking the wrong pills or something, but trust me, it's not really (and I haven't [and hopefully never will] been taking drugs!).
Travelling outside of yourself is just like going somewhere where you can't go. Basically it's just a fancy way of saying you let your imagination wander. And let it take you where it will...
I used to do it with books. Some people do it with art - there was a painting I saw today which really impacted on me. Somethings you can stare at for hours, and still find something new in every corner.
But lately, I've been doing it with music.
Specifically, the ethereal, haunting, sounds of an Icelandic band called Sigur Ros.
They are absolutely incredible...words can't really describe how beautiful their music is! However,I will give it a try eventually.
Expect an album review in the next couple of days!!
Until then, I will drift away to some more music before going to bed.
Goodnight world,
Jordan
Just staying up late at night and listening to music.
It's almost strangely peaceful.
And after the busyness of the day, I just get to sit here and type.
And listen.
And type some more.
Music is just amazing how it can transport you to other places, and other lands. Ever since I was small, I've loved the feeling of travelling outside of yourself.
Now I know that sounds like some hippy statement, like I've been taking the wrong pills or something, but trust me, it's not really (and I haven't [and hopefully never will] been taking drugs!).
Travelling outside of yourself is just like going somewhere where you can't go. Basically it's just a fancy way of saying you let your imagination wander. And let it take you where it will...
I used to do it with books. Some people do it with art - there was a painting I saw today which really impacted on me. Somethings you can stare at for hours, and still find something new in every corner.
But lately, I've been doing it with music.
Specifically, the ethereal, haunting, sounds of an Icelandic band called Sigur Ros.
They are absolutely incredible...words can't really describe how beautiful their music is! However,I will give it a try eventually.
Expect an album review in the next couple of days!!
Until then, I will drift away to some more music before going to bed.
Goodnight world,
Jordan
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