Axe Factor Top Guitarists

My favourite guitarist is Albert Lee - I was listening to Chas n Dave Live at Abbey Road and the guitar work is stunning. I always liked Albert in his Heads, Hands and Feet days, but his work with C&D inspired me to buy 4 of his albums; the guy is unbelievably good.

I also love Nick Drake's guitar playing and, of course, Freddie Philips, Robert Johnson, Richard Thompson, Frank Zappa, Syd Barrett, John Fogerty and many of the other greats mentioned in this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
and many of the other greats mentioned in this thread.

SRV and BB King comes to mind.

Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, but his recorded work is amateurish. His records sound like they were made in his garage and his inane lyrics just add to the impression he's something of a fake. It's just pastiche, which is frustrating given his talent. Daft love songs about his MG, idiotic stuff about an old mate who's pissed him off etc.

He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, ......He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

I saw him live in a small theatre setting a couple of years ago, with Danny Thompson on bass, a drummer, and a multi-instrumentalist. For four old codgers they put on a very creditable show, the songs may be very personal but he delivers them with gusto, nothing showbiz or going through the motions at all & he does have an amusing way with audience partisipation / hecklers. Danny T was playing a heavily amplified acustic bass which gave a fairly realistic impression of what it feels like to be in the proximity of an earthquake - quite astonishing.

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, but his recorded work is amateurish. His records sound like they were made in his garage and his inane lyrics just add to the impression he's something of a fake. It's just pastiche, which is frustrating given his talent. Daft love songs about his MG, idiotic stuff about an old mate who's pissed him off etc.

He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

Ha, I like a laugh!

.

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, but his recorded work is amateurish. His records sound like they were made in his garage and his inane lyrics just add to the impression he's something of a fake. It's just pastiche, which is frustrating given his talent. Daft love songs about his MG, idiotic stuff about an old mate who's pissed him off etc.



He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

Your name Tommy?

Just checked your posts. Do you actually listen to any music? You don't seem to have let us know what you do approve of.

"Having no propensity for making music at all, I'm just in awe of someone like that, who could probably pick up a dead cat and get a tune out of it." Obviously Warren Ellis is OK?

Yikes.

Only Hammett and slash could make that list for me.

I'd certainly add John Butler in that list.

That cannot be a serious list. "top" at what???

Frusciante is interesting and has a nice tone at times. But #1????? Seriously?

Even exclusively considering Pop music, most of that list isn't in my top 20.

Where is Johnny Marr? Buckethead? Larry LaLonde? COME ON!!!

That is just a couple on pop side of things that kill everyone on that list. The EDGE???? really?

I wont even mention Robert Quine, Marc Ribot, Thorendaal!!!!!!

Man I dont have my thumb on the pulse of the pop music world.

quote:

Originally posted by DIB:

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, but his recorded work is amateurish. His records sound like they were made in his garage and his inane lyrics just add to the impression he's something of a fake. It's just pastiche, which is frustrating given his talent. Daft love songs about his MG, idiotic stuff about an old mate who's pissed him off etc.

He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

Ha, I like a laugh!

.

Well, I can see why a guitarist would admire him; but his songs are RISIBLE, and his albums sound like they're recorded on a Fostex 4 track in his mate's garage with his brother's uncle on drums.

That list would tend to explain why nearly all the guitarists featured on the BBC4 'Guitar Heroes at the BBC' have been from the 70's.

Must agree with Premmyboy, Robert Fripp is amazing. Maybe also a nod to Adrian Belew.

Good also to see John Squire in the list, saw his band at T in the Park a few years ago, and his playing was a real treat.

Surprised Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction and a very brief stint with the Chili Peppers was not mentioned, very showy, but then compared to some of the 'frets by numbers' players in that list, why not?

I have a soft spot of Peter Buck's playing, basically a solid rhythm player, but the feel of some of his solos are really good (e.g. 'Country Feedback' from 'Road Movie'), but definitely no Jimmy Page.

Also Mike McCready from Pearl Jam is a solid player, and well above many mentioned in the list, but compared with the greats of the 70's, nothing that special.

Has anyone here seen Bill Bailey's impression of The Edge with a failure of his echo units? Very good, and pretty much sums up U2 for me.

Perhaps the list is most interesting to make me realise why the most important music for me from the last 20 years has been electronic. And frankly from that scene Karl Hyde (Underworld) is a better lead player than many mentioned in that list (Parc, Jumbo Improv, perhaps that is why Debbie Harry asked him to play lead on one of her solo tours).

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:

quote:

Originally posted by DIB:

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
Richard Thompson is a very fine guitarist, but his recorded work is amateurish. His records sound like they were made in his garage and his inane lyrics just add to the impression he's something of a fake. It's just pastiche, which is frustrating given his talent. Daft love songs about his MG, idiotic stuff about an old mate who's pissed him off etc.

He makes me unhappy because he's obviously talented and seems a generally agreeable fellow; but his music is crap.

Ha, I like a laugh!

.

Well, I can see why a guitarist would admire him; but his songs are RISIBLE, and his albums sound like they're recorded on a Fostex 4 track in his mate's garage with his brother's uncle on drums.

Ha ha, still laughing!


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The only one on this list that I like is Thurston Moore. Where's Johnny Thunders, Tom Verlaine, Lenny Kaye, Lou Reed?