Favorite Guitarist

I think I'm going to make a podcast about this tonight. I like the verbal platform right now much more compared to blogging like this. I feel like this way is a little stale, a little more serious in script versus just talking about it. I'm still going to post this blog though because it's a great way to avoid responsibility at work before the weekend.

This blog entry was originally favorite guitaristS, but I'll save that for the podcast and keep this simple. 

Greg Edwards 
(Failure, Replicants, Lusk, Autolux)

    Greg was an easy first pick for me. Everything from the inimitable tone, chord progressions, to the stage presence - Greg has consistently blown me away. The biggest thing for me was the stone face, zoned out looks Greg always seems to have live. He seems to be so strictly focused on his playing and the atmospheres around him to even realize he's on stage. That or he's just bored out of his fucking mind. Either way, pretty cool right?

 

     The whole "rock star" guitarist look and ego was always the biggest turn off for me. Seeing a guitarist with sunglasses on while his hair blows in the wind, while he just "shreds" over top of the rest of the cheesy music? Snooze fest. Technicality is important, but I realize the older I get I definitely gravitate towards musicians who are technical in their tones and music arrangements, rather than the actual notes they're playing.

What makes for a good song? That obviously depends on the listener. To me, it has to immediately grab my attention. There are millions of varieties to make me not want to hit skip. For it to last, it needs to be a well written, catchy song. Greg writes parts that are always catchy, but have a unique twist to them. Basically, he writes a pretty normal pop song but adds elements of noise, looping, or layers that typical pop songs trim out.

I said I'd keep it short, so expect the verbal version of this to be extra long.

-Novak

SHIT I LIKE LATELY

- Woods

New Slowdive!

Slowdive- Self Titled

To be honest, I'm always a little intimidated in a way to review such a personally important band. This is a band that really exercises my imagination. Words fail to explain what a really incredible soundscape can. Wait a minute.. So why do I have a music blog? Fuck.

For me personally, bands like Slowdive helped pioneer the sound that takes me to a place that go way further than just some musicians playing in a room or on a stage. It's easy to explain the guitar tones, who played what, and whatever else you'll find in other reviews, but just like a really good book - you're generally left with your own interpretation of themes, faces of characters, and overall feel of the story. If given enough clues in that book, you're off to an enchanted world, rich with full details.This band does just that. The dreamlike atmospheres take you outside of the band world and float you off somewhere where your imagination takes the wheel.

When I think of what musicians draw from other bands, I always imagine a painter holding this massive palette of colors he uses. In most cases, primary colors get used quite a bit in different amounts to make other colors. Slowdive to me is a primary color band for me. A band and style of music so often on my shoulder guiding me through the writing process of songs, whether I am listening to them currently or not. I'm so glad they're still making music.

-Novak