MrMikeV wrote:Stephen is a wise individual. You can read it in his post.
I pointed out blue powder before I even read your post(honestly).
I see your comments about the edge (u2) and respect your opinion based on the wisdom in your post.
I don't see any harm in trying to come to some sort of consensus on "who is the best". I think it would have to be someone who was popular on the radio, popular with guitarists, and took art of playing guitar and added something to it that changed it for everyone.
I would just like to point out that Eric Clapton would get my vote for "worste guitarist ever" based on how overrated he is. The edge would win a close second for me.
Good call with the Blue Powder reference! That's definitely a Vai classic that no one should miss. About U2's guitarist: I haven't listened to them much past their greatest hits, so as per their older hits, I've found his writing and sense of note choice to have a good bit of feel, personally. I like the mood he creates with his chords and the mix of delay, etc. Sure, he's not a technically complex guitarist by any means but... I don’t know... I've really changed my perception of what's tolerable for me as a listener. I definitely find value in things these days that I would've scoffed at a few years ago. A prime example for you is I've gone from listening to ONLY Metallica, Megadeth and Pantera to listening to everything from Sting and Seal to Meshuggah and everything in between, lol. I must say that I have the least level of tolerance with listening to power metal, punk, country and most rap these days, though but that's neither here nor there. I just wish some people would give more music a try sometimes, you know? I really feel like people hinder themselves by limiting what they find enjoyable!! I used to be the same way, so I'm speaking from the perspective of having to learn to have an open mind. I'm generally stating that, by the way. I'm not referring to anyone in particular right now.
Yeah, I can see the fun in it for some people to discern "the greatest" within any genre of music or type of musical instrument and I often forget that there are many, many people whose musical vocabulary isn't as open or broad as the one I feel privileged to be open to. Here again, I used to have a favorite and I used to think there was a greatest. You know who that was for me? Kirk Hammet.
It was when I first started playing and I just thought he was the greatest guitarist ever. At some point, I came across Yngwie Malmsteen and I remember sitting there wondering how in the world someone could play a guitar like that. I was more confused than anything, lol.
But yes, getting back to the point of discussion, I, personally, can't pick a greatest and to be honest, I also can't pick a worst! I totally understand what you're saying about overrated guitarists, though... there are plenty of them and I could absolutely sit here with you and probably agree on a large number of guitarists who are overrated but once again, with the general consensus feeling that the people we feel are overrated are actually amazing, one such as us can't help but sit back and wonder if we're actually the ones missing the boat on something where that musician is concerned, lol. You know what I mean? It's just all relative but nothing (figuratively speaking) pisses me off more than Joe Schmoe with his snide remarks and matter-of-fact opinions coming in and berating someone who likes a musician that they don't. Classy opinions and valid reasons for not liking a musician go over a LOT better than "oh, they suck giant balls," you know? Much like how you did, Mike. You presented your opinions with more substance and that's what I think debates such as these should be about.
Anyone with one-liners should have their opinions null and voided, I think. lol. All they're good for is upsetting people because, hey... let's face it; we're going to defend the music we love. I don't think a lot of people realize exactly WHY they get so offended but just think of it in these terms: If you love music in ANY capacity, when you're walking around and doing something, you're probably thinking of music subconsciously (you don't know you are, basically, but you are). The music you love and the songs that get stuck in your head, sometimes, we make emotional connections to songs. We listen to certain things when we are happy and we listen to certain things when we are sad. Sometimes, the things we listen to are stress relief or we just listen to music just to listen to it. Regardless, what we listen to... the music we love... we tie it all in with life experiences and sometimes we build memories that tie to songs. You know, "when I hear this song, I think about yadda, yadda, yadda."
If there's a musician you love and you find value in their music, you're allowing that music and musician into your life. The most deeply rooted feelings and thoughts; you find ways to relate to the music you listen to. So, when someone comes around and they say "such and such SUCKS," they're basically offending you and telling you that you suck. Everything you think and feel and have invested in the feelings and emotions of the music from that artist is suddenly being insulted by this random person who you have NO emotional link to, so it's almost as if someone is just randomly knocking on your door and telling you that you are a lesser human being than them. Your experiences and the music you listen to doesn't matter but it clearly matters to you, so what are you going to do? You're going to get upset and defensive about it.
Now, on the surface, we think "I LOVE this band!" and that's pretty much what we defend but I believe it's much deeper than that. I believe there are issues that need to be addressed with WHY we get so defensive and how people with brash opinions are essentially inconsiderate as hell and are incredibly selfish individuals. Anyway, the aforementioned is merely personal opinion. I have an affinity for music in which I've only found VERY few people who share the same level of thought but I'd really like to put it out there for people to try to understand more exactly WHY they like what they like and WHY they get so defensive and upset when someone puts down a band they love!
Did any of that make sense or am I just type-type-typing away for no reason? lol. Please let the debating commence...
-Stephen