snap judgement saturday

[dr_memory]

(With apologies to Dr. Berube, whose “Arbitrary but Fun Friday” schtick I am mercilessly appropriating.)

Your snap-judgment question for the weekend is:

What is the best guitar solo in a rock song that is not by someone who’s last name is Hendrix, Page or Clapton?

My answer: Kim Thayil’s amazing breakdown in the middle of Soundgarden’s “Like Suicide

Comments

[tssandwich]

Top 5 of the moment:

1. Baby's on Fire, Brian Eno, 1974, solo by Robert Fripp. Another example of Brian Eno's genius as a producer-- Fripp has never, ever, played anything nearly this good in King Crimson. And I like King Crimson.

2. Don't Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult, 1976, solo by Don "Buck Dharma" Roeser. So fantastic that it's become a metal cliche, with the so-gothic harmonic minor runs and tremolo picking.

3. Muffin Man, Frank Zappa/Captain Beefheart, 1975, solo by Frank Zappa. A ridiculous, slick, almost trivial song. And then the guitarist spontaneously combusts.

4. A tie-- Maggot Brain, Funkadelic, 1971, solo by Eddie Hazel. Maybe the greatest thing ever done with just a blues scale. Super Stupid, Funkadelic, 1971, solo by Eddie Hazel. Out-Hendrixs Hendrix. They're on the same album, and I could pick either, depending on my mood. So I pick both.

5. Blank Generation, 1977, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, solo by Robert Quine. It's outside, and the rhythm sounds like he's falling down the steps, but it works. My hero. Tax lawyer turned pro musician. :)

(Two bonus tracks just because I feel like it:
Chris Poland, once upon a time from Megadeth, before he got thrown out for doing more drugs than Dave Mustaine, screwing around in a TV studio with unbelievable tone and taste.

Shawn Lane, maybe the most terrifying shredder ever, and totally pigeonholed for that reason, shows he could play slowly and with emotion.)

[tssandwich]

And I'll complain that nobody has posted Patto's "Money Bag" to the web, anywhere I can find, so I had to leave out Ollie Halsall.

[dr_memory]

I was figuring you'd have some good suggestions. :)

And lordy -- thank you for reminding me about 'Maggot Brain'. If I recall correctly, we both heard that track for the first time together, wandering through the South Street Tower Records at some point close to closing time...

[dr_memory]

...and the phrase "doing more drugs than Dave Mustaine" is one that should make even the most stout-hearted among us quail.