Bottom Of The Barrel

My top guitar solo's (Part 1)

The basic building blocks of a classic rock song includes a first set of lyrics followed by a chorus. Next comes a second lyric set with the expected chorus a second time around. Then comes the bridge from the middle to the end of the song via the infamous guitar solo. Here are come of my favorite guitar shredding solos:

All-Time Favorite Solo

Jimmy Page is considered by some, me included, to be one of the best guitarist ever to lay down a riff and Heartbreaker is the quintessential guitar driven Zeppelin track. The mid song solo breaks the song to a dead stop and while it - and in this case it is a true solo - starts slow and builds to a full band jam leading right back to the back end of the song. Classic.

Best Old School Solo

When the Kinks released You Really Got Me in 1964, it became an instant classic and has been called by some to be the blueprint for rock music that came after it's release. It is the first hit song built around the power cords and features a raspy solo, based on the song Louie Louie, which launched the band. Ironically, the same song helped launch Van Halen some 14 years later.

Best Non-Vocal "solo"

Technically Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover is all solo since there are no lyrics but this track is simply 4+ minutes of Johnson weaving a simple riff with solo breaks. A close second is Eruption by Van Halen which drop into You Really Got Me Now see Best Old School Solo above. I also have to mention Joe Satriani's Surfing with the Alien because he all music songs are driving and really get your pulse going.

Best Guest Solo For A Non-Rocker

In his meteoric rise to fame during the Thriller days, Michael Jackson was producing hits all over the place in nearly every genre available at the time. The rockingest track he created back in the day was Beat It which featured a searing solo provided by none other then Eddie Van Halen.

Best Acoustic Solo

Days Of The New was one those bands that emerged from the mid-90's alt rock scene. Although they had limited success, their generally acoustic sound made them different then the rest of the artist around back then. Touch, Peel And Stand is by far their biggest hit and it features a delicious acoustic driven solo that makes me wish I could play the guitar.

Favorite Solo On A New Santana Song

I love what Santana has done over his past few albums finding ways to reach a new audience while staying true to his Latin roots. My favorite pairs have been with Chad Kroeger and on Into The Night, Santana shreds so much it sounds like his guitar just actually melt. A close second is Why Don't You & I, which is lyrically superior and nearly as solotastic.

Best Solo From That Song

You know those songs, the ones you know but don't know their name. Crossroads is one of those songs which features Eric Clapton ripping up his guitar for what seems forever. Nicknamed The Slow Hand, you can see why Clapton has always been looked up in the guitar world.

Best Reverse Solo

When you listen to the song Loser by 3 Doors Down, it it begins with this enticing and simple riff that runs the length of the song and really draws you into the lyrics. But about 2 minutes and 30 seconds later 3DD drops into an all out rock solo that completely blows the vibe and tempo wide open. Only to return to the softer melody with an additional toned down solo. The change of pace is just awesome.

Coming tomorrow, part 2...

Labels: Music

posted by TheWino @ 8:49 AM