Saturday, August 27, 2011

Great Albums (Hejira/Joni Mitchell)

Year : 1976

Almost entirely written during a road trip across the US, "Hejira" is easily Mitchell's most experimental album, with songs that touch upon a range of subjects and emotions. It is also her most cohesive album, with song after song merging effortlessly. Her soft guitar hooks and Pastorius' bass coalesce beautifully in songs like "Coyote", "Hejira" and "Black Crow". Fellow folkster Neil Young pitches in with a harmonica cameo in "Furry Sings The Blues".

Personal Picks : It's a short album. I recommend listening to it in its entirety. 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Great Albums (Purpendicular/Deep Purple)

Year : 1996

There isn't a subgenre of rock music that Deep Purple haven't contributed to. In a career spanning over three decades (barring an 8-year hiatus somewhere along the way) they've dabbled in rock n' roll, heavy metal, progressive rock, funk and even soul. "Purpendicular" summarises this diversity brilliantly, with twelve powerful songs featuring stellar performances by (then) newly recruited guitarist Steve Morse and of course, organist John Lord (who, together with Rick Wakeman of Yes and Rick Wright of Pink Floyd, form the holy trinity of British rock keyboardists).

Personal Picks : The guitar-laden "Vavoom: Ted The Mechanic", Roger Glover's great bass playing and Ian Gillan's vocals in "Loosen My Strings", the keyboards in "A Touch Away" and drummer Ian Paice's cowbell-ridden grooves in "Somebody Stole My Guitar".

Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Guitar Solo

My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama/Mothers Of Invention  (Outro. Zappa's classic was later covered by G3, the famous convergence of guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson.)

Calling Elvis/Dire Straits  (Outro, as with most of their songs.)

You Shook Me All Night Long/AC/DC  (Before the final chorus.)



Take Aim/Kasabian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQK86UrPL08

I don't listen to this genre enough.