Stevie Ray Vaughan (live stuff) - There's a difference between catchy guitar playing, good songwriting, musical talent, and playing talent. Many musicians have one, maybe two of these qualities. The late, great SRV had all of 'em. Watch a clip of him live, and you'll lose respect for most of the musicians you'll ever see again. Rush (live stuff, particularly Freewill) - Three of the greatest musicians of all time are able to show their abilities much more during live performances. Freewill stands out because (in the bridge, after 2nd refrain) Geddy hooks an awesome and difficult baseline, Alex starts in with his excellent guitarwork, and Neil Peart... well... fugetaboutit. Nothing is better. nine inch nails (particularly the download spiral) - Through a mix of analog, electronic, and digital equipment, Trent Reznor achieves phenomenal deliverance of emotional movement. Thick and thin, melodic and noisy, he delivers feeling not just with music, but with sound (including music, natural sounds, noise, digitally generated sound, digitally manipualted sound). In this sense, NIN is completely in a class by itself. -- droxford
Freshman year at UT-Austin, September 1979. My first weekend in Austin. I had moved into the Contessa dorm, and that Sunday, I decided to go out and see some music since school wasn't starting for another few days. Walked down Nueces to 29th street and walked into a place called the Rome Inn (closed a long time ago). I paid $2 to get in. 75 cents a beer. Watched SRV and Double Trouble play until 2AM. No more than 20 people in the place the entire night. I was so intimidated by SRVs playing that I put my guitars in my dorm closet and cracked the books hard. Saw him another 30 times or so, and even got, ahem, inebriated with SRV on the old upstairs patio at Fitzgerald's after one of his shows in 1981. I have a poster from that show framed and hanging in my house. My only regret is that the last time I saw SRV live was in 1986, which means I never got to see him after he sobered up and went from being a fantastic guitar player to a freaking MONSTER guitar player. SRV, rest in peace. I'll always cherish the music and the memories.
Since I'm into lyrics, I'm most impressed by Kris Kristofferson, self-titled 1st album, anything by Townes Van Zant, Iris Dement's lyrics and phrasing on My Life especially Willie's phrasing and guitar work especially on Stardust I've always liked Mickey Raphael, Willie's Harmonica player. John Prine Lyrics, especially sam stone. Bill Monroe and all of the past and present bluegrass boys, especially on Raw Hide ..... Awesome!! Alison Krauss's singing on her first two Albums, Two Highways and Too Late to Cry .... great albums
"Big Trouble" by David Lee Roth. Vai is amazing and the Bass playing by Sheehan and drumming by Bissionette rocks as well. Mr. Scary by George Lynch-this dark instrumental is killer Paul Gilberts stuff when he was with Racer X Satriani on Surfing with the Alien Peart's Drumming on almost anything Eric Johnson Cliffs of Dover
