60 Minutes...with Me!

Whenever I bought a new issue of Guitar World, I always looked forward to the section called "60 Minutes: 'The Hour of Music that Rocks my World.'"

In it, a famous guitarist would select about 10-12 songs that have inspired or deeply affected them, then they would describe why they selected each song. Even if it’s from a guitarist I don’t know or care for, I liked to read it because it offered some insight into music or the song and it would inspire me to check out new music.

I was thinking recently about what songs have inspired or influenced me, and figured hey, I’ll write it out and put it here. I made a list of about 20 songs and it took me a while to narrow it down, but here they are (click on song name for link to the song):

“Hell’s Bells”
AC/DC
Back in Black, 1980

When I was 16, my friends were getting into guitar, but I wasn’t as into it as they were. One night, I found a cassette of AC/DC’s Back in Black. Hmm, these guys are supposed to be good, I thought, so I gave it a listen that night. The next day, I went up to the best guitarist of my friends and said ‘Teach me this song.’ I just love the intro, how it builds up to the full band playing to the ominous riff; then the raspy vocals come in singing these bravado lyrics. Two years later, for my first public performance, I played this song.

“The Shortest Straw”
Metallica
...And Justice For all, 1988

Metallica was kind of the next step in my guitar-playing. It was more complicated than the open-chord based riffs and 4/4 time signature of AC/DC. Solos were more difficult too. It was hard to pick one song by this band, but I chose this. It has one of meanest riffs ever. I like the strumming pattern of the verse and chorus riffs, and the lyrical structure (three lines, then one word). I consider this to be Kirk’s most technically-challenging solo. It requires a variety of techniques. I still can’t get it down.

“Undun”
The Guess Who
Canned Wheat, 1969

I first heard this song when my dad watched a VHS tape of the band playing live. It’s a cool song, very laid-back with its jazzy chords and vocals. Burton Cummings is so underrated as a musician. I love his flute solo in this.

“No Shelter”
Rage Against the Machine
Godzilla Soundtrack, 1998

I’ve always liked this band for its infectious grooves and riffs, and this song encompasses that. Tom Morello’s whole Whammy Pedal-effects thing is a little schtick-y, I think, but it works and has helped define the band’s sound. Meanwhile, Zach’s rap vocals fit right in. Although I don’t particularly care for his political stance, I always thought he wrote intelligent lyrics.

“Pretty Girl”
John Rodrique
Unreleased, performed 1988?

I wrote about this song here, which pretty much sums up my feelings on it. Still brings back a lot of memories and stirs some emotions.

“Hummel Gets the Rockets”
Hans Zimmer
The Rock Soundtrack, 1996

The Rock is one of my favourite movies, and the score is a huge reason why. This track featured in the opening six minutes of the film and has two themes: first, during the opening sequence when General Hummel decides on the mission; then the badass theme when the Marines are infiltrating the base. It sounds very cool. I have it on my mp3 player.

“Hotel California”
The Eagles
Hotel California, 1976

This song also brings back a lot of memories, as my parents listened to this a lot. The lyrics evoke a lot of images – the desert road, the hotel corridor, girls dancing. The solo is one of my all-time favourites. When learning about music theory and scales, this was the first solo I dissected, seeing how the notes related to the chords underneath (I remember doing this in physics class haha). I also performed this song, and I think I did a good job.

“Estranged”
Guns ‘N Roses
Use Your Illusion II, 1991

This band is known for its dirty rock sound, but they’re so underrated as musicians. Along with “November Rain,” this song revealed their musical abilities are beyond rock stuff. The song is so epic, just the way it’s arranged and orchestrated. No instrument is overbearing. And Slash showcases his melodic playing here. His bends and note selection are so taste. This song is their masterpiece.

“East Hastings”
God Speed! You Black Emperor
F♯A♯∞, 1997

This is another band with great orchestration. The song is slow, but it's still captivating with the sombre guitar melodies and the cellos and violins that come in. Slowly, it intensifies and builds up to a crescendo that climaxes at the 12:00 mark. So awesome, I love it.

"Since I've Been Loving You"
Led Zeppelin
How the West Was Won, 2003

While I like the studio version (from Led Zeppelin III) of this minor-blues song, the live version is much more raw and intense. Guitarist Jimmy Page improvises more, and the interplay between him and Robert Plant during the verse is fun. Page expands on the opening solo, and the main solo is just so passionate. I get chills. The breakdown before the song's end is also pretty intense.

“2 Become 1”
Spice Girls
Spice, 1996

Every guitarist usually put a guilty pleasure. Here is mine. I like a lot of its elements: the backing track, the mood, the beat, and how each member has their own section to sing. I especially like Emma’s pre-chorus part. (Yes, I know their names. My sister worshipped the band back then, OK?)

“Tornado of Souls”
Megadeth
Rust in Peace, 1990

It was hard to pick a song on this album, let alone any Megadeth song, but I picked this song for several reasons. The intro is one of the most innovative – natural harmonics? Actually, I would describe the whole album as innovative, with its finger-tangling riffs and passages. Mustaine is known for his single-note riffs but he comes up with some the most interesting chord-progressions. It’s exciting to solo over in a jam session. So many possibilities. That said, the solo on this is my favourite of all-time. Marty Friedman claims he winged it, but it sounds just too good. His notes just fit so well with the chord played underneath. And the climax gets me every time. It sounds so amazing.

Been a while

More than two months, actually. Terrible. I have no excuse, really. Now I need to get back into a routine.

Some updates from previous posts:

• I went to the AC/DC show on Jan. 9. Fucking amazing. When they came onstage, I was like 'omg there's Angus in the flesh'. The place rumbled during the the first audience chorus chant during Dirty Deeds (I'm serious, the concrete floor felt rubbery for a second). They did all the things I expected, in terms of stage props and the trademark Angus antics. And yes, it was LOUD. Overall, awesome and unforgettable experience.
  

• In my video game post, I mentioned the game, Dead Space. Well, I beat it and was a bit disappointed in the ending. It was predictable and the story got kinda dumb; the sci-fi story turned out to have a huge religious aspect (not of Earth's, but still). And after the fifth level, the gameplay got repetitive. What kept me going was the suspense, mostly by how the story was told through audio logs recorded by crew members that are found throughout the levels.

• I still haven't finished Through Black Spruce! I went to Moosonee last month and brought the book along, and I forgot it when I came back but I have it now. I will finish it though and provide a review.

That's it for now, I guess. More posts will follow. I swear.