I thoroughly enjoyed writing the blog post where I recommended some albums that would benefit any person who wishes to listen to the whole thing from start to finish. Whilst you are free to consume music however you so wish, some albums lend themselves to a whole listening session better than others. That also means that, when taken out of context and played by itself, it does not have the same impact.
The albums I have chosen this week are not only contenders when you listen to the product as a whole, but each song is independent, with its impact remaining the same, regardless of how you listen to it.
(Pic credit : Rick Sokol)
Charles Roper - Desiderium
By the time that this blog post has been published, you will have missed that masterclass that Charles conducted for the American Guitar Academy at the Roppongi school. During the masterclass Charles played a selection of the songs from his 2024 release, Desiderium. I also spoke to Charles for a blog post that you can read here.
There are plenty of interesting harmonic choices, and more notes than anyone could hope to properly count. So if that is your kind of thing, then I suggest you go and listen to it! It is not all speed and crazy guitar techniques - there are a few quieter tracks too!
Charles Roper - Sunday Yeezys
There are many high points in the album, but the riff behind this track is one of the best for me. I also think the opening melody is very catchy which you seldom get from instrumental guitar music similar to these songs.
Peter Sprague - Peter Sprague Plays Cream
We have all been there, mindlessly scrolling on our phones or through websites like YouTube amongst many others. Soon or later, something catches your eye for whatever reason and you click on it - that is how I discovered the magic of Peter Sprague (I will mention the specific video later on!).
Peter is an experienced musician based in the US, who is seemingly as comfortable arranging or writing music, and engineering recording sessions as he is at playing the guitar. There have been many great tracks to have come out of his studio, some featuring him and some not. However, I believe his strengths lie in the heavily jazz influenced arrangements of popular songs that he creates. This particular one is a recent endeavor of his and pays homage to the music of Cream (the legendary power trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker).
Peter Sprague - Sunshine Of Your Love
Here is my pick from this album. The most endearing quality this song has, as well as his other offerings, is that it is not simply the normal song played with a jazzy drum beat or some extended chords - this is a legitimate jazz arrangement and more has been changed than it would first seem.
Peter Sprague - My Favorite Things
This is the video that I mentioned earlier on - just watch the whole thing and be amazed! There are some cool sounds layered on top of the regular guitar signal, but these are all played live with the help of different synthesizers and looping units - just check out all of the wires coming from his guitar!
Megadeth - Dystopia
Megadeth are, as I have explained in many blog posts, one of my favorite bands of all time. Perhaps infamously, there have been many line-up changes over the years, with the only true constant being front man Dave Mustaine himself. I think that each iteration of the band has brought something new, and every line up has one strong album under its belt. However, as is often the case with many large bands, the pressure to release a record supersedes the fact they might not have any good songs to present to the public. Whilst I do not think they have released any bad albums, they are complete stinkers when compared to releases such as Rust in Peace or Youthansia.
This album, released in 2016, is spectacular from start to finish. There are some brutal songs, more thoughtful and interesting passages and the signature Megadeth sound throughout.
Megadeth - Fatal Illusion
All too often you get immediately thrown into a crazy song, or the intro takes too long and any sense of anticipation gained in the build up is lost. This song balances it perfectly, then falls back again with an awesome bass riff.
I also have a personal connection with this song and it constitutes an interesting story. A few years ago, Megadeth were playing two nights at the Wembley Arena in London, so in celebration, the Megadeth Cyber Army (the fanclub) decided to put on a charity event at an establishment nearby. A Megadeth tribute band was playing at this show, and it was rumored that Megadeth themselves were going to show up… and they did! They borrowed the band's equipment and played ‘Fatal Illusion’ - it was a great evening!
The version I have linked above is an edited version, but the offensive language used in the full version is not too bad, so find it at your own risk .
Dio - The Last In Line
Dio is one of my favorite singers of all time, and I was very upset when he passed away due to illness in 2010. Perhaps he was not the most technically proficient vocalist, but he had such a power behind his voice and a level of control that one could only hope to achieve. This song is, naturally, completely covered with his vocals which is not a bad thing. However, the guitar playing courtesy of Vivian Campbell was simply brilliant.
Dio - The Last in Line
Although the music video for this song is a bit strange, the song is awesome. I have no idea how one person could summon as much power with just their voice as Ronnie James Dio did in that big roar after the quiet intro. Sublime! This is the title track of the album, and you can see why!
Aerosmith - Get a Grip
Although I am sad that Aerosmith recently called it a day, I am glad that I was first introduced to them by my mother when I was only young. Some of my earliest memories are of hearing these songs, so I have almost grown with them - they are a comfort song if you will. Only since I became a serious musician did I start to appreciate what is going on musically too!
Aerosmith - Amazing
My favorite song from this album is ‘Amazing’ - a tune that truly lives up to its name. I have chosen this one to highlight for the following reasons:
The guitar parts are perfectly crafted with thought and precision. Everything that you hear is exactly what the song needs at the point in time both rhythm wise (Brad Whitford) and lead guitar (Joe Perry),
The lyrics and harmonies are pleasing for both their musical attributes and emotional content,
It has one of the best rock song arrangements that I have ever heard.
Final Thoughts
I try to make each of these choices as different as I can, and perhaps it goes some way to help me express my musical tastes. If you do not like these albums, great! It means you have your own opinion and you can seek out things you do like.
One thing that I often find myself doing, is listening to specific songs to reflect the mood that I find myself in at any given time. If I am angry (which is not very often!) then it will probably be Megadeth, and if I’m relaxed or need to calm my nerves for whatever reason, some like Peter Sprague’s work would be perfect. Sometimes you are going to be in a silly mood, so go and listen to something that will make you laugh!
It is important to try and develop your own voice, regardless of what instrument you play. I believe that every teacher from the American Guitar Academy has a unique voice, and that is partly due to the varied styles they listened to in their formative years - like I suggested in the last album recommendation blog post, go and ask your teacher what they would recommend!
Alex
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