Seven 9s and 10s

River - Izzy Stradlin
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Track:
River

Artist:
Izzy Stradlin

Album:
River

52 plays

ronbailey:

The usual suspects? Maybe, maybe not. This song is offered as proof of my theory that Izzy Stradlin was the only part of Guns N’ Roses that really mattered. Slash’s lead guitar chops were nice enough, but guitar players are a dime-a-dozen. Izzy knew how to write a hook. Were there any justice in this world, this song would have been a huge hit.

I’ve never been shy about throwing around my love for Izzy - the man was responsible for many of GNR’s hits - but you’re out of line by lumping Slash into the “dime-a-dozen” pile. Slash is one of the 5 best rock guitarists in history - possessing both the chops and the persona necessary to be a long-lasting icon; you don’t see anyone asking Mick Mars to play with them at the Super Bowl or be featured in a video game.

Anyway, good song.

steelopus:

Guns N’ Roses - Don’t Cry

Not only is it one of my favorite GN’R songs, but it’s also one of my favorite videos of all time.  This video has it all:

  • An incredible display of bad acting from Axl.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot in a wife beater holding a 9mm.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot underwater.
  • “WHERE’S IZZY”
  • WHOA THE BAND IS ROCKING OUT ON THE ROOF OF A SKYSCRAPER!
  • ZOMG HELICOPTERS AND SEARCHLIGHTS!
  • Shannon Hoon (clearly his life is not just “pretty plain”).
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot and getting pissed at some blonde skank and kicking her ass at a party.
  • Matt’s wearing sunglasses at night while rocking out on the roof of a skyscraper. The dude is bad.ass.
  • Axl in shorts on a hospital bed… no wait… Axl in a kilt just opened the door… oh snap Axl in ripped jeans just walked in and told them to peace out and then he WALKED THROUGH A FUCKING MIRROR. HOLY GODDAMN SHIT THAT’S DEEP AND IT JUST BLEW MY FUCKING MIND.
  • Axl is in therapy and he can’t stop shaking his hands.
  • Axl’s junk.
  • More of Axl’s junk.
  • More? Seriously? I’ve seen enough of Axl’s junk by now, thankyouverymuch.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot in sepia tone.
  • Axl’s dead.
  • No wait, he’s alive.
  • Nope, he’s definitely dead, but he’s in a giant underground tomb and his hands are still shaking. Poor guy.
  • Chubby baby with green! eyes.

But the best part of the video starts at 2:35 when the guitar solo kicks in.  Here we see Slash being the baddest motherfucker ever to appear on screen as he’s driving down the road in his vintage mustang and that lousy bitch is in the passenger’s seat throwing shit at him and screaming at him and just being a complete pile of shit and Slash pulls the most badass move of all time by launching that car right off a fucking cliff, while laughing, and that thing tumbles down the ravine and explodes in a giant fireball and that dirty whore gets incinerated and you’re like “FUCK YEAH! DIE BITCH!” but you’re also a little like “:-(” because you think Slash just died too, but THEN the camera cuts back to the top of the cliff and FUCK YEAH THERE’S SLASH SHREDDING AND OH MAN HE’S THE COOLEST DUDE EVER AND OH SHIT LOOK HE JUST THREW THAT LES PAUL OVER THE EDGE TOO AS IF TO SAY “HAHA BITCH YOU’RE DEAD AND I’M SO COOL AND I CAN JUST BUY A NEW GUITAR SO I’M JUST GONNA THROW THIS PERFECTLY AWESOME GUITAR DOWN ON TOP OF YOUR ASHES JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE DEAD HAHAHAHA!”.

Yeah. It’s a good video. You should totally watch it.

Since everyone is all about GN’R today, here’s this thing I wrote a few months ago that still makes me laugh a lot.

The Garden - Guns N' Roses
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Track:
The Garden

Artist:
Guns N' Roses

Album:
Use Your Illusion I

Download 50 plays

Guns ‘N Roses - The Garden

5:22 for May 22nd

I’ve previously documented my love for Use Your Illusion I, and this song is one of the four cornerstones of that love (the others: November Rain, Don’t Cry, and Double Talkin’ Jive).

This is truly one of Slash’s most impressive solos. It highlights the fundamental facets of his technique. Beginning at 1:48 with his mournful and weepy melodic slides and then kicking into high gear at 2:13 with his trademark blistering blues-based pentatonic shredding - laced with flavorful trills and bends in all the right places - the solo is a blueprint for anyone interested in trying to ripoff Slash’s sound. A warning though: if you try, you will fail.

It’s one of the few songs on the UYI albums for which Izzy didn’t receive songwriting credit. Izzy was the secret weapon of GNR, mostly in regards to his songwriting, but also largely due to his tasteful rhythm guitar. The track also features backing vocals by the late Shannon Hoon (of Blind Melon fame) and some professional golfer named Alice Cooper.

So good.

Don't Cry (Alternate Lyrics) - steelopus
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Track:
Don't Cry (Alternate Lyrics)

Artist:
steelopus

Album:
40 in 40

Download 110 plays

Guns N’ Roses - Don’t Cry (Alternate lyrics) (steelopus cover)

These are a lot quicker to make when I’ve been playing the song for 20 years. It’s nice to be able to jump right in without having to spend any time learning each part. I went with the alternate lyrics on this song because I think they are better than the originals, but I think the impact of the last line of the third verse seems slightly lost with my interpretation.

One of the biggest challenges I’m finding in these songs is having to overdub each new part one at a time. Combine that with the slight latency in my audio interface and the result is fairly sloppy rhythm. The first instrument might be spot-on in time, but the next one is a little bit off, then the next one is a little bit worse, and so on. The end result is that each beat is a little bit wider than it should be.

Also, my hatred for software plugins and amp simulators is growing larger each day. Too many options translates directly to wasted time. I’d much rather throw a couple mics on my Marshall and press record than to have seemingly infinite and redundant options built-in to my computer. There’s something to be said for actually getting your hands on a knob, turning it, and hearing the sound change.

Anyway, musically speaking, I guess this came out as good as could be expected for 4 hours of effort. Frankly, I’d be content to just play that guitar solo endlessly for the rest of my life. I think it’s my favorite solo of all time. Perfectly crafted.

(21 down. 19 to go.)

Top 5 Albums that Most Vividly Evoke a Specific Time of My Life

morrowplanet:

I’d love to know what yours are.

My list, chronologically by release date but not necessarily by the time that they evoke:

  1. Guns N’ Roses - Appetite For Destruction
  2. Radiohead - The Bends
  3. weezer - pinkerton
  4. Imperial Teen - On
  5. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches

Also:

  1. weezer - pinkerton
  2. weezer - pinkerton
  3. weezer - pinkerton
  4. weezer - pinkerton
  5. weezer - pinkerton

Guns N’ Roses - Don’t Cry

Not only is it one of my favorite GN’R songs, but it’s also one of my favorite videos of all time.  This video has it all:

  • An incredible display of bad acting from Axl.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot in a wife beater holding a 9mm.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot underwater.
  • “WHERE’S IZZY”
  • WHOA THE BAND IS ROCKING OUT ON THE ROOF OF A SKYSCRAPER!
  • ZOMG HELICOPTERS AND SEARCHLIGHTS!
  • Shannon Hoon (clearly his life is not just “pretty plain”).
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot and getting pissed at some blonde skank and kicking her ass at a party.
  • Matt’s wearing sunglasses at night while rocking out on the roof of a skyscraper. The dude is bad.ass.
  • Axl in shorts on a hospital bed… no wait… Axl in a kilt just opened the door… oh snap Axl in ripped jeans just walked in and told them to peace out and then he WALKED THROUGH A FUCKING MIRROR. HOLY GODDAMN SHIT THAT’S DEEP AND IT JUST BLEW MY FUCKING MIND.
  • Axl is in therapy and he can’t stop shaking his hands.
  • Axl’s junk.
  • More of Axl’s junk.
  • More? Seriously? I’ve seen enough of Axl’s junk by now, thankyouverymuch.
  • Stephanie Seymour looking hot in sepia tone.
  • Axl’s dead.
  • No wait, he’s alive.
  • Nope, he’s definitely dead, but he’s in a giant underground tomb and his hands are still shaking. Poor guy.
  • Chubby baby with green! eyes.

But the best part of the video starts at 2:35 when the guitar solo kicks in.  Here we see Slash being the baddest motherfucker ever to appear on screen as he’s driving down the road in his vintage mustang and that lousy bitch is in the passenger’s seat throwing shit at him and screaming at him and just being a complete pile of shit and Slash pulls the most badass move of all time by launching that car right off a fucking cliff, while laughing, and that thing tumbles down the ravine and explodes in a giant fireball and that dirty whore gets incinerated and you’re like “FUCK YEAH! DIE BITCH!” but you’re also a little like “:-(” because you think Slash just died too, but THEN the camera cuts back to the top of the cliff and FUCK YEAH THERE’S SLASH SHREDDING AND OH MAN HE’S THE COOLEST DUDE EVER AND OH SHIT LOOK HE JUST THREW THAT LES PAUL OVER THE EDGE TOO AS IF TO SAY “HAHA BITCH YOU’RE DEAD AND I’M SO COOL AND I CAN JUST BUY A NEW GUITAR SO I’M JUST GONNA THROW THIS PERFECTLY AWESOME GUITAR DOWN ON TOP OF YOUR ASHES JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE DEAD HAHAHAHA!”.

Yeah. It’s a good video. You should totally watch it.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Download 108 plays

Guns N Roses - My Michelle (Only the left channel)

Here’s the “Izzy” side.

I still believe Izzy was the truest weapon in this whole band. He gets songwriting credit on a large number of their songs, and beyond that, his guitar tone and style was the perfect support for Slash.

The only other dual-guitar combo that I can think of that even comes close to these two guys is AC/DC’s Malcom and Angus Young.

(George and John? *snore* Ron and Keith? *snore*)

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Download 115 plays

Guns N Roses - My Michelle (Only the right channel)

Here’s the “Slash” side.

Overall, he’s playing a lot less notes than you might think when listening to the full mix.  Furthermore, what he is playing is a lot more detailed and subtle.

High-res A dream of mine is to be able to hear the raw multitracks of all of Appetite.  There is so much incredible guitar on that album - from Slash and from Izzy. I often listen to the album straight through on only the left channel, and then listen again to only the right channel.  Then sometimes I’ll do L/R one song at a time.  95% of the guitars are hard-panned L/R and so it really helps to clarify what Slash and Izzy were playing. It’s a really refreshing (and rewarding) way in which to listen to your favorite albums.

A dream of mine is to be able to hear the raw multitracks of all of Appetite.  There is so much incredible guitar on that album - from Slash and from Izzy.

I often listen to the album straight through on only the left channel, and then listen again to only the right channel.  Then sometimes I’ll do L/R one song at a time.  95% of the guitars are hard-panned L/R and so it really helps to clarify what Slash and Izzy were playing.

It’s a really refreshing (and rewarding) way in which to listen to your favorite albums.

“Slash Turned Down Millions For Guns N’ Roses Reunion”

As Slash prepares for the arrival of his star-studded solo album, due in April, in a new interview with GQ magazine the guitarist revealed he has turned down tens of millions of dollars to reunite with Guns N’ Roses. “I can’t remember exact numbers, but [the offers have been] excessive,” he said. “Seven, eight-digit kinds of things.”

- via Gibson.com (emphasis mine)

My bold prediction: Slash’s forthcoming solo album will eventually outsell Chinese Democracy.

I’d never make that bet, but I think it’s certainly possible over the course of a few years.

kellydeal:

Guns N Roses - November Rain

Great wedding ceremony. Awesome seeing you guys totally frenching in the church, but I gotta motor before I’m late for my guitar solo out in the desert sandstorm, so I’ll catch you at the reception.

p.s. IF YOU THINK THE SANDSTORM SOLO’S COOL, I TOTALLY SHRED AT YOUR WIFE’S FUNERAL. Oh, shit, Axle. SPOILER. Sorry, dude.

xoxox

Slash

This right here is one of my favorite Tumblr posts, ever.

My love for Slash has been well documented here at Tumblr.