In a message dated 10/29/00 5:45:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< In my Humble opinion, that makes Jimi unique, it also makes Joni unique and
it makes Neil unique
in their own creation of completely different *sounds*. Many other guitar
players that you mentioned Clapton/Page/Howe are fine players IMHO but
aren't unique enough for my ears. >>
i think the way i wrote my text was confusing. i was saying that neil and
joni together make up one language of guitar playing...that of chord based,
open or closed, alternate tuned or standard, mixed with vocal harmonys and
lyrics and in neil's case, a harmonica while in joni's case a voice that
works like a harmonica.
i think jimmi's is the language of guitar playing shared by clapton, page,
and howe. they don't need to sing along with their guitars. so i was
separating the lead players from the chord players. and to compare them as
guitar players i still think doesn't work because they are speaking different
languages on the instruments. to this day, one of the biggest thrills i have
had was to watch steve howe play "the clap" live. neither joni or neil could
ever do that. i'm convinced of that. joni doesn't know the fret board well
enough and neil is a flat picker. some might want to argue that, some might
not like me saying that, but i believe based on what i have heard them do.
and remember, i identified myself as a big neil fan earlier and as one who
learned many of his songs. so i'm not down on neil young.
but i do think eric and jimmy and jimmi could all do (have done) that. they
might change it some, but they could all play the clap, which is pretty
unique of a song in my book. that's why i can't compare the two groupings.
at the same time, i can't say which one is better. they are just so
different, though quite ingenuous in their own rites. you know if you ever
look closely at eric clapton's lyrics, you will see he really struggles
there. they are very plain and masculine. almost rough to a degree. remind
me of huck finn trying to thread a needle. yet his later stuff really
communicates through the words. and his guitar playing has simplified
significantly. but he can't paint with words the way joni or neil can. and
he never will.
where as joni and neil have no problem there at all. i think the reason why
neil plays such simple leads is because he can't do anything else. but that
does'nt degrade him in my understanding. he has so many other gifts that are
unique to him. but he's not a lead player and nor is joni. and to say he
plays one note so piercingly beautiful and those other guys are just old
speed demons who just repeat the same old phrases....that just not objective
enough for me.
i'd rather say, because neil feels so deeply, he can make one note work. but
if he could play better, he'd make more notes work. and at the same time,
eric can say thing with simple words. but if had a better grasp of language,
he could write better lyrics. they both have different strengths. why can't
we just say that?
patrick
np. dire straits- private investigations
