We continue to debate freddie's best album vocally, now it's time to discuss Brians best as a guitar player. If you could only pick 1 or 2 albums to show a brian may critic why he's one of the best guitarist in rock history which one would that be?....In my opinion sheer heart attack is brian may's album. One of the few albums someone outshines freddie.... Brighton rock, flick of the wrist, now I'm here are classic moments. The other album is a night at the opera, especially the great guitar work in good company.....Opinions?
Sizzling performance on DEAD ON TIME.
Off the wall eastern multi-tracked virtuosity on MUSTAPHA.
Perfect dynamic and melodic solo on DON¨T STOP ME NOW.
Orchestrated Oddball genious on BICYCLE RACE.
Evocative and tasteful on DREAMERS BALL.
Pretty good everywhere else too. Don't like his playing on some other albums (the Game, for example) but I think this was his Zenith.
Big Badger's best album will have to be the next one he does. This is because all the other ones are absolutely dismal. The most famous hair in rock and the most boring guitar solo in rock.
You know I thought there were two "geniuses" in Queen but over the years it's as clear as the spots on your face that Freddie was the King. Badger impressed me when, lo all those decades ago, I found out he made the Red Special. Now this was special, or so it seemed, until I realized any Joker can make a guitar. Go on, try it, all you need are knitting needles and an old fireplace. Then U2 (appalling group, appalling politics) can have an unique sounding Axe. All you need are the licks to go with it.
The Royalist wrote:
Big Badger's best album will have to be the next one he does. This is because all the other ones are absolutely dismal. The most famous hair in rock and the most boring guitar solo in rock.
You know I thought there were two "geniuses" in Queen but over the years it's as clear as the spots on your face that Freddie was the King. Badger impressed me when, lo all those decades ago, I found out he made the Red Special. Now this was special, or so it seemed, until I realized any Joker can make a guitar. Go on, try it, all you need are knitting needles and an old fireplace. Then U2 (appalling group, appalling politics) can have an unique sounding Axe. All you need are the licks to go with it.
Badger's licks aren't very slick.
Sorry did I miss something or have you actually been licked by a Badger ? I get licked by my dog all the time - I don't like it very much. What's a badger like ?
The Royalist wrote:
Big Badger's best album will have to be the next one he does. This is because all the other ones are absolutely dismal. The most famous hair in rock and the most boring guitar solo in rock.
You know I thought there were two "geniuses" in Queen but over the years it's as clear as the spots on your face that Freddie was the King. Badger impressed me when, lo all those decades ago, I found out he made the Red Special. Now this was special, or so it seemed, until I realized any Joker can make a guitar. Go on, try it, all you need are knitting needles and an old fireplace. Then U2 (appalling group, appalling politics) can have an unique sounding Axe. All you need are the licks to go with it.
Badger's licks aren't very slick.
Sorry did I miss something or have you actually been licked by a Badger ? I get licked my dog all the time - I don't like it very much. What's a badger like ?
I have to agree; SHA was a revelation and astounding - especially at the time - nobody had EVER heard guitars sounding like that in 1974
I seem to remember Eric Clapton even commenting on the new crop of guitarists singling out the 'guy from Queen'!
in terms of technical ability, I think he peaked around NOTW-Jazz, sunsequent albums show less progress and often sounded like pastiches of his glory days
That being said, on stage I think he peaked on the QPR tour! (apart from the dreaded three-part solo/Chinese Torture) - he did the Free songs with ease and style and his own parts sounded refreshed and with an accuracy he seldom played with in the past - point in case the hasty ad-libs, especially on The Game-Works tours
Interesting clip above from 1998ish - superb return to form covering the old Shads classic!
I'm not so sure he has a "best" album.. he does some amazing stuff on every record, so I would say that you would have to look at his whole body of work to assess his talent. Critics and peers know how great a gituarist he is, but fans have to really listen to a Queen album, epsecially the early albums to hear his greatness.
PS- A good album to get to hear how amazing a gituarist Brian is, pick the Star Fleet Project. It may be his best stuff.
Tough choice, but I'll go with ANATO. From start to finish, he displays a way of making a guitar sound like anything he imagines.
Death on Two Legs: Biting solos and incredible sound effects. I think he introduced a way to make a guitar solo sound on this song, but that's MHO. But think about it - when before this song did you hear a guitar with such a sharp, piercing bite? Deacy's amp was no doubt a contributor to a new sound.
Lazing: Great example of him writing a solo that complements the song perfectly.
Love With My Car: The cacophony of sound and more biting licks.
Best Friend: Very tasteful solo - an extremely underrated talent. It fits the song so well, you hardly notice it.
39: The use of harmonized guitars to complement the song is again perfect. Tasteful again.
Sweet Lady: Never liked the song, but he really shows off his incredible right hand work on this one.
Seaside: I think he completely laid out of this one (?) I'll have to listen to it tonight.
Prophet's Song: Good work, but nothing groundbreaking guitar-wise.
LOML: An absolutely stunning solo and harmony arrangement. Beautiful. The work of a master at his craft.
Good Company: The "jazz band" alone could make this his best album. Unbelievable that one man and a guitar made those sounds!
Bo Rap: The solo takes an epic song to an even higher level, and don't underestimate his work on the wind down on the end. Very, very good work.
GSTQ: His guitar orchestra on display - a perfect example of his signature sound.
Bigfish wrote:
I would have to say Jazz.
Sizzling performance on DEAD ON TIME.
Off the wall eastern multi-tracked virtuosity on MUSTAPHA.
Perfect dynamic and melodic solo on DON¨T STOP ME NOW.
Orchestrated Oddball genious on BICYCLE RACE.
Evocative and tasteful on DREAMERS BALL.
Pretty good everywhere else too. Don't like his playing on some other albums (the Game, for example) but I think this was his Zenith.
BF.
yea, Jazz he's great. Mustapha and dreamer's ball are vocally and musically great.