While rock ‘n’ roll purists (i.e. geezers) genuflect at the altar of the blues, I find the genre to be formulaic and by and large dull.
Let me qualify by saying I don’t mind when bands (e.g. The White Stripes or The Black Keys) frame their music within the blues’ traditional context, but too many times blues musicians dust off that tired template that’s been handed down from Robert Johnson. Perhaps what bugs me most is when blues guitarists of all levels of prestige and pedigree try to make up for the genre’s blatant shortcomings by playing these unbearably wankish solos. I don’t care what you name your guitar, a honest-to-god blues song should rarely run longer than 210 seconds. I think Ike Turner would agree with me on that one.
Imagine my delight, then, when I was turned on to this overdub that lampoons your typical blues-guitar workout – this one courtesy of Mr. Eric Clapton.
But lest we assume blues guitarists are the lone culprits of masturbatory musicianship, this YouTube member also sends up Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Santana and … John Williams?
3 responses so far ↓
1 Logan Young // Sep 26, 2007 at 7:08 pm
at one time absolutely vital to ensuring the continuation and growth of the idiom, the blues is now killing rock ‘n’ roll – esp. with all these retreads and shit. the only reason “modern times” wasn’t absolutely brilliant was because of all those blues tunes. you call it “formulaic” – i call it tired and trite algorithm for lazy songwriters. it’s been done more than pamela des barres.
2 Kevin Langston // Sep 26, 2007 at 7:47 pm
you want to talk about lazy songwriters, let’s talk about reggae. or is it reggay?
3 Logan Young // Sep 26, 2007 at 8:37 pm
i would talk about reggay ‘cept i don’t consider it music – at all.