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Lerxt's place in "rock guitar" history...


alieninvasion76
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It's always aggravating seeing people arguing on the net about guitar players, and how often Alex Lifeson is overlooked. Some names of course will never go away - names like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, some of whose music I do indeed enjoy and, despite the fact that they’re really just glorified blues players, they’ve certainly earned their place in history. You’ve got your “melodic” giants like Jeff Beck and David Gilmour. Then there’s your out and out rockers such as Angus Young, Slash, Michael Schenker, all of whom tend to be more one-dimensional.

 

These are all names that will always be part of the conversation, and there’s so many more one could mention, from so many sub-genres of rock music, let alone all the other music genres that boast some guitar greats of their own. Hence, it’s almost pointless to try and determine who is “the best”! It’s particularly amusing when people confuse the word “great” with the word “fast”. When you see 20 violinists in an orchestra playing in perfect unison at the same velocity as Paul Gilbert or Joe Satriani, I think it puts the whole speed thing and its relevance in perspective. And how does “speed picking” compare with the dexterity required by a Classical guitarist to play Bach’s “Chaconne” or the allegro movement to Barrios’ “La Cathedral”.

 

So back to the “rock” world… might I suggest we consider using an asset such as “versatility” to level the playing field somewhat. Guitarist Steve Morse (of Dixie Dregs, Kansas, and Deep Purple fame) was voted “best all around Guitarist” five years running, back in the 80’s, in the Guitar Player magazine reader’s poll, owing largely to stellar picking technique, and a command of numerous playing styles, including rock, country, jazz, and classical. Ironically, most non-guitarists don’t even know who he is… an irony made all the sadder given the number of so-called “stars” out there whose notoriety exceeds their actual abilities.

 

Morse acknowledges our fair-haired boy Alex Lifeson as an influence by the way (Steve toured with Rush at one point). And, as we know, “Lerxt” himself is often overlooked when name-checking the great guitarists.

 

So, it is this proposed asset of “versatility” that I think vaults Lerxt firmly into the conversation of guitar greats!! Perhaps, not a versatility in terms of styles like Steve Morse, but a versatility of strengths… a multifaceted player like few others.

 

It’s almost criminal the degree to which Lifeson is overlooked given that the range of his abilities is almost an embarrassment of riches. Even if one were to base things on “shredding” alone (I don’t just mean playing fast, but playing interesting lines as well), Alex could hold his own! - and this is coming from a fan of Steve Morse, Alan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Michel Cusson, Paul Gilbert, etc. To be sure, there's a number of players out there that can shred, and/or studied at Berklee or G.I.T., or whatever, but despite his lack of knowledge of fancy scales, Lerxt is a veritable compendium of lines and solos, dazzling both in their melody and dexterity. Furthermore, you take some of Lerxt's "shreddier" stuff and put it through a high gain/compression amp like a Soldano and I dare you to tell me the difference between that and the much vaunted Petrucci or Satriani!

 

But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Specifically, it's Lifeson's "phrasing" that always astonishes me. Like I said, some of these other cats might have gone to "school", but there's some things that are just more "felt" than "learned", ie. phrasing, soul, etc... and it's in the phrasing department in particular, a domain usually allotted to the likes of Jeff Beck or Scott Henderson, that I maintain "Lerxt" has few equals!! I’m just glad he’s on our side. Rush is indeed well stocked in the virtuosic guitar department!!!

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But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Steve Howe is rather alien in appearance, now that you bring it up.

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But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Steve Howe is rather alien in appearance, now that you bring it up.

 

http://www.angelfire.com/clone2/jimii/howe.jpg

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But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Steve Howe is rather alien in appearance, now that you bring it up.

http://www.angelfire.com/clone2/jimii/howe.jpg

 

 

http://www.angelfire.com/clone2/jimii/howe.jpg

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I used to think Alex was overlooked / underrated but not anymore... It's just that there's a lot of undeserving guitarists who get the spotlight instead.

 

Also, Neil and Geddy have great placings in "top so and so" lists which they're deserving of. Naturally, Alex will gain recognition through this. Geddy and Neil are top-tier musicians, and Alex is... Almost there. But not quite.

 

But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Disagree

Edited by Mr. IsNot
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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

I think Cobain was like 50th. He was a giant

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

I think Cobain was like 50th. He was a giant

 

73rd

 

 

James Hetfield 87th (and no Kirk listed)

Jack White 70th

Slash 65th

Edited by Mr. IsNot
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Guitarists better than Lifeson who didn't make it onto that list:

john petrucci

steve vai

kiko loureiro / rafael bittencourt

 

Why this is? Historical significance

Do I care? If caring means I'm upset then no. If caring means I find it interesting then yes.

Edited by Mr. IsNot
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But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Ritchie Blackmore.

 

Shredding - The guy practically invented "Neo classical" whilst Malmsteen was in diapers.

Melody - Rainbow live '77. Intro to 16th Century Greensleeves. Plus Child in Time.

Soul - Sold his to the devil.

Phrasing - California Jam "Mistreated" Live guitar intro.

Balls out guitar - He was quite the ladies man according to the biography "Black Night" lol.

 

(Just my opinion by the way).

Edited by thirteen
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But, returning to the “Multifaceted” thing, if there's anyone whose a better balancing act of shredding, melody, soul, phrasing, and just sheer "balls out" guitar playing than Alex "Lerxt" Lifeson, they must live on another planet!!

 

Ritchie Blackmore.

 

Shredding - The guy practically invented "Neo classical" whilst Malmsteen was in diapers.

Melody - Rainbow live '77. Intro to 16th Century Greensleeves. Plus Child in Time.

Soul - Sold his to the devil.

Phrasing - California Jam "Mistreated" Live guitar intro.

Balls out guitar - He was quite the ladies man according to the biography "Black Night" lol.

 

(Just my opinion by the way).

:yes: I agree. Ritchie Blackmore :notworthy:

 

An excellent opinion.

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What makes Alex great to me is his constant "thinking outside the box". He definitely takes the road less traveled. Some of it can be simplistic like Tears where he takes a "C" chord shape and plays it on the 6th fret (more clever than you would think) or not so simple like the lead in La Villa or intro to Xanadu. Who does that? Our boy Lerxst. :D

 

He has got skill and pours more emotion than anyone I've ever heard. Gilmore can certainly make you feel everything he's feeling through his guitar but I think Lerxst can as well. He is incredibly unique as well and I love that about him.

 

I always felt Lindsey Buckingham was incredibly unique, too. I guess I have a thing for unique. :huh:

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

:facepalm:

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

:facepalm:

 

Sorry...but...but...he's my man! I expect several pages of Segue hate but I stand by my music idol, even if he is over a foot shorter than me...

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

:facepalm:

 

Sorry...but...but...he's my man! I expect several pages of Segue hate but I stand by my music idol, even if he is over a foot shorter than me...

 

You can love Bruce for all I care... but don't say he's the best when we're discussing guitar gods.

 

I play better than him and I mainly play, well, everything else.

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I'm not a guitarist but I know what I like and Alex and D. Gilmour have always been my favorites because of the "feel" they exude. I just checked out Steve Morse's cover of La Villa on YouTube and it totally confirms that. Nothing against Morse; I was a big Dixie Dregs fan long ago, and his ability obviously speaks for itself, but his version just doesn't have that punch-in-the-gut emotion that Alex's version has. Not even close. I think the only guy I love for his style yet also has amazing technical ability (as I understand) is Stevie Ray; everyone else who is a technical god does little for me. I love listening to Al DiMeola, but I've never got emotional about it, for instance. I often get emotional listening to Alex (in a purely Scandinavian farmer sense; meaning, you wouldn't know it looking at me, but my heart goes a little faster). The main reason I'm a Rush fan, and continue to be a Rush fan, is because of Alex. Edited by Rutlefan
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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

:facepalm:

 

Sorry...but...but...he's my man! I expect several pages of Segue hate but I stand by my music idol, even if he is over a foot shorter than me...

 

You can love Bruce for all I care... but don't say he's the best when we're discussing guitar gods.

 

I play better than him and I mainly play, well, everything else.

 

My guitar hero is a mashup of Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Tremonti...

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Hey let's all quite the bitching. He was 98th on the Rolling Stone all-time greats list. That's stone cold recognition!

Let me guess. He was behind Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Johnny Rotten.

 

Bruce Springsteen is the best...

:facepalm:

 

Sorry...but...but...he's my man! I expect several pages of Segue hate but I stand by my music idol, even if he is over a foot shorter than me...

 

You can love Bruce for all I care... but don't say he's the best when we're discussing guitar gods.

 

I play better than him and I mainly play, well, everything else.

 

My guitar hero is a mashup of Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Tremonti...

 

Really? That's the guy from Creed, right?

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As far as I'm concerned, in terms of emotive guitar playing there are three names in the mix for greatest of all time: Alex Lifeson, Adam Jones, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
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As far as I'm concerned, in terms of emotive guitar playing there are three names in the mix for greatest of all time: Alex Lifeson, Adam Jones, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

 

David Gilmore has to be on that list. All emotion, that one.

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As far as I'm concerned, in terms of emotive guitar playing there are three names in the mix for greatest of all time: Alex Lifeson, Adam Jones, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

 

David Gilmore has to be on that list. All emotion, that one.

I do love his work. Great solos on Comfortably Numb
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