Must Have Guitar Albums

[schenkadere]

For all you guitarists out there, I thought this would be a fun thread. List your favorite, most important and/or most influential guitar albums whether instrumental or band. Here are some of mine.

Andy Timmons - Resolution...an outstanding instrumental album, amazing feel and tone.

Johnny A - Get Inside...silky, rich tones and one of the best recordings I've ever heard.

Chasing the Sun - Chris Poland...wow, what a great, interesting and original instrumental album...highly recommended!

Alcatrazz - No Parole From Rock n Roll...Yngwie's best IMO...he did it all right here in '83 and is much better with a real band as opposed to the instrumental/power metalish stuff. No matter what anyone says...this is the guy who defined the neo classical metal guitar and no one does it better...there were others, like Uli Roth, but Yngwie defined it.

UFO - Obsession...this album is what made me play...I heard Schenker and that was it. Strangers In The Night...Schenker's absolute best!

Megadeth - Rust In Peace...Friedman's best work. I don't like him as a solo artist. This album is great for Mustaine's rhythm playing and riff writing as well as the brilliant leads by Marty.

Gary Moore - Still Got the Blues...stellar English(well, Irish really) blues stylings.

Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom...Cliffs of Dover, nuff said.

Uli Jon Roth - Earthquake...the guitar is so good on this album you can actually overlook the horrible vocals. He is the master and a true original.

Larry Carlton - self titled - great jazz/blues fusion...a very influential album for me.

Steve Morse - Stressfest...I love Steve and any of his recordings, but this is his best IMO...close behind is Split Decision and High Tension Wires.

Neal Schon - I On U - this album has some real nice playing and has a great moody feel throughout.

Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder...I'm not a big fan, but I think there is just some awesome metal playing here.

Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare...Blue Powder and For The Love of God are classics. I think he's an incredible talent and another true original, but really just like select pieces...I usually don't dig his song stylings. If this album had Tender Surrender, it would be the topper.

Black Sabbath - The Mob Rules...I don't think Iommi stands up to the modern players, but on this album he nails it...great feel...just listen to Falling Off the Edge of the World and Over and Over.

Well, that's some of mine...I'm sure there are more...I'm eager to see your choices.

 

[Mythos Inibri]

Frank Zappa was an amazing guitarist

 

[fah-q]

Shenk- Normally I am not a guitar-album guy but, Chasing The Sun is outstanding. I came by it totally by accident but, I love it. Kind of stuff that makes you wonder what Megadeth would have been like if he had ever taken Dave up on his many offers to come back.
Ever listen to Frank Gambale? Years ago I caught a clinic of his at the House of Guitars. I wasn't blown away but, I found it interesting.
I like your Neal Schon pick. Underrated IMO. Many people seem to think you have to rip to be good. Neal's stuff definetaly has 'feel'.

 

[schenkadere]

Shenk- Normally I am not a guitar-album guy but, Chasing The Sun is outstanding. I came by it totally by accident but, I love it. Kind of stuff that makes you wonder what Megadeth would have been like if he had ever taken Dave up on his many offers to come back.
Ever listen to Frank Gambale? Years ago I caught a clinic of his at the House of Guitars. I wasn't blown away but, I found it interesting.
I like your Neal Schon pick. Underrated IMO. Many people seem to think you have to rip to be good. Neal's stuff definetaly has 'feel'.

Gambale's "Coming To Your Senses" is good...I like him but don't think he's "great". He's good with great moments. He wouldn't rate with the rest of my list...IMO of course.

Chasing the Sun!!! Love that album...Song For Paul is beautiful!

 

[ShadowGallery]

Andy Timmons - Revelation...an outstanding instrumental album, amazing feel and tone.

I think you mean Resolution, but yeah, killer abum. He can do anything, writes some really catchy bluesy riffs, is really good with slide guitar, can obviously shred, fast country runs and some really original jazz progressions and soloing.

Anyways, a few of my favorite Guitar-based albums:

"Elegant Gypsy" - Al Dimeola
"Mind's Eye" or "Meltdown" - Vinnie Moore
"Rust In Peace" - Megadeth
"Strangers In The Night" - UFO ("Rock Bottom" and "Lights Out" )
"Get Out Of My Yard" - Paul Gilbert (Nice guy, amazing guitarist)

 

[schenkadere]

I think you mean Resolution, but yeah, killer abum. He can do anything, writes some really catchy bluesy riffs, is really good with slide guitar, can obviously shred, fast country runs and some really original jazz progressions and soloing.

Anyways, a few of my favorite Guitar-based albums:

"Elegant Gypsy" - Al Dimeola
"Mind's Eye" or "Meltdown" - Vinnie Moore
"Rust In Peace" - Megadeth
"Strangers In The Night" - UFO ("Rock Bottom" and "Lights Out" )
"Get Out Of My Yard" - Paul Gilbert (Nice guy, amazing guitarist)

Yes...you're right...I meant Resolution...I'll correct that.

I agree with Strangers in the Night and I forgot RIP too! Adding them!

I love Vinnie Moore...I think he's a great player, but his albums grow a little tiresome after a while.

I prefer DiMeola's Land of the Midnight Sun or Casino.

 

[Psycho21477]

Diary Of A Madman & Blizzard Of Ozz

Yngwie's 1st Album

 

[schenkadere]

Diary Of A Madman & Blizzard Of Ozz

Yngwie's 1st Album

Yeah...Blizzard, Rising Force and Van Halen's debut are probably the 3 most significant modern guitar releases.

 

[EerieVon]

These are what I found were/are influential to my playing, although may playing my not sound like it. Some will have my reasoning for being on the list, some wont. BTW my style is prob best described as kreatorish


Megadeth:Rust In Peace--from writing to the sound and production, Daves best work

Metallica:Ride The Lightning--Not only fast but well written

Agnostic Front:Victim In Pain--Sometimes guitar doesnt need to complex or blistering fast to be brutal

Carcass:Heartwork

Entombed:Hollowman

Children Of Bodom:Something Wild--Eurostyle thrash in vein of Kreator but more technical

Kreator:Agression Extreme--Germanic thrash at its best

DRI:Crossover

Death Angel:The Ultra Violence

Dark Angel:Time Does Not Heal

The Outlaws:Green grass and high tides--the soloing, although not complex is amazing

SOD:Speak English Or Die--Riffs from Hell

Sepultura:Beneath the remains

Mason Williams:Classical Gas

Iron Maidenowerslave-Aces High says it all

Fear Factory:Soul of a new machine

 

[Evil Dead]

Satriani The Extremist and before.

 

[Jurched]

 

[ShadowGallery]

Forgot:
"The Velvet Touch Of..." - Lenny Breau (Every album he released was perfect, tho. RIP)

No guitarist ever, now or in the future has anything on Breau

 

[schenkadere]

I know Mugato invented the piano key necktie, but I didn't realize he played guitar.

Obey my dog!

 

[schenkadere]

Forgot:
"The Velvet Touch Of..." - Lenny Breau (Every album he released was perfect, tho. RIP)

No guitarist ever, now or in the future has anything on Breau

That's quite a statement...you'd have to make a fair comparison.

 

[ShadowGallery]

That's quite a statement...you'd have to make a fair comparison.

If not the best, he's one of the best. Just listen to his playing, his technique is perfect, he's mastered jazz, classical, country and flamenco.. Not attempts to play them, but he's a very accomplished guitarist in all styles and by mixing the styles together, along with being extremely creative, he can write some nasty songs. As an actual guitarist, he's up there with Segovia, Paco, etc, he might not of done had the same impact on playing as them, but his playing speaks for itself.

 

[Flavio CotM]

Yeah...Blizzard, Rising Force and Van Halen's debut are probably the 3 most significant modern guitar releases.

 

[schenkadere]

If not the best, he's one of the best. Just listen to his playing, his technique is perfect, he's mastered jazz, classical, country and flamenco.. Not attempts to play them, but he's a very accomplished guitarist in all styles and by mixing the styles together, along with being extremely creative, he can write some nasty songs. As an actual guitarist, he's up there with Segovia, Paco, etc, he might not of done had the same impact on playing as them, but his playing speaks for itself.

I don't disagree...I just would never state someone is the best. He was great, but in his own genre, Vai would play circles around him, Joe Bonamossa would blow him away playing blues and Yngwie would burn him to cinders. Just the same, he would crush them in most fingerstylings.

There is no best...no one player can do it all...nor do they want to.

 

[Evil Dead]

As a guitarist, what I grew up listening and learning to play was Van Halen's early works, Black Sabbath, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd. I grew up listening to those bands (thanks mom) and in the late 80's when I started playing I tried to learn it all. I always loved Sabbaths Supernaut. It is still one of my all time fav's. When Faith No More came out I dug their style too, and of course Satriani blew me away from just a technical side.

I always loved Chuck Schindler's playing, and Amotts. Alot of swedish metal had some good riffage like Bjorler from ATG, Jesper and Ljungstrom from In Flames earlier days. Fredrik Johannsonn was amazing when he played with Dark Tranquillity. The Gallery was Tits McGee.

 

[ShadowGallery]

I don't disagree...I just would never state someone is the best. He was great, but in his own genre, Vai would play circles around him, Joe Bonamossa would blow him away playing blues and Yngwie would burn him to cinders. Just the same, he would crush them in most fingerstylings.

There is no best...no one player can do it all...nor do they want to.

True, but I wouldn't exactly compare him to guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen's good, but shred isn't that difficult to play. For a pickstyle guitarist that can stand up to Breau, I'd say Morse. And Breau's a very accomplished blues player, actually (Listen to that trio Lenny Breau, Don Francks, Eon Henstridge, album). He can't play every genre ever, but he's definitely mastered most of them

 

[schenkadere]

True, but I wouldn't exactly compare him to guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen's good, but shred isn't that difficult to play. For a pickstyle guitarist that can stand up to Breau, I'd say Morse. And Breau's a very accomplished blues player, actually (Listen to that trio Lenny Breau, Don Francks, Eon Henstridge, album). He can't play every genre ever, but he's definitely mastered most of them

Yeah...shred isn't that difficult to play. Do you play? Do you have any of your playing posted? I gotta hear this. Any style is difficult to play if you play it well. That's like saying blues is easy because it is comparatively simple...sometimes seemingly simple things are the most complex.

Malmsteen's good...yeah...he's ok. Dude...he defines a genre. That's like saying "Eruption" is dated...Ha!...man, when that came out it was mind boggling. I remember the first time I heard Yngwie with Alcatrazz...I was floored...there was nothing like that...it was from outer space. Still, to this day, no one does it better and everyone doing it is a clone in some respect. Maybe he's an arrogant prick, who knows...I don't know him, but that doesn't lessen the impact he made on modern guitar playing.