Who's Better Than Michael Romeo???

I think when it comes to the level of ability that most of our favorite players have, you can't really say who's better than someone else, it all comes down to style and taste. Anyway, although MJR is one of my all time fave players, I think that guys like Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gambale are still one step ahead when it comes to improvising, harmonical knowledge and sheer technical command of the instrument, as they can probably play every line that comes to their minds are not limited to patterns and sequences at all. Among the more metal/shred players, I think that players like Greg Howe, George Bellas, Scott Mishoe or Vinnie Moore are among the best technicians, MJR comes close anyway. Still, I think MJR is the player with the best balance between killer rhythm playing/riffing (so many shredders lack that) and soloing/shredding.
 
warman said:
Grounds for that, thank you?

And you're making a personal offense there, you should get banned, retard.
Click to expand...
Here's the deal "wanker" (as your status says): If you are a guy and you have that picture as your avatar then there are only 3 possibilities:

1) You're gay. And if you are, that's fine. I'm not making any slam toward gay people. I have no problem with that.

2) You're straight. If so, then your avatar is highly homosexual in nature. Most straight guys don't post pictures of guys wearing G-strings and leather jackets as their signature. Ask around. I think most of the other straight men would agree.

3) That's you in the picture. If so, you're extremely arrogant as evidenced by your post in another thread http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1771834&postcount=50 Nice signature. No, you're not arrogant, are you?

There you go buddy! Which is it?

And feel free to go try to have me banned for speaking my mind on something you brought attention to. And I find it highly offensive that you called me a "retard". I am shocked at your incredibly insensitive use of the term in an extremely derogatory way. Are you saying that people with lower mental capacity should be ridiculed? That they are somehow lesser human beings? You must, since in your angry post towards me you resorted to calling me one. It must be somewhat insulting to be retarded, huh? Well, for that I think you should be banned!
 
Maybe this is stating the obvious, but from some of the choice I've seen so far in answer to the original question, I guess not....

Shredding in an of itself is stupid... Yes, you can impress people, and even be considered great, but IMO, to be considered in that upper eschelon of whom I consider "THE BEST" there must be emotional content behind each note, no matter how fast.

I also agree with what some have said about how once you reach a certain level ability, it becomes impossible to compare...at that point it becomes a question of taste.

So just for fun, here are some of those that *I* consider to be in that upper eschelon: (note, I'm not saying they're BETTER)

Mike Keneally, Al DiMeola, John Petrucci, Daniel Gildenlow are some of my favs.

Also, the best person to ask would obviously be MJR himself...according to his video, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane are influences of his. And then of course there's Yngwie. Now from some comments I've heard, Mike seems like the kind of guy that will keep on idolizing Yngwie's playing til the day he dies...just a sign of his humility I guess, cause here's one case where (IMO) the student has FAR exceeded teacher.

Well, that's all I have to say about that...

-Paul
 
Paul Adrian Villarreal said:
Maybe this is stating the obvious, but from some of the choice I've seen so far in answer to the original question, I guess not....

Shredding in an of itself is stupid... Yes, you can impress people, and even be considered great, but IMO, to be considered in that upper eschelon of whom I consider "THE BEST" there must be emotional content behind each note, no matter how fast.

I also agree with what some have said about how once you reach a certain level ability, it becomes impossible to compare...at that point it becomes a question of taste.

So just for fun, here are some of those that *I* consider to be in that upper eschelon: (note, I'm not saying they're BETTER)

Mike Keneally, Al DiMeola, John Petrucci, Daniel Gildenlow are some of my favs.

Also, the best person to ask would obviously be MJR himself...according to his video, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane are influences of his. And then of course there's Yngwie. Now from some comments I've heard, Mike seems like the kind of guy that will keep on idolizing Yngwie's playing til the day he dies...just a sign of his humility I guess, cause here's one case where (IMO) the student has FAR exceeded teacher.

Well, that's all I have to say about that...

-Paul
Click to expand...

From the time I joined the Forum, there have been numerous posts about MJR better / not better than others, and I also feel the same as you and others who believe that "better" is irrelevant when a certain level is reached. I have many other favs but haven't listed any (other than Johnny Winter) because metal fans probably would not have even heard of them. I totally agree with you when you mention the emotional content in every note. Shredding is a technique to be able to showcase an intricate style of playing. Romeo uses it sometimes, but I don't believe he over-uses it. It can get obnoxious if it is used too often.

I mentioned the video because I find it amazing that he could demonstrate his techniques and abilities so effortlessly at that age. He has come so far since then. It shows his technical ability quite well, but the emotion is all over SymX recordings and his live performances. Actually, I've never been moved by anyone's playing more than his. But if you would mention directly to him about being superior to any others, especially his influences, he is the type of person who would be so embarrassed over it. He just cares to be himself and take his talent as far as he can go with it. I greatly admire this guy.

Anyway, I like the way you said it, Paul. :cool:
 
MJR is much better IMO simply because he is humble. When i talked to him in seattle he was totally cool, and didn't believe me when i said symphony x was my favorite band/show ever... i kept reassuring him that i wasn't lying, and he was very gracious about it.
 
I compared a song or two's studio and live versions and I found MJR improvises A LOT in the legatto passages. Kinda like me.

As a matter of fact I can find pretty much ANY of my favorite guitarists's thechniques in mine.
 
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