Fuck yes, Jeff Loomis!

[VitaminG]

I've never thought of Loomis as a meedley meedley player. He's very fast and often plays a lot of notes, but he has always made me think of a Be-Bop horn player. It's not about the number of notes streaming by, it's about the melodic contours he creates with those notes.

There are plenty of guys who'll do the sweep/sweep/sweep/tap-slide/whatever thing with incredible facility and technique, but it all usually sounds like mechanical exercises & mostly bores me to tears. They're just as impressive with our without music behind them, because it's not about the music anyway.

When Jeff does it, it's doesn't seem to be about technical ability. And it fits well within the context of the song.

Just my take on Jeff's playing anyway. I'm not into guitar as sport, but I can say that Jeff's playing speaks to me more than Satch. In the end, it's which resonates with the listener more. "Better" is all subjective.

[jgcable]

That would be Terry Kath. That dude had some incredible chops for the time period.

He was my inspiration to pick up the guitar. At the time.. I didn't even know that solo was actually a guitar. I was a classical pianist back when I was really young.

[SEEGERMANY]

the original guitarist from Chicago who commited suicide

That would be Terry Kath. That dude had some incredible chops for the time period.

[jgcable]

I don't think that Loomis is that amazing or innovative either. He is entirely to meedley meedley for me.
Regarding the last 15 years... there really hasn't been any new stand out players that have done anything that hasn't already been done in the 80's.

Back in the day... guys like Macalpine, Malmsteen, Roth, Schenker, Rhoads, Van Halen... before them there were guys like Iommi, Frehely, Page, Dimeola, Beck, Clapton.... before them there were guys like Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, the original guitarist from Chicago who commited suicide, the guitar player in Bill Haley and the Comets, Rick Derringer, Les Paul. These players are the true stand outs.

[horns666]

Steve, guys.. its a good balance of both. Technically he's amazing for a kid playing for two years, Just like Jeff, Jason, Marty, Paul Gilber ectt..so his natural abilty is blatant and amazing!. But you and I we are song oriented. Writing songs is my specialty. I've always had my finger on the pulse on metal and never let it go. I've kept up , so to speak and knew what was going on in the scene. My creativity to songcraft comes natural, and without much effort. Thanks to the heavy hitters that inspired me that went under the radar in the last 15+ years, Like Jeff Loomis. Everyone who wants to bag on Loomis is guys that never let go of the 80's and prolly never seen the man up close and personal..I did 13 times since '96. I told he was going to be somebody if he didn't get discouraged , and as good as anyone in '96/'97/'98/'99'/'00/'001/'02 He always told me "Bill, you're crazy". He wouldn't tell me that today, but I wonder if he remembers me insisting that all those years. Hey, man..I'm not ragging on any of you guys and have assisted and gave good advise, opinions to those that were writing a metal song, when trying not dated. Fortunately the whole dated "retro" thing is back..but even that is a trend. Once upon a time I listened to nothing but VH, Dokken, Savatage and Ratt..and I wrote like that. You are what you eat. I've moved on a long time ago..if some of you wish to keep it where's it comfy that's cool. Jeff Loomis broke me out of that mold...players like Andy Timmons..he's a throwback, he's great..but nothing groundbreaking, fresh, and nothing Greg Howe hasn't done better years ago. There is two players I admired that have my police bade..Satch, who wore it on his strap for a while...and Tim Calvert (Nevermore) ..Jeff would have got it, but Tim asked for it first.

This place is so STUCK in the 80's..its unbelivable. Newsflash... Metal never died..shred never died..it went underground that whole time and evolved. When it surfaced again and started getting more and more attention in 2004..it came back with a vengeance. Players took from the old masters and ran with it..leaving those masters in the dust. I'm not talking about these metal boy bands like Trivium and shit.

You can ask Cleveland Metal..who is an amazing guitarist..but bands like Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Soiwork, At The Gates and such wasn't his language at that time. Yngwie, Savatage, Slayer, Van Halen ect were...its what's he knew. So we had to split because of musical direction and differences around 2002. In hindsight he tells everyone I forcasted what became the style of modern metal. That's because I knew about it and aiming for it as it was evolving. He said I was a "visonary"..No, I just knew what was going on in metal. I didn't know it was going to hit with like it did..but bands like Lamb Of God beat us to the punch while we were bickering over a year on style direction..which was like old school/new school. He loves it now..but didn't "get it" at the time..that's my point.

I took him to see Arch Enemey in early 2002. He thought they sucked. I begged him to come away from the bar and see Jeff Loomis while playing on stage around 2000..he wasn't interested. Now he is..big time. Now he can play that stuff pretty well. See..You guys are now what John was then..he's my bro..but that's exactly what it is.

Nevermore's DVD is out..I suggest watching it. That is what metal elvolved to. Not the new Metallica..which is lame and a pathetic shadow of what they were. But what they were then couldn't keep up whith these bands now..take my word for it. Fuck that, take their word for it..Kirk is shocked what these bands are doing today..and he is cool enough to be humble and pass the torch.

OK, I said my piece. Nothing else to share really..either you get it or you don't..its' not all about Jeff Loomis or Nevermore. Besides Jeff Loomis obvioiusly listened to and liked my demo..a quick listen to the first song makes that pretty obvious. Which is such a fucking honor to me!!

So, I don't have to defend and damn thing..Jeff Loomis doesn't need that. If it's not painfully obvious to people..its over their heads..plain and simple.

Go everyone who doesn't "get it" can go back to all the Jake E lee, George Lynch, Vitto Brata, Paul Gilbert, Warren D, Eddie, Randy, and Metallica and ect threads and leave with some dignity.

[khabibissell]

FYI..Jackson Shreds is 16 years old and from what I heard so far could bury any of us under the table. As far as writing goes I'm not too shabby..we owe that to the inspiration of Jeff Loomis. So you have two players here from ages 16 to 44 that drew from the same well. If I were to pick a secondary guitarist from here..it would be Jackson Shreds. Also players like Nick would also be included as well, as well as Gryphon..which seem to more on the same page.

I'm just saying I'd know immediately who I'd hand pick if I were to assemble a band from here..

"Bury" any of us in what way? Because he can play fast? Sweep cleanly? I never knew skill as a musician is based solely on technical skill. Does that make him the sole authority on what music is good?

You're right... he can play sweeps better than me so I'd better take his word on who is a "better" guitar player or who makes better music.

Look, I'm not putting down any of the guitar players I've mentioned in my posts. I think they all have great qualities, its just that the over the top shred thing bores the hell out of me. Too much of anything is never a good thing...

[GodOfRhythm]

FYI..Jackson Shreds is 16 years old and from what I heard so far could bury any of us under the table. As far as writing goes I'm not too shabby..we owe that to the inspiration of Jeff Loomis. So you have two players here from ages 16 to 44 that drew from the same well. If I were to pick a secondary guitarist from here..it would be Jackson Shreds. Also players like Nick would also be included as well, as well as Gryphon..which seem to more on the same page.

I'm just saying I'd know immediately who I'd hand pick if I were to assemble a band from here..

What does that have to do with anything?

Organize a 'chops' contest on the forum, I think you'd be surprised with the results.

Anyways I said my share, as in: I don't think Loomis is that special, so I'm out. Peace.

[horns666]

Nah it's not. I'm not a Loomis-fanboy. I love some of his Nevermore stuff, but he's not that amazing imo.

Cool..well I am a fanboy of Jeff Loomis and think he's by far the best metal guitarist to come along in the last 15 years..so, what's your point.

I guess we shared both of our points..you don't have to agree. It doesn't change what I think or know.

[horns666]

FYI..Jackson Shreds is 16 years old and from what I heard so far could bury any of us under the table. As far as writing goes I'm not too shabby..we owe that to the inspiration of Jeff Loomis. So you have two players here from ages 16 to 44 that drew from the same well. If I were to pick a secondary guitarist from here..it would be Jackson Shreds. Also players like Nick would also be included as well, as well as Gryphon..which seem to more on the same page.

I'm just saying I'd know immediately who I'd hand pick if I were to assemble a band from here..

[GodOfRhythm]

That is an ignorant statement.

Nah it's not. I'm not a Loomis-fanboy. I love some of his Nevermore stuff, but he's not that amazing imo.

[horns666]

You want good instrumental guitar albums:

Andy Timmons & Guthrie Govan

More musicality than Loomis could ever muster.

/Thread

That is an ignorant statement.

[horns666]

I love Satch, Tony Mac, Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Andy Timmons, Vai, Gilbert, Marty Friedman, and ect..but NONE of them can do what Jeff does and ..visa versa.

You could not put any of our past heros in Nevermore. It would be a step backwards.

[Snoogans]

Good instrumental guitar albums?
Mister. Jeff. Beck.
My favourite "shredder" album?
Tony Macalpine's Edge Of Insanity.
But at the end of the day it's all good, right? It would be bloody dull here if we all liked the same stuff.
And the Loomis album is pretty damn good IMHO....

[GodOfRhythm]

You want good instrumental guitar albums:

Andy Timmons & Guthrie Govan

More musicality than Loomis could ever muster.

/Thread

[nsubulysses]

That Jason Becker song isn't one of the best ones on that CD I don't think. I usually skip that one.

Well, the solo rules though because it rips of Marty!