Originally Posted by: educatedfilmIm pretty anti-technique my self.. It's nice to do something once in a while if it feels like it fits, but playing like your manhood's been called into question is just ridiculous... and ive said it before, Look at the song writing of the Satrianis and Vais (in particular "brother" by steve vai) and compare that to poeple who "cant play" like cat power, smog, baptist generals...
Theres a reason why these virtiousos use women and cars in their videos, covers etc, there's f ck all substance or though, it's all sequencing notes, nothing beyond that, and if you have to think about anything beyond the rythem and melody you have to pad for the dear life of you. Snatch at f cking cliches with both hands...

I swear to god Satch would write some of the worlds best selling ringtones, but he writes some of the most cringe worthy, banal, made obvious guitar solos for even the slowest witted of us to get, cack that i've heard...

theres more than your contracually obliged heroes pouring out parodies of instrumental rock.

You're saying that Crystal Planet isn't a compositionally complicated album? Or that "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" is an obvious solo? I heartily disagree. Honestly I don't see what's banal about Satriani's playing. You mention someone like Santana, and, yes, "banal" is the first word that springs to my mind. I mean, yes, if you were singling out the album "Engines of Creation" I would see where you're coming from here, but even "Surfing with the Alien" easily the simplest of his albums is at least fun and catchy. In that respect I see what you mean about the ringtones, but I see relatively little actual "boring" material in those songs. Ok, so the guy can't write lyrics to save his life, but his guitar melodies (and I guess perhaps this is just a matter of opinion) I have never found to be obvious, banal, or cringeworthy. Perhaps I'm wrong, but "Flying in a Blue Dream" seems pretty well put together to me.