The 80's produced a surprisingly large amount of decent music, once you got past the hair and the disco remnants. Unfortunately, Gibson's panel has selected a list that Crusader AXE thinks is challenged by reality -- unless, of course, they were requiring rotation on FM radio. Best riffs that includes nothing from Bruce Springsteen, J.Geils Band, and one from the Stones. Which came in at number 2. No Bryan Adams, which I can sort of understand. But, come on...
For example, the Stones have "Start Me Up" as number 2. Well, that is an incredible riff, and I have no problem with it at the top end. However, AC/DC is number 1 with "Back In Black". What the fuck? "Cuts Like a Knife" or "Summer of '69" are pathetic, and far, far better. The 80s brought us the Honky Tonk rock of Dwight Yoakum -- the riff from "Guitars, Cadillacs" sets the stage for a lot to come, and --oh yeah -- Yoakum was considered a cowpunk.
Start Me Up is great, but some of the riffs from Steel Wheels were superb. I'm very partial to "Mixed Emotions," for example.
Springsteen. Ok, some of the stuff on The River -- most of it, I guess -- was left overs from Darkness at the Edge of Town and so was recorded prior to the 80s. But, "Born in the USA?" Seriously, people went nuts to things like the title track, and "Glory Days"...Why is there no Southern Rock...this was the glory days for .38 Special and Molly Hatchet? "If I'd Been the One" or "Back Where You Belong" should get a mention.
I've got no issue with the Clash, although I think they could have more than one entry -- "Train in Vain", maybe as well as "Should I Stay". Hell, "Rock the Casbah" would have been fine. They even stuck a Michael Jackson song on the list -- yeah, there was a Van Halen guest appearance, but what the hell? Where's the Van Halen?
If Randy Rhoades sat in on "Hit Me Baby One More Time", would that make the list from the 90s? Or whenever the hell that tripe came out...Well, the purpose of these lists is to excite discussion, and it certainly happened with this mess.
I stumbled across your site, and I think that your advise works for everyone, young at art or not! I especially loved the part about understanding what music has to do with your art.thank you!
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It is great to know that your happy with what you have right now.and to know that your thankful of it.
Posted by: MAC Cosmetics | 26 November 2010 at 11:06 PM
Also read the good old days, no trouble. Memory of past music, simple and fun!
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