Best Guitarists Over This Past Decade?

[KingLouieLouie]

Who would you rank as the best guitarist to perform prominently from '95-present?

I know obviously the excellent guitar work has virtually become a lost art, but there are some who havent get too much attention or deserve more for that matter....

Not in any particular order:

1) Joe Satriani
2) Steve Vai
3) Jerry Cantrell
4) Graham Coxon
5) Yngwie Malmsteen
6) John Petrucci
7) Kim Thayil
8) Ben Ottewell
9) Patrick Pentland
10) Paul Leary

Honorable Mentions:
Vince LuPone
Josh Homme

 

[Stronso]

I gotta add Paul Gilbert to that list

 

[vince56]

First off, thanks for the honorable mention, I'm humbled

Now as for the rest of your list...if you're talking the last 10 years, I have to kill a few names on your list.

First off, Joe Satriani. I love the dude, you know that, but his only good album IMO in the last 10 years was Crystal Planet.

Jerry Cantrel and Kim Thayil kinda fall into the same category, as their good bands kinda fell apart in 1996-1997. Yngwie's best album was Rising Force, back in the 80s, and his 90s stuff just isn't as good IMO.

If you really want to talk about the last 10 years, try these guys:

Michael Romeo of Symphony X. This guy took what Yngwie did and put the gain to 11. Symphony X is a superior power/prog metal band, and he is the driving force and creative talent behind their (albeit underground) success. Symphony X has had several albums in the last 10 years, and this guy is one of the king shredders around.

Timo Tolkki, Stratovarius. Another who took the neo-classical guitar genre and made a living out of it. Stratovarius was one of the top European bands of the last 10 years, having almost all of their albums go platinum throughout Europe and Japan, while playing consistently to 10,000+ people a show throughout the entire world...other than north america.

Peter Wichers & Ola Frenning of Soilwork. The best guitar duo in rock or metal since Mustaine/Friedman. Ola's aggressive and clean style is a great counterbalance to Wicher's dynamic sweep and legato runs, and these guys have established the best rhythm guitar playing, grooves, songs and sounds in metal since the mid 80s Slayer and Metallica. Soilwork is far and away the best metal band of the last 10 years, and these two guys are reasons # 1 and # 2 as to why.

There's more I could go off about like the insane shredder Rusty Cooley, Francesco Fareri, Stanley Jordan or Marcel Coenen, but I'll leave those guys up to you to find.

Go to www.rustycooley.com and download some of his videos. Simply the most amazing rock guitarist ever.

 

[vince56]

How could I forget!!

Dimebag Darrell!! Even on Pantera's sub-par albums his talent shined through. Awesome guitarist and a true tragedy.

RIP Dime.

 

[boisesuns]

Phil Keaggy

 

[KingLouieLouie]

First off, thanks for the honorable mention, I'm humbled

Now as for the rest of your list...if you're talking the last 10 years, I have to kill a few names on your list.

No problem.... I also was hoping you'd contribute to this thread because I was looking forward to your input.....

Regarding my inclusion of Cantrell....I thought he flourished on "Boggy Depot" and his work on "Degradation Trip" (especially from the extended version) was probably his best playing since "Dirt"....

Thayil... Just his playing on "Down From The Upside" alone combined with some of the "session work" he's done for other bands since '95 "stands-out" more than most guitarist who have emerged throughout this past decade...You can just always distinguish Thayil's stylings more than most of his rivals...Just so very fluid....

I've heard of those bands that you mentioned in your last post, but I must admit that the only one I've really paid attention to is Symphony X, but I should definitely check-out those bands further..... Just I sometimes am not completely in the mood for "Prog-Metal" at times for no apparent reason.....

And Dimebag Darrell... I absolutely have no clue as to why I overlooked him either? He was sensational.....

I also should add the late Michael Houser of Widespread Panic, Warren Hayes from Gov't Mule (just 2 outstanding blues oriented guitarists), Ken Hickey from Type-0 Negative, and also the duel-guitaring of Ed Mundell/Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet is blistering in itself.....

 

[jstadvl]

What about

George Lynch, Tommy Emmanuel, Jon Butcher, Gary Moore, DiMeola?

 

[vince56]

I got to see George Lynch play at the NAMM show back in January. He's "ok". He didn't seem like half the guitarist he used to be. One thing I found odd, he never really faced the crowd. He was always looking off stage or standing oddly, almost like he couldn't be in front of a crowd. It was really strange to watch. Good guitarist, though.

 

[Ryanwb]

Kirk Hammett is an oversight IMO especially since he was a student of Satriani

 

[vince56]

No problem.... I also was hoping you'd contribute to this thread because I was looking forward to your input.....

Regarding my inclusion of Cantrell....I thought he flourished on "Boggy Depot" and his work on "Degradation Trip" (especially from the extended version) was probably his best playing since "Dirt"....

Thayil... Just his playing on "Down From The Upside" alone combined with some of the "session work" he's done for other bands since '95 "stands-out" more than most guitarist who have emerged throughout this past decade...You can just always distinguish Thayil's stylings more than most of his rivals...Just so very fluid....

I've heard of those bands that you mentioned in your last post, but I must admit that the only one I've really paid attention to is Symphony X, but I should definitely check-out those bands further..... Just I sometimes am not completely in the mood for "Prog-Metal" at times for no apparent reason.....

And Dimebag Darrell... I absolutely have no clue as to why I overlooked him either? He was sensational.....

I also should add the late Michael Houser of Widespread Panic, Warren Hayes from Gov't Mule (just 2 outstanding blues oriented guitarists), Ken Hickey from Type-0 Negative, and also the duel-guitaring of Ed Mundell/Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet is blistering in itself.....

Symphony X is cool (AMAZING music), but sometimes their dungeons and dragons lyrics kinda kill the mood.

Dude, you would LOVE Soilwork. Go down to Zia Records and pick up the 2002 album "Natural Born Chaos", or the 2005 album "Stabbing the Drama". Both are AMAZING albums. This band is the most musically inspirational band I've heard in about 7 or 8 years. I just saw them play at the Marquee Theater a couple weeks ago, and they're amazing live. They'll be on Ozzfest this year as well. These guys are the new Pantera.

As for your other comments, you know more than I. I never bought Boggy Depot because the songs from it that they played on the radio never did much for me, and I was much more into AiC for their vocals than their guitar playing. Not that Cantrell is bad, I just like a more crisp sound from guitarists...he's good, just not a style I really enjoy.


KLL, here's an mp3 of soilwork's new single "Nerve" off of Stabbing the Drama. This band is a perfect combination of the heaviness of thrash/death metal with the beautiful vocals and melodies of progressive rock. Enjoy:

http://www.vincelupone.com/other/05-soilwork-nerve-fnt.mp3

 

[Rivercard]

Reeves Gabrels deserves mention. I'm more into sound than speed and he is a master sound manipulator. But he can shred too.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Reeves Gabrels deserves mention. I'm more into sound than speed and he is a master sound manipulator. But he can shred too.

That's ironic that you mentioned him since I've been meaning to post a thread regarding Davie Bowie for awhile...

Gabrels work is almost or just as impressive compared to when Ronson backed Bowie.... I just love his efforts on the 3 Tin Machine albums.....

 

[KingLouieLouie]

KLL, here's an mp3 of soilwork's new single "Nerve" off of Stabbing the Drama. This band is a perfect combination of the heaviness of thrash/death metal with the beautiful vocals and melodies of progressive rock. Enjoy:http://www.vincelupone.com/other/05-soilwork-nerve-fnt.mp3

Thanks for that recommendation (and providing me with that track).... I also had an opportunity to check-out "A Predator's Portrait".... Besides "Nerve".. how does "A Predator's Portrait" compare to the other albums of Soilwork's catalogue? I sensed a heavy Entombed influence in Soilwork's music... Did you ever get into Entombed? I know they tried to make their music more "accessible" to the "mainstream" over the years, however, I would say that all their "players" excel on their respective instruments....

Have you ever heard of the band Kataklysm? I mentioned them under this thread awhile back and I highly recommend that you listen to them (that is if you already haven't of course).... They're a solid Def-Metal band out of Montreal who is currently supporting Danzig on their tour.....

Kirk Hammett is an oversight IMO especially since he was a student of Satriani

I certainly agree with that, but I havent personally included him myself since his best efforts were pre-'95... Just unfortunate that the direction of Metallica completely detracted away from him to fully showcase his talents, but at least on "St. Anger" they somewhat reverted back to their harder sounds which enabled to slightly flourish.. but it's just not the same...

I do plan on doing a best guitarist of other decades threads and he'll definitely be on the one that concludes with '94 era for sure.....

 

[AZ Shocker]

Great topic!
Hard for me to say because I've been out of it for a while now.
Hmmm, 1995 - present...
I guess it really depends on if your looking at the "technical" side of guitar playing or simply the guitar "music" that touches you.
I've always been a big Satch fan, but like someone said already...his best work was prolly pre-1995. Vai is on another planet, but he's prolly pre-1995 also. Jeez this is hard...

Obviously, I'll forever be partial to my man EVH, but no tunnel vision here boys. There's a lot of players that are probably better, but perhaps none that will surpass his musical influenece and songwriting skills. That's just my opinion though. We're talking post-95 here so I'm having a hard time.

I like the Dream Theater dude, and I really like Mike Tremonti's work with both Creed and especailly Alter Bridge.

Seriously though, okay I'm gonna say it...
Vince...
I was really moved by your playing and more importantly your songwriting skills. I listened just last week to your samples on your site, and man...that was GREAT! They flowed, the JAMMED...you made MUSIC! You are good, no great, at what you do!
Where do I buy your album?

Post - 1995
My vote goes for Vince56!

 

[jstadvl]

How About

Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Jerry Doucette, Joe Bonamassa, Dave Menenektti.
Sorry, but I just love pure players!

 

[Red Dawn]

If you are into Stevie Ray Vaughn, check out Chris Hiatt. He plays Phoenix quite a bit.

 

[Brian]

What ever happened to Eric Johnson?

As far as I know he did "Cliffs of Dover" and disappeared.

 

[jstadvl]

I just

picked up EJ's latest. Well a few months back. Very good album.