Let's finish this.
1. Brian May
My ultimate musical inspiration. Brian May has taught me many things. He taught me that music is about tapping into human emotions, whether it be a sense of fun, melancholy, dread or grandeur. He taught me that technique is important but ultimately it should serve the end of moving the listener. He taught me that one could be adventurous and delve into so many styles, but still manage to maintain a voice that is distinctly yours. He taught me that the best music pushes boundaries and that the capabilities of your musical instrument are limited only by your imagination. He taught me that one could be individually excellent without overshadowing one's equally brilliant partners in making music.
He is the standard by which the others in this list are measured.
My ultimate 1-CD Brian May playlist.
1.
We Will Rock You - Yes, it's very poppish, but that guitar solo slays bigtime.
2.
Brighton Rock - This song changed my view of how a guitar delay may be used to create harmonies. Brilliant.
3.
Killer Queen - Nice tune which demonstrates Brian's credo that composing guitar leads should be like composing a vocal melody.
4.
Let Me Entertain You - Brian's riffs interplaying with Freddie's vocals is amazing.
5.
Good Company - Who else would have thought of using multi-tracked guitars to simulate a Dixieland jazz band? Guitar that sounds like a clarinet? Like a trombone? Crazy.
6.
Last Horizon - On its own, this is already a very beautiful instrumental guitar piece. But during the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour around 2008, it became a freaking guitar god piece.
7.
Too Much Love Will Kill You - Brian's emotional vocals are heavy in the heart, and his guitar matched the painful emotion.
8.
I Want It All - This song reminds me that Brian is a great heavy metal guitarist. In particular, that riff before the solo is awesome.
9.
Tie Your Mother Down - This has one of the most fun rocking riffs. And Brian shows that he can play slide guitar. He can play anything.
10.
Seven Seas of Rhye - Brian's trademark harmonized leads play not just in the solo but throughout the song, giving the song its "fantasy" atmosphere.
11.
Mother Love - Has one of Brian's most emotional solos, made more dramatic by the circumstance surrounding the song.
12.
I Can't Live With You (Queen Rocks version) - This has one of my favorite Brian May "happy" solos, for lack of a better term. And I just smile when I hear that outro lead.
13.
Sail Away Sweet Sister - Again, emotions driving the song in both Brian's vocals and guitar.
14.
Bijou - A guitar is crying along with Freddie.
15.
Back To The Light - This time, the feeling of hope captured in the guitar. That outro is divine.
16.
Ogre Battle - One of Brian's meanest riffs.
17.
Hammer To Fall (Live at Wembley '86) - A hard rock masterpiece. The Wembley version is one of my favorite live Queen performances because of Brian's amazing extended outro.
18.
Save Me - Nobody does majestic guitar as majestically as Brian. In yet another sad Brian May-written song.
19.
It's Late - My favorite Brian May song. Scratch that. My favorite Queen song.
Thanks to those who followed the thread.
Topic: erwinrafael's 25 Favorite Musicians: #1. A majestic ending (Read 7828 times)
