The Official "John Petrucci is a beast with his solos on The Astonishing" thread

[hefdaddy42]

Yeah.

[Prog Snob]

 

This album shows me why he's my favorite guitar player. I'm not saying he's the greatest guitar player ever, but he's my favorite, and that's it. 

[Progmetty]

Nothing to add to the thread title hehe

[lonestar]

*appreciates*

[CDrice]

I think you could have dropped the ''with his solos on The Astonishing'' from the title, but that's just me.

[hefdaddy42]

This album shows me why he's my favorite guitar player. I'm not saying he's the greatest guitar player ever, but he's my favorite, and that's it.

I get that completely.

I think you could have dropped the ''with his solos on The Astonishing'' from the title, but that's just me.

Just being timely.

[V_R11]

JP is always a beast

[Prog Snob]

JP is always a beast

[CDrice]

JP is always a bear

I think this would be a more accurate.

[Zydar]

He not only brings the goods guitar wise on this album, kudos to him for succeeding with this massive undertaking with the concept, lyrics, production, and everything.

[hefdaddy42]

There was an interview on Ultimate Guitar with him the other day, where he detailed that one thing he did differently on this album was go back and do some fills after James had recorded the vocal, so that the fills could mirror or enhance the vocal.  He said he has never really done that before, but it felt right on this project.

I can think of a couple of places where that happens on this album, and they are very effective.

[Prog Snob]

Without a doubt that would do wonders for the vocal melody. Now I have to listen closer to see where he did that, and how often. It's impossible to pick everything up, even after three or four listens.

[wolven74]

There was an interview on Ultimate Guitar with him the other day, where he detailed that one thing he did differently on this album was go back and do some fills after James had recorded the vocal, so that the fills could mirror or enhance the vocal.  He said he has never really done that before, but it felt right on this project.

I can think of a couple of places where that happens on this album, and they are very effective.

Fills? Are you talking about JP or Mangini here? Never heard of guitar fills.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

The solo on A New Beginning is pretty awesome.

[Logain Ablar]

I'm guessing the section starting at 2:02 in Chosen is one of those 'fill' spots. There's a nice lead line going on behind the vocals.

[hefdaddy42]

There was an interview on Ultimate Guitar with him the other day, where he detailed that one thing he did differently on this album was go back and do some fills after James had recorded the vocal, so that the fills could mirror or enhance the vocal.  He said he has never really done that before, but it felt right on this project.

I can think of a couple of places where that happens on this album, and they are very effective.

Fills? Are you talking about JP or Mangini here? Never heard of guitar fills.

Lead-ish type playing during a part of the song that is not a dedicated guitar solo section.  It's not a lead or a solo, so call it whatever you want.

[smegolas]

There was an interview on Ultimate Guitar with him the other day, where he detailed that one thing he did differently on this album was go back and do some fills after James had recorded the vocal, so that the fills could mirror or enhance the vocal.  He said he has never really done that before, but it felt right on this project.

I can think of a couple of places where that happens on this album, and they are very effective.

there is definitely some spots where the vocals suddenly sound huge, sometimes backup harmonies or sometimes guitar fills, it all sounds awesome.

[Architeuthis]

Some of his most smooth intricate playing ever, not to mention the melody lines. He makes the guitar sing to new levels!!! 

[gmillerdrake]

This album shows me why he's my favorite guitar player. I'm not saying he's the greatest guitar player ever, but he's my favorite, and that's it.

Some of his most smooth intricate playing ever, not to mention the melody lines. He makes the guitar sing to new levels!!! 

He not only brings the goods guitar wise on this album, kudos to him for succeeding with this massive undertaking with the concept, lyrics, production, and everything.

Yeah.

*appreciates*

[KevShmev]

There was an interview on Ultimate Guitar with him the other day, where he detailed that one thing he did differently on this album was go back and do some fills after James had recorded the vocal, so that the fills could mirror or enhance the vocal.  He said he has never really done that before, but it felt right on this project.

I can think of a couple of places where that happens on this album, and they are very effective.

The middle of Act of Faythe!

Every time I hear that section, I think how cool those little fills JP plays are and how he doesn't often do stuff like that.  Very cool, indeed.

[pcs90]

Some of those "fills" would be in Act of Faythe, Chosen, and The Path That Divides...probably plenty of others too.

I think currently the solo in A Better Life is my favorite on the album.

[TAC]

The solo on A New Beginning is pretty awesome.

It's way too short. 

[erwinrafael]

I love JP's solos in this album. Best for me would be Our New World. It's like a song in itself.

[vtgrad]

This album shows me why he's my favorite guitar player. I'm not saying he's the greatest guitar player ever, but he's my favorite, and that's it.

Some of his most smooth intricate playing ever, not to mention the melody lines. He makes the guitar sing to new levels!!! 

He not only brings the goods guitar wise on this album, kudos to him for succeeding with this massive undertaking with the concept, lyrics, production, and everything.

Yeah.

*appreciates*

Me too.  Tasty, tasty solos and fills that not only are fun to listen to, but are fun to play.  He's very expressive on this album.

[Mebert78]

Petrucci is such a beast that even the word "beast" doesn't sufficiently describe his beastliness. 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

He sounds restrained without compromising the technical prowess we know and love.

He did such a hell of a job.

[cramx3]

He sounds restrained without compromising the technical prowess we know and love.

He did such a hell of a job.

This.

My friend told me he didn't spot any crazy JP on this album that he loves.  It's there, just not the JP we are used to with the "metal" side of the soloing.  His guitar playing is fantastic though, the soft solos are just beautiful and really show off how great he really is.  Every song doesn't need the full out technical prowess.  He is definitely restrained, but for the better within the context of these songs.

[pcs90]

He sounds restrained without compromising the technical prowess we know and love.

He did such a hell of a job.

Well said!

[Prog Snob]

He sounds restrained without compromising the technical prowess we know and love.

He did such a hell of a job.

I definitely get that feeling when I listen to his playing.

[SuperTaco]

JP sinks perfectly into the sonic landscape of The Astonishing. To me, it sounds like his guitar playing is tighter and cleaner on this album compared to the previous four. Once again his guitar tone has evolved while still being unmistakably him.

The album has restored my faith in the diversity of JP's style, especially on a song like "A New Beginning".