POLL: Malmsteen - YAY or NAY?

[WildRanger]

Malmsteen is widely regardes as one of the best shred guitarists. But would you call yourself a fan of Yngwie Malmsteen and his guitar work/music or not?
What do you find appealing or unappealing about him?

[El Barto]

Marching Out was one of my favorite and most played albums as a lad. Rising Force, as well. Nothing he's done sense them has done anything for me.  I wouldn't call myself a fan now, but I certainly was back when it was fresh.

[Max Kuehnau]

Not a fan at all. (that being said, this only applies to his records I know about and they are only 2 or 3, although some sections of his Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in Eb minor are somewhat listenable to me) To each their own though, if you like what he does, great. I'm more of a Steve Vai fan myself.

[Stadler]

I LOVE the first album, like the second (not a huge fan of Soto's singing, to be honest). I REALLY like the Concerto.   I saw him recently in a small theater, 500 people, and... it was quintessential Malmsteen.  Which is to say, when the guy plays, and plays sincerely, it's amazing. Unbelievable.   It just borders on cheese too often for me.  When I saw him, he was playing like it was Wembley Stadium, kicking picks to the crowd (I was front row, and I left with easily 10 picks and we made sure that everyone around us got at least one).   He had 54 - I counted them - Marshall heads (of which I think four were lit) and 14 stacks of monitors along the back.  He had 90% of the stage to himself; the drummer, bass player and keyboard player/singer were all stage right, crammed into a line along the side of the stage.   The keyboard/singer was a dork; he seemingly appeared ready to fellate Yngwie at any moment, and that seemed odd from a bandmate. 

But it's undeniable that he is a talented guitar player.  It just depends if you like that style and format. 

[bosk1]

Nothing I have ever heard from him interested me.

[EPICVIEW]

I like him , met him with JSS back on the first tour after Alcatraz in about 1982-83 ( cant remember lol ) , hes actually a very nice person,,,he changed a bit after the car accident .  His music is sometimes not hooky enough and too formula but the mans maybe the best ever to pick up a 6 string and can do anything,

[Lowdz]

Pre 2000, absolutely yes. He was god when he burst on the scene. He livened up a standard LA metal album with Steeler, Killed it with Alcatrazz and his first solo album changed guitar playing like Jimi and Eddie did.

Since 2000, his albums have been shit, and get worse as they go along.

[LudwigVan]

Fan.  Those first four or five albums were fresh and energetic, especially that first album. Full of epic majesty and pomp.  After Odyssey with Joe Lynn Turner (which absolutely rocked), not so much. 

Symphony X owes their existence to Yngwie IMO. 

[emtee]

Many great songs spread across several albums.

Live In Leningrad is one of my all time favorite live albums.
Song after rocking song, with Joe Lynn Turner at his peak.

[pg1067]

Marching Out was one of my favorite and most played albums as a lad. Rising Force, as well. Nothing he's done sense them has done anything for me.  I wouldn't call myself a fan now, but I certainly was back when it was fresh.

This is pretty close to my feelings, but I wasn't nearly as much of a fan back in the day.  He was, I think, innovative and the first of his kind to gain wide recognition.  However, at the end of the day, he and his band had a couple cool songs and that's about it.  That said, I recall Marching Out being one of the first CDs I bought when I started buying CDs instead of vinyl records.

[wolfking]

One of the greatest guitarists in the world who could actually write a song.  He's simply a guitar freak.  Big big fan here.  Legend if you ask me.

[Adami]

Nope.

Though I 100% understand why someone would be. I think, for me, it's just a matter of how/when I was exposed to him.

I had heard the name but never really checked him for a really long time. I had already become big fans of Symphony X and all of the bands that essentially copied many of his styles/tricks. It was also at an age where I could find 100000 youtube guitarists who could shred all day long. So by the time I listened to Yngwie, he just seemed boring to me. Like I said, just circumstance.

[hefdaddy42]

Nothing I have ever heard from him interested me.

This.

[King Postwhore]

Marching Out was one of my favorite and most played albums as a lad. Rising Force, as well. Nothing he's done sense them has done anything for me.  I wouldn't call myself a fan now, but I certainly was back when it was fresh.

Me as well.  I think I just fell out of liking him after the 3rd album with Joe Lynn Turner.  He became "samey" to me and I just stopped following him.  I did see him open for Triumph and he was very good live.

[Setlist Scotty]

Fan.  Those first four or five albums were fresh and energetic, especially that first album. Full of epic majesty and pomp.  After Odyssey with Joe Lynn Turner (which absolutely rocked), not so much. 

I'd say that this sums it up pretty well for me, although I haven't paid attention to anything he's done since his covers album 20+ years ago, so I dunno if that really classifies me as a fan.

[wolfking]

I really like everything up to Alchemy.  The Ripper albums were quite good too.  He went off the rails after Ripper though unfortunately.

[TAC]

I LOVE the first album, like the second (not a huge fan of Soto's singing, to be honest).

I consider Marching Out to be one of my Top 5 Vocal performances. JSS is ridiculous on it.

[bl5150]

I think I had Malmsteen's Marching Out/Odyssey tied for a spot in my DTF top 50.............great player until he totally forgot what it's like to inject some melody into the equation.  I am a big fan of everything up to Odyssey , less so through to the Seventh Sign and haven't taken much notice from there.  Some of what I have heard has been pretty diabolical.

As a person........everything indicates that he is an A-grade tool.

[EPICVIEW]

Marching Out was one of my favorite and most played albums as a lad. Rising Force, as well. Nothing he's done sense them has done anything for me.  I wouldn't call myself a fan now, but I certainly was back when it was fresh.

This is pretty close to my feelings, but I wasn't nearly as much of a fan back in the day.  He was, I think, innovative and the first of his kind to gain wide recognition.  However, at the end of the day, he and his band had a couple cool songs and that's about it.  That said, I recall Marching Out being one of the first CDs I bought when I started buying CDs instead of vinyl records.

I tend to agree with all the above..

[The Walrus]

Big nay. Incredibly boring

[Lowdz]

I think I had Malmsteen's Marching Out/Odyssey tied for a spot in my DTF top 50.............great player until he totally forgot what it's like to inject some melody into the equation.  I am a big fan of everything up to Odyssey , less so through to the Seventh Sign and haven't taken much notice from there.  Some of what I have heard has been pretty diabolical.

As a person........everything indicates that he is an A-grade tool.

Have you played Facing The Animal Brent? That was a great and diverse (for Yngwie) album. Plenty of melodic and even more astounding, he put some thought into the compositions. First track isn’t great but the rest is great. After that, it’s been shite.

I enjoyed Seventh Sign and Magnum Opus on the whole.

[wolfking]

Great songwriting on Facing the Animal.

[nattmorker]

The only albums I've heard are "Relentless" and the concerto suite, they're enjoyable and they have some great songs. But that's it, I haven't heard anything else.

[wolfking]

The only albums I've heard are "Relentless" and the concerto suite, they're enjoyable and they have some great songs. But that's it, I haven't heard anything else.

If you think Relentless is decent then you should check out his older stuff mate.

[bl5150]

I think I had Malmsteen's Marching Out/Odyssey tied for a spot in my DTF top 50.............great player until he totally forgot what it's like to inject some melody into the equation.  I am a big fan of everything up to Odyssey , less so through to the Seventh Sign and haven't taken much notice from there.  Some of what I have heard has been pretty diabolical.

As a person........everything indicates that he is an A-grade tool.

Have you played Facing The Animal Brent? That was a great and diverse (for Yngwie) album. Plenty of melodic and even more astounding, he put some thought into the compositions. First track isn’t great but the rest is great. After that, it’s been shite.

I enjoyed Seventh Sign and Magnum Opus on the whole.

I have Facing The Animal on CD - possibly the last one I bought on CD.  I probably should revisit as I gave up on it pretty quick and everyone else seems to rate it.

[wolfking]

I think I had Malmsteen's Marching Out/Odyssey tied for a spot in my DTF top 50.............great player until he totally forgot what it's like to inject some melody into the equation.  I am a big fan of everything up to Odyssey , less so through to the Seventh Sign and haven't taken much notice from there.  Some of what I have heard has been pretty diabolical.

As a person........everything indicates that he is an A-grade tool.

Have you played Facing The Animal Brent? That was a great and diverse (for Yngwie) album. Plenty of melodic and even more astounding, he put some thought into the compositions. First track isn’t great but the rest is great. After that, it’s been shite.

I enjoyed Seventh Sign and Magnum Opus on the whole.

I have Facing The Animal on CD - possibly the last one I bought on CD.  I probably should revisit as I gave up on it pretty quick and everyone else seems to rate it.

I revisited it not too long ago and liked it much more than I remember.  Not many duds on there and some really strong ones.  Alchemy was always my favourite, but I know that's an unpopular opinion.  Both Yngwie and Mark tear shit up on that record.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Been a fan for 20 years now. He doesn't crack my top 10 artists/bands list, but he is a bit of a guilty pleasure. I own and enjoy every album from Rising Force to The Seventh Sign. Attack! was a pleasant surprise.

[wolfking]

Been a fan for 20 years now. He doesn't crack my top 10 artists/bands list, but he is a bit of a guilty pleasure. I own and enjoy every album from Rising Force to The Seventh Sign. Attack! was a pleasant surprise.

Attack! was very consistent indeed.  Considering the amount of songs too, it had staying power.

[EPICVIEW]

This is so amazing   45 minutes of sheer magic
Alcatrazz live in 84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0a_oG121a8

[Lowdz]

 

I saw Graham Bonnet live a few weeks ago with Joe Stump on guitar, doing a very passable Yngwie impression on the Alcatrazz songs. Stump has based his whole thing on being Yngwie and he does it well. He was even playing through an Yngwie overdrive.

[max_security]

His playing during Steeler- Alcatrazz through Trilogy was just plain phenomenal , especially experiencing it at the time. Like most of my musical hero's he has made some bad choices and why he is not as well received as he could be ( unleash the fury ). But 1983-1987 Yngwie , hell yes .

[Stadler]

There's an Alcatrazz box set floating around out there with the first album in both vocal and instrumental version, the live album (with the complete show) and a DVD of that show and another one (the Vai and Johnson material is on there as well).

It's pretty strong stuff. 

[TAC]

His playing during Steeler- Alcatrazz through Trilogy was just plain phenomenal , especially experiencing it at the time. Like most of my musical hero's he has made some bad choices and why he is not as well received as he could be ( unleash the fury ). But 1983-1987 Yngwie , hell yes .

Yup. I remember release of Alcatrazz and the time.

[EPICVIEW]

 

I saw Graham Bonnet live a few weeks ago with Joe Stump on guitar, doing a very passable Yngwie impression on the Alcatrazz songs. Stump has based his whole thing on being Yngwie and he does it well. He was even playing through an Yngwie overdrive.

[EPICVIEW]

There's an Alcatrazz box set floating around out there with the first album in both vocal and instrumental version, the live album (with the complete show) and a DVD of that show and another one (the Vai and Johnson material is on there as well).

It's pretty strong stuff.

good stuff looking back for sure