*Warning: Controversial musical decisions made below...
GOOFING/GUITARRING !!!!!
BROUGHT TO YOU ESPECIALLY BY THE WEIRD MIND THAT PERTAINS TO CARLOS STEELE HIMSELF...
THIS SPECIFIC CHUNK OF THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO >>
THE MUSIC--THE GUITARS--THE QUIRKS--THE IDOLS--THE ODDBALLS--THE ARTISTS--THE PERFORMERS--THE VISIONARIES--THE FREAKS--AND THE GODS/BADASSES...
ALL THAT HAVE TURNED--AND WILL CONTINUE TO TURN--STEELE INTO THE MUSICIAN AND GEEK AND O.C.D.-CREATIVE-VIRGO-ECCENTRIC-OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH-BASKETCASE THAT HE IS.
ENJOY... (IF YOU DARE TO ENGAGE) ;)))
(Image shown: features Steele gripping onto Amy: his 2011 traditional Les Paul (the guitar he's idolized since he was 10-years old).)
(IF I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO CHOOSE) MY TOP 5 MOST IMPACTFUL/INFLUENTIAL BANDS/ARTISTS // TOP 5 MOST IMPACTFUL/INFLUENTIAL VOCALISTS // AND… DARE I SAY….. TOP 5 MOST IMPACTFUL/INFLUENTIAL GUITARISTS!! >>>>
(one-sentence explanations below will be noted individually as a “rapid defense”, and aim towards justifying the decisions to which they pertain, respectively, within the confines of a ‘Jeopardy’-like synopsis)
TOP FIVE BANDS :
- The Beatles – rapid defense >> an absolutely colorful, charming, endearing, and fundamentally melodic and deeply moving ensemble of artists and sound--my favorite band of all time (to the bloody end)…
- The Doors – rapid defense >> a forcefully innovative, explosively definitive, daringly alternative, and wholly original sonic stew (grounded by fierce artists, and fronted by one-and-only ‘Lizard-King’-Jim)
- Led-Zeppelin – rapid defense >> Gods of Rock-'n'-Roll, lords of style and performance--this band could never not be so near-and-dear to my heart, and thanks to J.P.: I am (and will forever be) OBSESSED with the guitar
- Foo Fighters – rapid defense >> endlessly meaningful writing, alongside 'no-f*cks-given' rock-fueled energy and guts: this legendary post-grunge group is among the most musically important names engrained within my entire breadth of musical knowledge (of which, really, does not present too great a “breadth” to speak of, lol…)
- The Black Keys – rapid defense >> deep, soulful, roots-y melodies and musical simplicity always grounds the choogling magic that naturally accompanies this blues-based duo's timeless and forever resonant sound, and one that will never elude living in the tissues of my heart (said organ of which fell so hard for the band's incomparable energy and presence and grit and style upon the first listen-through)
TOP FIVE VOCALISTS :
- Paul McCartney – rapid defense >> with never ceasing to produce sonic creations that aren't even at least some bit inspiring (if not endlessly profoundly beautiful, and/or completely rockin'-and-rollin'), this legend does--and will certainly forever--truly fill my heart and cup
- Jim Morrison – rapid defense >> a genius artist and writer and performer and visionary of massive might and depth, this magical frontman and creator has made me want to echo some form of his type of musical pulp since I was five-years old (if not younger)
- Dave Grohl – rapid defense >> as seedy as he may act beneath that soft-spoken voice that calms any interviewer in any kind of sit-down talk on rock, barbecuing, and the like, the roars and wildman-antics that define this historical rock performer will always fill me with some element of joy--sometimes reignite my all around drive for loving and living with music--and his melodies, passion, and lyricism will never venture far from my musical constitution, appreciation, and appetite…
- Eddie Vedder – rapid defense >> forever possessing that rich baritone bray (and that sometimes heart-wrenching, other times lavishly invigorating scream), the definitive voice (and face) of P.J. maintains a special place in my heart and mind and soul, regardless of any argument against his unique sound and unprecedented vocal delivery (argued upon often by non-Jamly folks)
- Dave Van Ronk – rapid defense >> while less venerated by those who chose to crown and/or idolize the likes of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan and J.T., the burly charisma and fresh approach to tackling folk and blues singing--wavering on tradition and post-modernism--will always keep this one-of-a-kind artist and late hero way high up on my list; that scorching, bellowing voice of his, which will make anybody shed a tear any day of the week, is so special (mucus and asthma and all)
TOP FIVE GUITARISTS :
- Jimmy Page – rapid defense >> a ubiquitously appreciated player, but one who will always remain to be one of the most influential guitarists (and overall musicians) to ever impact my personal existence/musical consciousness; the sexy riffing, the 50% crude-50% delicately perfect delivery--the long, far, and wide creative (and largely rock and blues-based imagination)… this legend, really does define just about my so-called, “favorite guitarist”
- Angus Young – rapid defense >> shredding always, but with each new screeching solo, this Guitar-God never (in my opinion) does the same thing twice… and in every one of his brilliant and bombastic performances, the definitive AC/DC-rocker also integrates a very memorable and special ingredient through every note, and every string-scrape or thunderous slide or adrenaline-fueled vibrato in-between: the blues--that, "little bit-a Chuck”
- Stevie Ray Vaughan – rapid defense >> completely pinnacle and forever powerful and inexplicably gifted and incredibly genuine and perfectly innovative and devilishly dangerous and flamboyantly cool and ferociously passionate and courageously unique and coolly daring and waveringly dark and now tragically gone, this genius was just not here long enough… (fuck)
- Terry Kath – rapid defense >> not only stupidly underrated, but arguably one of the best to have ever been here at all to do the thing--there's clear reason behind why Hendrix pinned this ingenious musical force, “the greatest guitarist in the universe” ('nuff said)
- Lindsey Buckingham – rapid defense >> just watch/listen to the live solo version of ‘Big Love’ from “Fleetwood Mac: The Dance" (you'll probably pee your pants)
(FOR FUNZIES) AN ONGOING LIST OF WHAT I CONSIDER SUPREMELY GOOD OR ‘PERFECT’ ROCK SONGS; BLUES SONGS; AND SONGS ‘IN GENERAL,’ RESPECTIVELY… >>>>
ROCK SONGS (UPDATED REGULARLY) …
(in no particular order)
“Cowboy Song” - Thin Lizzy - link : (click here)
“War Pigs” - Black Sabbath - link : (click here)
“Slaves & Bulldozers” - Soundgarden - link : (click here)
“Ball and Biscuit” - The White Stripes - link : (click here)
“Helter Skelter” - The Beatles - link : (click here)
“Whole Lotta Rosie” - AC/DC - link : (click here)
“The House of the Rising Sun” - The Animals - link : (click here)
“Alive” - Pearl Jam - link : (click here)
“Mannish Boy” - Muddy Waters - link : (click here)
“Don't Do It” - The Band - link ('Last Waltz' concert version) : (click here)
“Stairway to Heaven” - Led-Zeppelin - link : (click here)
“One After 909” - The Beatles - link : (click here)
“Hound Dog” - Elvis Presley (ver.) - link : (click here)
“For Your Love” - The Byrds - link : (click here)
“Mr. Jones” - Counting Crows - link : (click here)
“Sittin' On a Rainbow” - Mountain - link : (click here)
“Middle of the Road” - The Pretenders - link : (click here)
“In Your Honor” - Foo Fighters - link : (click here)
“When The Music's Over” - The Doors - link : (click here)
“I Got Mine” - The Black Keys - link : (click here)
“I'm So Free” - Lou Reed - link : (click here)
“Ohio” - Neil Young - link : (click here)
“Mississippi Queen” - Mountain - link : (click here)
“Black Dog” - Led-Zeppelin - link : (click here)
“Aqualung” - Jethro Tull - link : (click here)
“The Boxer” - Simon & Garfunkel - link : (click here)
“505” - Arctic Monkeys - link : (click here)
“Piece of My Heart” - Big Brother & The Holding Company, Janis Joplin - link : (click here)
“The Breaks” - The Black Keys - link : (click here)
“The Chain” - Fleetwood Mac - link : (click here)
*All links tie to official Spotify links pertaining to each artist noted above, respectively.
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BLUES SONGS (UPDATED REGULARLY) …
(in no particular order)
“Spoonful” - Howlin' Wolf - link : (click here)
“Done Got Old” - Junior Kimbrough - link : (click here)
“Poor Boy (Long Way From Home)” - R.L. Burnside - link : (click here)
“Crawling King Snake” - The Doors (ver.) - link : (click here)
“No Trust” - The Black Keys - link : (click here)
“I Hated The Day I Was Born” - John Lee Hooker - link : (click here)
“Tin Pan Alley” - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - link : (click here)
“Prodigal Son” - The Rolling Stones - link : (click here)
“Tombstone Blues” - Bob Dylan - link : (click here)
“Hootchy Cootchy Man” - Dave Van Ronk (ver.) - link : (click here)
*All links tie to official Spotify links pertaining to each artist noted above, respectively.
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SONGS IN GENERAL (UPDATED REGULARLY) …
(in no particular order)
“Hero” - Family of the Year - link : (click here)
“Brass In Pocket” - The Pretenders - link : (click here)
“Across the Universe” - The Beatles - link : (click here)
“I'm Not Sleeping” - Counting Crows - link : (click here)
“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” - Pearl Jam - link : (click here)
“A Day In The Life” - The Beatles - link : (click here)
“Fade Into You” - Mazzy Star - link : (click here)
“Ain't It the Life” - Foo Fighters - link : (click here)
“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” - Bob Dylan - link : (click here)
“Heaven” - Los Lonely Boys - link : (click here)
*All links tie to official Spotify links pertaining to each artist noted above, respectively.