![]() Listen to the huge tones on I Threw a Brick Through a Window and how he lays out in the verses in all the perfect spots. Gloria is one of the most memorable guitar riffs of the era, but every song is a masterclass on the use of space. “ October is full of classic Edge riffs and sounds. Who didn’t want to play ‘less’ after hearing him? He came up with two- or three-note riffs that were the sound of U2 – one of the defining sounds of the '80s and '90s as well. “I don’t think there was any guitar player who heard the Edge back then who didn’t get inspired. “At a time when guitar acrobatics were the norm, when Eddie and Yngwie and Vai and countless guitar gods where playing as many notes as the human ear could register in a solo, there was the Edge. It’s a complex riff, yet it doesn’t distract the listener from the vocal. “It has a hook within itself but sets the stage for an amazing vocal performance from Bono. The intro for One has the authentic feel of a Hendrix riff. ![]() On Mysterious Ways, it’s the perfect blend of funk and Motown drenched with effects that modernized the sound and made an old blues riff seem futuristic and current. “The main thing I’ve always been fascinated with – in terms of the Edge’s evolution as a writer/player – is the way he’s incorporated his influences into U2 songs. Before you know it, you’re surrounded by a cosmos of guitar sound, with runs and licks overlapping and melodies popping out here and there.” Clint Lowery (Sevendust) “It starts out sounding like a pretty standard – but awesome – guitar solo, but the effects sneak up on you. I’m partial to the guitar solo from The Fly on Achtung Baby. “He really pioneered new ways of thinking about guitar parts, using effects to turn a simple line into a rich, layered texture. It’s kind of impossible to talk about the Edge without mentioning effects. Of course, it also helps that he’s a creative genius with effects. “I’m a firm believer that the best guitar part isn’t necessarily the fastest or the coolest – it’s the one people remember. That’s the approach I try to bring to my own style. He’s an amazing technical player, but he rarely plays parts that completely show off his speed or skill you can tell his primary focus is adding to the music. “I’ve always admired the storytelling approach the Edge brings to his guitar playing. The end result were guitar parts that brought the perfect amount of drama without screaming, ‘Look at my fancy fretwork!’” Chris Arndt (Jocelyn & Chris) One, Acrobat and Love Is Blindness showcased a darker side of the band that allowed the Edge to incorporate a melodically haunting and sparse approach. “For me, there was another dynamic that was even more compelling. You can hear their evolution on tracks like Mysterious Ways and The Fly, which manifest a hybrid of rock ‘n’ roll with the Euro dance music happening at the time. For the most part, musically speaking, the record was a rejection of the identity established during their incredibly successful run in the 1980s. “ Achtung Baby was a reinvention of sorts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |