Hmmm, thought it might be kinda cool for everyone to state their favorite band members for each category:
Guitarist, Bassist, Vocalist, Drummer, Favorite Composer/Songwriter annnnd 'Misc', just for anything that doesn't fit into the other categories.
Rules:
1. Only pick ONE person for each category.
2. These are not necessarily the most TECHNICAL, just your favorites
3. Only ONE member of any band may be represented in each post (just so everyone doesn't go, I LOVE EVERY MEMBER OF THERION), this is to encourage others to listen to your music, and gain a deeper appreciation for other bands, so if you pick Therion's vocalist as your favorite vocalist, you can't pick Therion's members for best drummer, bassist, etc.
4. TRY and list a specific example of the selected musicians talent. ie. The solo at 1:30 of *track*
5. That's it. . . Here are my picks:
Bassist: John DeFarfalla: Formerly of Opeth, played for Orchid and Morningrise. I just love his technique, his character and how he underlies the music. I'm not sure how he's set his bass, but it really has this groove-vibe to it. Take, for example, around the 1:04 mark on Under the Weeping Moon, he gets this Bwow. . . Or 6:41 of In Mist She Was Standing (Fzzzeohh-bum bum bum bum bum) which then goes into this heart-beat pulse at around 7:16, frickin' awesome. Finally, from Advent, at the 9:33 mark he goes into this kinda bass solo, kinda like an arpeggio. . . pretty cool. There are other areas, but those are the ones that, to me, stick out. It's just pretty awesome. . . and pretty dominant at times, one of the reasons Mikael asked him to leave Opeth (he wanted the bass to be more prominant). Honorable mentions: Geezer Butler. . . Highlights: Check out Hand of Doom. . . frickin' awesome!
Guitarist: Well, this is actually a real challenge for me. . . I was GOING to pick Adrian Smith (see below) but I think I'll have to go with Tom Morello (formerly from Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine), simply for the two soloes: Original Fire at 2:27. . . Waoooo Wickey wickey WAOOOO wickey wicky. . . you get the idea, LoL, and Like a Stone at 2:54. . . wow. . . frickin' emotional. Honorable Mentions: Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden. Check out the Stranger in a Strange Land solo starting around 3:18. Also check out his work on Phantom of the Opera, Children of the Damned, Lonliness of the Long Distance runner. . . I better stop there, LoL. I really do like his work, which is most apparent on the Somewhere in Time. . . awesome guitarist. Nothing flash, just good playing, nice compositions. Also, Jack White from The White Stripes (check out Ball and Bisquit and Astro, great riffs). Oh, and who could forget Dimebag Darrell. . . wow. . . Cemetary Gates. . . one of the most emotional guitar pieces ever.
Drummer: Ooooo, I SO want to pick Martin Lopez from Opeth. . . BUT, unfortunately, I already picked an Opeth member (CURSE YOUR RULES CREEEEETIIIIN). . . I guess I'm going to have to go with Bill Ward from Black Sabbath. Literally THE only drummer, EVER, to make me rewind to hear a fill, and that fill (more of a solo really) is in Rat Salad from 1:15 to 2:07. Also, the transition from Jack the Stripper to Fairies Wear Boots: 4:00 to 4:13 (or so). Honorable mentions: Kai Hahto in Wintersun. Check out ALL of Winter Madness. . . pretty cool stuff. Also listen to Rotten Sounds Western Cancer. Oh, and of course, Martin Lopez gets an honorable mention. Watch the Lamentations Dvd by Opeth to see him in action. . . Wow, awesome. Manages to get TRUE feeling out of his drums.
Vocalist: Now THIS is the hardest category. I've decided to go with Chris Cornell (formerly from Soundgarden and Audioslave) for his work on Rusty Cage, Outshined, Gun, Uncovered, Like a Stone, Moth, Sound of a Gun, and Broken City. I suppose this is KIND of cheating, but Audioslave is now defunct, and I like his work from Soundgarden too. . . I mean, this guy has an awesomely gritty voice, but can make it smooth as silk at times. Truly what I'd like to be as a vocalist. Honorables: Bruce Dickinson. . . he's called the air raid siren for a reason! Listen to Run to the Hills, Hallowed be thy Name, Children of the Damned, Stranger in a Strange Land, the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Also, Serj Tankian from System of a Down. Listen to Streamline (WoW! The guitar also SCREAMS in this track), Violent Pornography, Sugar, Suggestions, Toxicity, Aerials. . . frickin' awesome.
Composers/Songwriters: Jari Maenpaa- Not only did he WRITE everything on the original Wintersun album, he also PERFORMED everything but the drums. WoW. I mean, everything about his work OOZES with atmosphere. It sounds EXACTLY like the title suggests, a wintersun. He captures an ice cold/astral feel in all of his songs, yet they all have a distinct feel to them. DEFINATELY an awesome piece of art. Check out the entire album, Wintersun. Honorable Mentions: Dio, for his work with Dio and Rainbow. The lyrics of Stargazer are INCREDIBLE. Same goes for Holy Diver, and Don't Talk to Strangers. . . and Shame on the Night. SO good. Also, Mikael Akerdfeldt. . . for every album he's ever made. Every member of Iron Maiden (except Nicko. . . who co-wrote on one song. . . which was pretty lacklustre). ANNNND Johnny Cash. . . Wow. He can take ANY song and make it his own. . . could, R.i.P.
Misc: Ummmmm. . . Claudio Sanchez (from Coheed and Cambria), for making a concept span over 4 albums (and counting!). . . and most of it is pretty good. . .
I guess that's it. I hope this was interesting to all those that read it. . . Hopefully some others will post and we can all appreciate the awesomeness of these artists. . .
~The (Spent WAYYYYY Too Much Time Writing This) Cretin~
