So recently I have been getting back to my roots by playing my bass guitar. For those of you who don't know, I started on bass about 7 years ago, and picked up a guitar about 5 years ago. I have spent a majority of my summer working and playing bass, and it gave me time to think who my guitar influences really are. Usually, I would say that I come from a very ska-heavy guitar background with guitarist like Aaron Barrett, and Aaron Sinclair from Big D & the Kids Table, but upon the further maturity of my playing style and my rather short but sweet solos, I have decided that I fit more into the blues style of playing. Once I realized this I started to look for modern variations of blues playing and came across John Mayer (about 2 years ago). John Mayer pretty much summed up my future goals in terms of guitar playing, and singing/songwriting as a whole.
One night, about two weeks ago I came across the CMT awards while channel surfing. Given my kryptonite (Taylor Swift), I had no choice but to check it out. (For those people who know me, I usually avoid country music, but it's whatever.) The awards had been going on for about an hour an a half already, but I figured Taylor Swift's a big star she'll be on later. Well it started with the Zac Brown Band I thought, "Hmm maybe Country isn't that bad," I continued watching. Carrie Underwood was next, only one word came to mind...hot, I kept watching. Kid Rock was hosting, slowly getting more drunk/stoned as the night progressed. There were some awards presented, and then it came, Taylor Swift, with straight hair, it was unbelievable. The only problem was, she wasn't performing, instead she introduced Keith Urban, and who else, but John Mayer! I was confused, and excited. I thought "Aww man Keith Urban, what has he ever done," I had forgotten that I had the biggest hit off of his album Golden Road on my iPod. They started playing Sweet Thing (hit off of Keith's newest album). I wasn't all that surprised until the solo breakdown, John started, it was really awesome, as one could expect, but then out of nowhere Keith Urban breaks in with this screaming solo, and I was dumbfounded. I started to reevaluate my musical influences. Who knew this country singer, that has never knocked out more than a 30 second solo on any of his albums could be so crazy, well...apparently the entire county music community. I decided to investigate this new finding. About a week later CMT did an episode of CMT Crossroads with John Mayer, and Keith Urban. I had to see it. One day while I was at work I put in my ear buds and listened to the full episode, while seemingly working. As it turns out, Keith Urban kicks just as much ass as John Mayer any day. So now the real question, who is a better guitarist?
This question took some time, but it was well worth my findings. John writes a majority, if not all of his songs, not surprising. On the other hand he has written himself into a corner, where he is expected to have one or two MAJOR hits, and a bunch of ok songs. Personally, I believe the ok songs are a better representation of his overall skill. However, with Keith Urban about 60%-70% of the songs on his albums are hits, excluding his first album. On the flip flop, he majorly does co-writing on those songs, which don't make them any worse, and potentially means nothing in terms of him, as an artist, it's just kind of a let down. So now the decision, who is better, and in the end they're both incredible and completely incomparable. Both of them have elastic styles, meaning that neither one can be classified as country, pop, blues, or rock. They just can't be tamed...:P I have decided that since Keith is mainly country/rock, and John is more blues, the only smart thing to do is combine both their styles to make for the biggest ball of kick ass ever! So that's what I'm gonna start to do. I mean country music is actually pretty good if you're in the mood for it, but nothing will ever replace ska for me.
What it all means?
Nothing, really, just thought it was a cool story.
Have a good day, and thanks for reading.
:)
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