I actually know a couple unpretentious hipsters. They’re modest, naturally kooky and their way of being and dressing really fits them. Their hipsterness is a convincing expression of who they are. That’s two out of hundreds and hundreds I know. The rest are pretentious flaky douches.
Tina S, a French electric guitarist, blew onto the guitar scene displaying an astonishing mastery of guitar while playing Classical music and note-for-note copies of some of the most difficult rock guitar solos around. Below is a great example. It seems to be the last example, too. Uploaded to Youtube four years ago, she suddenly disappeared. Hasn’t posted another video or even updated her Facebook page since.
Is she dead? In a psychiatric hospital? Brewing coffee in a Parisian bistro? I can’t find anyone who knows or even any news about her.
Typically, we don’t notice drums in popular music, so when we do there must be something exceptional about it. I suspect the best-known drum intro to a song is John Bonham’s intro to Led Zeppelin’s When The Levee Breaks, which has been sampled countless times for hip-hop tunes. Probably the most effective drum entrance in a song that was going along without drums is executed by Phil Collins in the song In The Air Tonight. If you’ve never heard it before, you’re almost guaranteed to get goosebumps. Yet, it’s painfully simple, proving that the best music isn’t always complicated. I could tell you where to jump in, but that would totally spoil the effect. To me, this drum part is almost as effective today as when I first heard it.
A lot of people don’t realize what a musically-sophisticated Led Zeppelin was. And as is normal, we tend to take the drummer for granted. After this video, which covers several songs, you’ll come to realize what a master he was.
While we’re on drummers, who is the most underrated drummer in rock? Ever? Gotta be Ringo Starr who created unique drum parts for over 300 tunes on what night be the world’s most basic drum kit.
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