Assignment 23: Luke Webster

Putting together the perfect playlist for anything can be extremely difficult. I spent probably a week on this post, and I'm still not entirely sure of the order of songs, but here it is anyway. 

The exact description from Spotify is "For those times when you need to realize that you just aren't as good on your instrument as you think you are. This is a compilation of songs that inspired to pick up the guitar and inspire me to keep playing, meaning it will continue to expand. Enjoy!"

Its a little more than that though, its these ten songs and possibly a few more that really made me want to try and play guitar, and while I can only play a few on this list, my goal remains to learn the set. The title "Guitar Godliness"

If you want to listen to the playlist while you read, you can find it on Spotify here 

https://open.spotify.com/user/091bswtk4ssgurzs3zy7kzrvs/playlist/4Pv0I1HBpaCRxFZu6cjNTe?si=aZdmcFfZTDC3eix408zEng

1. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns and Roses

Where to start with this song, the opening is iconic, the main riff is classic, its a barn burner. This exists where it does, partially because I didn't think it was appropriate to start with Eruption, which is next on the list. This song really gets me going whenever it comes on and it doesn't matter what mood I'm in, I always perk up. The funny thing is that I really don't listen to a lot of Guns and Roses. 

2. Eruption - Van Halen (Eddie and Alex)

Oh my god. That's what I thought when I was a young kid of 7 or 8 when my dad first played this song for me. His favorite band was and still is Van Halen, so I grew up listening to all of this. However the reason I really picked this song is the simply otherworldly guitar playing. Jimi Hendrix this, Eric Clapton that, Eddie Van Halen simply is the best and he always will be. Lightning fast finger tapping, whammy bar antics, its the whole package. The story behind this instrumental is that this was Eddie Van Halen warming up before recording, and David Lee Roth upon hearing it wanted it recorded and put on the record. 

3. Surfing with the Alien - Joe Satriani

Introduced to this song around the same time as Eruption, Surfing with the Alien was the next step in virtuoso songs, the cover also had Silver Surfer which as a comic book lover made me happy. I really like Joe Satriani's playing style. This song sits where it does because of how close it was to the time I was introduced to Eruption, but also because it seemed a good Segway into One. 

4. One - Metallica

So far my dad seems to be factoring into my music tastes a lot, a little scary. As is the theme of the this song (War and what it does to those who survive). The beginning of the song is nice and clean, melodic even, and it gradually builds up. Right about the 4:21 mark the song enters into a zone which at the time of my introduction to it, I couldn't comprehend. This song sits where it does kind of arbitrarily, lacking any particular purpose. Kirk Hammett's playing on this song easily puts him on a somewhat even playing field with the rest of these guitarists on this list (He actually learned how to play from Joe Satriani). 

5. Panama - Van Halen

There's nothing more Van Halen than this song. From the lyrics to the riff, its 1000% a barn burner. I picked it because it reminds me of being a little kid in the back of my dads car and because I really just like the song. Its a nice way to go back into classic rock and out of thrash metal after One, which is why it is where it is. 

6. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

I really must confess, my first time hearing this song was when I first watched School of Rock, an excellent movie if I say so myself. I picked it because its so simple musically, but so powerful in its execution, and that's something that doesn't escape my notice. It fits nicely with the rest of the playlist which is mostly classic rock and I believe predates most everything on the playlist, so while it is 6th, its a good foundation right?

7. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

This song holds a special place in my heart as the first Ozzy song I ever heard. It doesn't have any particular reason for being in this spot, but it didn't really seem to fit anywhere else. The songs structure is somewhat similar to the other songs on this list, and the shredding solo is something that is near universal throughout the playlist.

8. Enter Sandman - Metallica

This song is much in the same vein as Welcome to the Jungle. Whenever it comes on I get pumped up, so it earns its place on any playlist. I can actually play this one all the way through, which I cant say for most of the songs on this list. I thought that this song was a good way to start to close out the playlist 

9. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

The reason this song is on the list is mainly due to its bluesy solo. Regardless, its structure and composition are so well done and it fits nicely into the end of the playlist. If I hear it I also stick around for the whole song and I would recommend it for anyone's playlist.

10. Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters

I just saw this song performed live this past week and I wasn't disappointed. It starts out going full speed and it ends that way as well. I thought that this was possibly the best song to end the playlist, end on a high NOTE if you will. I love the way that the song just keeps going, without stopping to do a slowed down bridge, and that is exemplified live and on the recording.