Matt Bellamy/ Jack White: overrated guitarists?

[HAZZAGTR]

You only have to read guitar magazines and watch music programmes to find out that along with Hendrix,Page, Clapton etc. that Matt and Jack are regarded as "guitar heroes". I play guitar yet I can't find any good/complex guitar songs they have written. Thoughts?

[Animal]

They're musicians who play the guitar and are apparently looked up to by a large proportion of the guitar magazine-buying population - QED? They may not been the most spectacular or flamboyant of guitar players, but then neither is Angus Young!

As it happens, I don't think they're overrated at all. Matt Bellamy is an excellent songwriter and a pretty good all-round musician - don't forget that he sings and plays piano as well as the guitar. If anything, I'd hold Jack White in an even higher regard. How many bands is he in?! He seems to be a pretty prolific songwriter too.

I'd also suggest that their respective bands are probably pretty amazing to see live...

[timlongs]

I saw matt for the first time on Friday and was blown away.

And just watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1y0LhGukiQ&fea...

[Japveesix]

I'm yet to be convinced that Jack White is a really brilliant guitarist, good songwriter though. If anyone knows any clips that show of his skills I'd like to see them.

Matt Bellamy I think is a fantastic guitarist and an excellent songwriter - if a little over-dramatic in both things. I first saw Muse in the new bands tent at Glasto in 1999 and was fairly blown away then by how easily he played complex guitar parts whilst singing and dancing about.

Having watched the set at Glasto this year I think he looks even better now. He just makes such a big wall of noise from one guitar whilst also singing and fronting the band, and occasionally rips into great big solos.

[alfa pint]

Jack White is amazingly prolific in the way that he can hit specific notes so quickly and write some cracking riffs.

Matt Bellamy, being classicly trained, just seems able to produce any note or combo of notes so precisely that I remain gobsmacked at his ability. Yes, he's got some fancy guitars to assist him, but he's also got the ear and the imagination to make the most of it.

[bigbadbikercats]

Japveesix said:

I'm yet to be convinced that Jack White is a really brilliant guitarist, good songwriter though. If anyone knows any clips that show of his skills I'd like to see them.

JW isn't to everybody's taste but for an idea of why I at least respect him I'd suggest begging, borrowing, or stealing a copy of "It Might Get Loud", where he demonstrates an impressive ability to conjure wonderful gritty, raucous bluesy sounds out of pretty much anything (down to and including a bit of wire, a fencepost, a couple of other random bits of wood and a couple of nails.

Jimmy Page and (perhaps more contentiously) "The Edge" are quite entertaining in it too :-)

--
JG

[The real Apache]

Some of Bellamys fancy guitars were designed by him, I've seen him play several times now and think, above all the guitarists I've seen, he displays the most self assured talent and ease, every time he plays live he injects a little extra and uses every aspect of the device from feedback to harmonics. I think he's a modern Hendrix personally and am chuffed to have seen him.

[SGirl]

Matt Bellamy is a musical genius. Muse's latest efforts do seem to be a little self-indulgent, but there's no denying the quality of the guy's work, in terms of composing, arranging and performance. The "no-one's gonna take me alive" bit in Knights of Cydonia is outstanding. To name just one example.

Jack White though - hm. I can appreciate he's good at what he does, but personally I'm not keen on his music, in any of his bands.

[KaraK]

They are both very talented musicians IMO - while I find Jack White's efforts can be a bit hit and miss personally he is very good at getting the sound he wants from various instruments. The main riff in "Seven Nation Army" was done using a semi-accoustic guitar IIRC

[davepoth]

KaraK said:

They are both very talented musicians IMO - while I find Jack White's efforts can be a bit hit and miss personally he is very good at getting the sound he wants from various instruments. The main riff in "Seven Nation Army" was done using a semi-accoustic guitar IIRC

Yeah, you can get it just right if you get a normal guitar and drop the low E string all the way to A.

[GlenMH]

bigbadbikercats said:

JW isn't to everybody's taste but for an idea of why I at least respect him I'd suggest begging, borrowing, or stealing a copy of "It Might Get Loud", where he demonstrates an impressive ability to conjure wonderful gritty, raucous bluesy sounds out of pretty much anything (down to and including a bit of wire, a fencepost, a couple of other random bits of wood and a couple of nails.

Jimmy Page and (perhaps more contentiously) "The Edge" are quite entertaining in it too :-)

--
JG

This.

I had no time for JW despite having seen the White Stripes a couple of times. This documentary explained what he was about and it now all becomes clear.

Someone mentions above the Matt Bellamy is classicly trained and, compared with a good many other bands currently touring, it shows. The sheer musicality of his performance: precision, rhythm etc in both his guitar and piano playing are breathtaking.

I will be the first to admit that their latest album suggest an imminent disappearance up their own arses but it does not alter the fact that they put on a great show and have some fantastic crowd pleasing songs.

Edited by GlenMH on Tuesday 20th July 08:39