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Skippy, I agree with you that Rob is a very good guitar player and that he easily showcases that without solos. However, I disagree that there's nothing "magical" about a solo. I sometimes love to listen to live Zeppelin just to hear Page's incredible solo work. Also, some of my favourite moments in Hip songs are Rob's solos - especially from RA. At the same time, my desire to rock is being fulfilled by the dirty riffs on IBE and No Threat. This song is great.
Jeff
June 21, 2003 Toronto, ON: SkyDome
July 1, 2004 Toronto, ON: Molson Amphitheatre
November 26, 2004 Toronto, ON: Air Canada Centre
June 24, 2006 Toronto, ON: Historic Fort York
May 10, 2007 Indianapolis, IN: The Vogue
July 14, 2011 Edmonton, AB: Northlands Festival Site
June 30, 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: The Commons at Butler's Barracks
January 23, 2013 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
July 28, 2016 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
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No, it's not the guitar itself, it's the person playing it and the particular sound of the music as a whole (there are plenty of crappy solos out there). So, I guess I kind of agree with you. However, there certainly is a place for the solo within rock. But I do agree that a song is neither good nor bad simply because it does or does not have a solo. It's the substance of the song that really matters.
Jeff
June 21, 2003 Toronto, ON: SkyDome
July 1, 2004 Toronto, ON: Molson Amphitheatre
November 26, 2004 Toronto, ON: Air Canada Centre
June 24, 2006 Toronto, ON: Historic Fort York
May 10, 2007 Indianapolis, IN: The Vogue
July 14, 2011 Edmonton, AB: Northlands Festival Site
June 30, 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: The Commons at Butler's Barracks
January 23, 2013 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
July 28, 2016 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
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For, me - this song really takes Gords vocals to the Nth degree. I can tell this is not an easy song for him to sing..He is all over the place in this song. I would actually like to hear it broken up a bit with a killer Rob solo - The song is very heavy on the vocals, and backed up very nicely and punched through with the guitars -and Johnny is just going nuts. There is such a strong tease of a guitar solo, leaves me waiting for more red leather, I mean, Rob..
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Gotta jump in here, 'cause this discussion is right down my alley, and I have opinions that I've wanted to express regarding this very topic for quite some time.
First, I agree that "rock song" format has changed over the years, and so has the Hip and their own brand of music. I don't think any of us would have it any other way. But let's face it - the Hip have ALWAYS been a little stingy with Baker Solo Time, and quite frankly, that is one area where I wish things would have been a little different in their overall motif.
TTH is definitely my second-favorite band of all time, right up there behind Led Zeppelin, so it goes without saying that I do not require a specific "song structure" to take a shine to a cohesive rock band - these bands' music, from a conceptual standpoint, and specifically from a "lead guitar" standpoint, are not very similar as far as the rock and roll genre goes. Yet I love them both. And for me, it IS all about the music, not the lyrics (good rock lyrics are merely a 'bonus'). And simply put, a well conceived and masterfully executed solo or lead can do nothing but improve a rock song of any ilk.
The fact is that one of Baker's strengths is his ability to crank out a strong, clear, bright solo, with melodies that enrich the song, and with power that pushes the composition to a higher ground, and it almost chaps me that there isn't more in their catalogue. Look at Fight, for an example. One of my favorite leads EVER - and without it, this song would only be worse. Same thing with Pigeon Camera. That stuff is as about as good as any rock guitarist ever will do. But there is many opportunities for these leads in many other songs, but it either is written out, neglected, cut in production or faded-out in an outtro. A frickin shame.
I love the Hip, but believe me, I've taken note of how the little bit of Baker soloing we used to get has been even further diminished of late, and I'm of the mind that this development certainly isn't helping their musical efforts. Baker's solos are bona fide enhancements - regardless of the "current state and format" of rock 'n' roll". Why pass on an opportunity to accessorize a couple songs per album for the better?
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I heard Kim Thayil say it in an interview and I agree wholeheartedly about guitar solos. He said Neil's solo in "Cinammon Girl" is a great guitar solo even though it's only one or two notes. These pretentious lightning fast guitar solos are ridiculous. If a player is playing a solo to show off how great he is, than I have no interest. I'm more interested in hearing guitar with soul and feeling. You don't have to be a virtuoso at the guitar to be great. You have to play guitar that people can feel. That's why I have no interest in a guy like Eddie Van Halen but Neil and Robby are more like what I'm into. In my mind, a guy who can move you by playing a song with two chords is far more talented than a guy just wailing on the guitar for the sake of wailing on the guitar. Keith Richards doesn't have fast fingers but he knows how to play a groove and stay in it.
Any solo has to have a purpose. That's why the drum solo that the dummer of the Trews indulges in every show is a waste of time IMO. I get so bored listening to a mandatory solo.
Anyway, "No Threat" is a great song. Gordie forgot to sing the last verse in Moncton but it still sounded great. Live music isn't about perfection, it's about attitude. That's why the Hip are legendary live performers. Gord misses lyrics left and right and Robby and Paul make noticeable mistakes but the overall feel of their shows just gives the fans (me anyway) a good feeling. Jose Contreras(SP?) of BDR said the first time he saw the Hip live he really got them. He said they have some sort of 'magic' going on with the crowd.
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No Threat.. I think is a really good tune, starts with a big guitar intro (big difference here)- which really never plays out.., but that is the way the song is written, a solo is not what is important in this song, and that is obvious..
What is important is driving the lyrics down your throat..
This song will send the pit into a freaking frenzy, that's for sure..
I'm listening to Twist My Arm, and to me..this is perfect Rob along with Gords just going off...
but that's just me..
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No need for flaming, but I completely disagree. Just because he hasn't been showcased more, or that he doesn't demand the spotlight doesn't mean that he isn't a skilled solist or capable of showing more of that particular skill. Listen good and hard to the solo in Fight. You can't produce that composition without having "that skill". Period.
I'd say that maybe the explanation why there isn't more of Baker's solos is that a bulk of the Hip's material doesn't lend itself to his style of lead, but I'm not so sure I believe that myself. There are SO many songs where he does a mini-solo for about two bars between a chorus and a verse, and it kicks ass, and I want to hear four times more of it, but don't get to.
I swear that it's a run-time issue, where some producer is more concerned about track-length than the content, but who knows. I just don't buy that it's an ability issue. Baker is an understated player, which matches his personality. Maybe he's just so unselfish that he thinks that suggesting that the band consider a lengthy solo he had in mind would be too ego-centric....I just dunno. But I do know that it isn't lack of aptitude.
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I swear that it's a run-time issue, where some producer is more concerned about track-length than the content, but who knows. I just don't buy that it's an ability issue. Baker is an understated player, which matches his personality. Maybe he's just so unselfish that he thinks that suggesting that the band consider a lengthy solo he had in mind would be too ego-centric....I just dunno. But I do know that it isn't lack of aptitude.
and that's why I pretty much only listen to the bootlegs..
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Run time issues have absolutely no bearing on how the hip write songs. I have actually spoken with them on that topic in the past. They have always worked ideas as they suit themselves, never to fit a radio friendly category. Grace Too is a great example of that. For me, that has been a huge attraction to their style of music. As for Rob not being a great soloist, that may be very true. But, his style is also very very unique. He's always used his skills very well and that to me, has given the songs a unique feel. My point was only that a lot of the new material seems to lack the Rob influence that I appreciate so much. Unfortunately, the new single seems like a pretty straight forward rocker. It's not a bad song at all just not complex like some of the older material. I felt the same way about almost the entire IBE record as well. And yes, I am in the minority, i do realize that.
It might be a production issue as well. Every hip record has a different feel based on what they've played obviously. But, production has always been a big factor on how hip records come across. The old question, how to recreate what they do live in the studio...The hip are a live band first. Which I think most of the best material they have recorded was spawned from live songs like NOIS and 100th Meridian. These days it seems they've tried to reverse the philosophy a bit by working everything out in the studio. I'm not sure that's the right formula for this band. It's probably necessary though as you can't be on the road for ever.
