Bring back the guitar solo
Summary
A straphanger wants to resurrect the guitar solo, and Kareem's all in. The conversation zeroes in on what made guitar solos work: the "sexy OTT" vibe of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Slash's "November Rain." They agree something went wrong when jam bands got involved. Fish takes the blame. Hard. The rider argues that guitar solos became cheesy instead of cool, losing that over-the-top swagger that made them worth it in the first place. It's like wearing sunglasses indoors, which Kareem may or may not do at dinner depending on the lens opacity and whether he can see the sauce. Neither can actually play the solos they're praising, but that doesn't stop them from wanting the genre back.
Full Transcript
So, what's your take? Resurrect the guitar solo. 100% agree. I, I think that that is a long-lost beautiful thing. We lost the sexiness of a guitar solo, right? They became lit. It's too lit. You want a sexy little Eric Clapton? More of a Prince "When Doves Cry."
Okay, okay. You know, like Prince "When Doves Cry." The whole song begins with a sexy OTT guitar solo. Yes. What happened? That's how it goes, right? Slash "November Rain."
So the Prince guitar solo, that was the last of its kind. Very last. I think, I think he did it and then everyone said, "Oh, we're gonna slop this up a bit." And then it became cheesy. Like jam bands.
Well, jam bands are their own thing and they're awful. We could also maybe blame jam bands for guitar solo. I think you're right. I think it's jam bands. Like what? Fish. Terrible. Terrible. I really hope the fish heads—
No, no. But here's the thing. The only person that's going to get mad is fish heads. And fish heads don't matter. I'm with you. Make it sexy again. There's a reason why we like the OTT, the over the top of a guitar solo. OTT, that's a nice little word. It's like wearing sunglasses indoors. It's a little over the top, but still do it. It's not—
Well, here's the thing. I would never wear my sunglasses at dinner. You wear your sunglasses at dinner.
Depends on the occasion. Those aren't dark lenses, though. Yes, those lenses are kind of see-through. I can see the sauce.
As long as you can see the sauce. Yeah.
What's your favorite guitar solo? Is it the "Purple Rain"? "When Doves Cry." Oh, sorry. "When Doves Cry," Prince, and "November Rain," Slash. Can I hear what is, what does that sound like?
Um, just give me a little— I, I don't remember that.
Oh jeez, you're putting me on the spot. I don't remember that one. There's a little the guitar solo. I can't tell you, but I could do the [Music] fish. Sucks.