Five Must-Have Metal Guitar CDs

The late 1980′s and early 90′s was a great time for metal guitar. Players like Satch, Malmsteen, and Vai were pushing the envelope and bringing guitar to the forefront of everyone’s mind. MTV was dominated by great axe slingers and every bar in town had original music played every weekend. While the guitar gods were [...]

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Spock’s Beard – X

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Kapsalis and Ivanovic – Guitar Duo

It’s hard to be original these days. Market over-saturation, media reluctance to buck the trend, lack of guitar heroes… lots of factors seem to keep the carbon copy guitarists at the forefront while many of the truly exceptional players languish in coffee shops and book stores. Every time I get a CD from an independent [...]

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Terrence Brewer: Groovin’ Wes

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Mike Ian: Puzzle Pieces

Back in college, my friends and I came up with a nickname for musicians who were so good that we felt compelled to cut off one of their fingers to make it fair for the rest of us. We called these folks “nine-fingers.” When I met NJ-based musician Mike Ian, it took all of about [...]

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Meshuggah: Alive (Live DVD and CD)

Today in the mail I finally received my Valentine’s Day gift to myself – the jam-packed live DVD and CD offering from perhaps the greatest metal band of the first decade of the 2000′s. The offering? Alive. The band? Meshuggah! Riding the wave of success from their 2008 CD ObZen, the Swedish quintet went out [...]

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Ryan Meagher: Atroefy

Atroefy is the debut release of young, New York City-based guitarist and composer, Ryan Meagher (pronounced Marr). In a phrase Atroefy is modern jazz for the indie rocker. It is an album of all original music full or guitar-driven compositions, elaborate, yet singable melodies, unpredictable forms and meters, and well-placed improvisation.

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Assaf Kehati Quartet – A View From My Window

Israeli/Bostonian jazz guitarist Assaf Kehati was kind enough to send us his latest CD - A View From My Window - to listen to and review. "Inspired by the daily and trivial, yet wonderful and significant experiences of life", Assaf's music is influenced by a wide range of composers and performers.

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