It’s that time of year for making your resolutions. Love ’em or hate ’em, it is great to feel like you can set a goal
(even if it only lasts a few weeks). Joining our staff this month is acoustic guitarist Alex De Grassi.
Feel free to send your resolutions to us at info@premierguitar.com.
John Bohlinger – “Last Call” Columnist
What am I listening to?
Creedence Clearwater
Revival’s Willy and
the Poor Boys. The
Dude abides.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
Stop playing my same tired, old licks and begin
playing somebody else’s tired, old licks.
Joe Coffey – Editorial DirectorWhat am I listening to?
Heart’s Red Velvet Car. It signals the arrival of another well-crafted era of Heart. The record features some really tight songs and grooves while revealing the Beatles’ influence on Ann and Nancy Wilson more than ever before. Nancy’s rich and snappy signature Martin HD-35 drives much of this record—talk about a gorgeous acoustic rock tone!
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
Don’t let those ideas slip away—I’m going to hit “record” before I lose them this year.
Andy Ellis – Senior EditorWhat am I listening to?
Jesse Harris, Cosmo. Though Harris is best known as an outstanding singer-songwriter— he wrote the Norah Jones smash, “Don’t Know Why”—this instrumental album proves he is also a superb composer. On these 12 tightly wrought pieces, Harris blends his acoustic and electric fingerpicking with organ, horns, drums, and mallet percussion.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
When soloing, sing every note I play—aloud or sotto voce.
Shawn Hammond –Editor in ChiefWhat am I listening to?
Big Sandy & His Fly- Rite Boys, It’s Time. Fantastic revivalist rockabilly that’s big, warm, and unfailingly swingin’.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
I’ve got to find out which pickups will give my hollowbody axe (not the one pictured here) the perfect blend of twang and clang. I also need to hear what a TV Jones Classic or TV-HT will sound like in the bridge position of my Schecter Ultra III. Oh, and find the perfect amp.
Seth Hansen – Multimedia CoordinatorWhat am I listening to?
Tame Impala, Innerspeaker. The debut album from these Aussie psychedelic rockers is drenched in phase, fuzz, and delay—some of my favorite sounds. Underneath all of that dreamy atmosphere and swirl are layers of amazing guitar and vocal hooks. Definitely worth multiple spins.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
Finally take the time to write and record at least one song a week for three months, no matter how each one turns out.
Chris Kies – Associate EditorWhat am I listening to?
Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson VH1 Storytellers. This album isn’t big on production, but to hear these two Highwaymen swap stories between their stripped-down hits makes this ’98 release a classic. But for good measure, Willie goes twostepping with Trigger on “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
I’d like to pause my chase of that elusive tone and sharpen my rhythm playing and whip the right hand back into shape.
Alex De Grassi – Guest PickerWhat am I listening to?
I’ve been working on an instructional book, so I’ve been revisiting some of my seminal influences, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Bert Jansch, and Paul Simon. Beyond that, it’s the usual eclectic mix—John Adams, Motown, Oumu Sangaré, Albert King, Egberto Gismonti, and Holst’s The Planets. Those brass arrangements never fail to recharge my batteries.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
I need to write and record more, and get back to my own music. I’d like to do more with guitar and orchestra, guitar ensembles, and duos with non-guitar stringed instruments.
Charles Saufley – Gear EditorWhat am I listening to?
“Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac and “Genesis Hall” by Fairport Convention. These two songs have been favorites for as long as I can remember. But for the last two weeks, I’ve been positively obsessed again. Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Richard Thompson are so economically deadly on these tunes. No fireworks to speak of, just some the tastiest, most restrained, melodic, singing, and gorgeously melancholy guitar sounds I know.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
Come up with something half as cool as any five seconds of “Albatross” or “Genesis Hall.”
Jason Shadrick – Associate EditorWhat am I listening to?
Corey Christiansen, Outlaw Tractor. There is just something about the combination of guitar and organ in a jazz setting. Here, Christiansen and organist Pat Bianchi combine blazing chops, great writing, and a greasy soul vibe into one of my favorite jazz albums of 2010.
What is my guitar resolution for 2011?
Get more into recording. Learn more tunes and finally get serious about transcribing.
