Instrumental music

[Tonimata]

I, personally, am a big fan of it, but thanks to that, I get a lot of (I feel undeserved) stick.

So, basically:

Instrumental music, yay, nay, why, and what genres?

Personally, yay, because it is usually made by musicians who are competent enough to express and provoke deep thought with nothing more than their flowing streams of notes. I like classical music, but I'm also into instrumental rock, blues and metal, specially artists like Eric Johnson, Dream Theater and most metal instrumentals. Which usually just kick ass.

 

[reg42]

It's depends. Some instrumental stuff just repeats and recycles, but when it's good, it's really good. Take John 5's solo stuff for example.

 

[nick n stuff]

it all depends. Hendrix did instrumental well and so did most old bands but in the 80's when speed became key all instrumental became hard to listen to. for example, i love whitesnake but if i hear a Doug Aldrich solo i phase out cos it's just too complex.

also, OP has a Jackson, dude kicks ass.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I wish there was a poll for this thread...

OT: I love instrumental music, seeing as about 85% of the Celtic music I listen to is done with no vocalists. Also, Jimmy Buffett has an instrumental song called "Banana Wind". Go look it up or the Daleks will shoot you, or something.

 

[skeliton112]

I like it equally. Does it really matter if there is lyrics or not because unless it is a comedy song i dont see any reasons for not liking 1 or the other.

 

[Superior Mind]

Yay from me. I'm a fingerstyle guitarist myself - not a good one but I enjoy playing it plus it's a great way to show off. Artists like Tommy Emmanuelle, Don Ross, Andy McKee and Antoine Dufour are superb and I have a lot of their stuff.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I enjoy some instrumental music. I don't see why there is an emphasis on having human voices in music.

I particularly enjoy symphonic metal when instrumental... it's often more immersive when you don't have to concentrate on words.

 

[Dwarfman]

Love my instrumentals. Sometimes it's just cool to sit back forget about vocals and just let the musicians jam. I grew up listening to bands like Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons and Sky all well known for their intrumentals. Since then I've branched out and often hit the local bars where the jazz and blues bands play. Funky stuff for sure!

 

[Outright Villainy]

Yes, I like it. Though I haven't heard that much to be honest, it's rare enough for a band to focus solely on instrumentals. I'd like Explosions in the sky or mogwai though. I'd be interested in writing some instrumental myself, mainly because getting a good vocalist is a pain in the ass, and writing progressions with an instrumental focus is just a lot easier for me generally.

 

[aruseusx]

Yay, but it has to be a lot better by itself to make up for the lack of vocals. I'm not shallow that's just true. Try stripping the vocals out of most popular songs, they wouldn't really stand up. Tom Waits in particular makes some amazing instrumentals, and a lot of the pre-50s jazz artists.

These days vocals is everything, without it its just bass drops and uniform drum patterns.

OT - I have really only listened to solo albums so I dont really think I have the whole view but Marty Friedman(Elixir), Yngwie Malmsteen (black star) are pretty awesome.

 

[Arkvoodle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H0JDomv8ac

this is a great piece I listen to a lot.

 

[octafish]

I don't see any reason you should get any stick for this.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Not much really. Some Joe Satriani and Mastodon have a couple of instrumental songs.

 

[Tonimata]

also, OP has a Jackson, dude kicks ass.

INDEED!
And not just any Jackson...
Randy Rhoads 3, and a most kickass instrument indeed!

you sure do love your commas, OP.

Sure as hell do, for you see, I'm a language student, which gives me the power, right, and authority to use punctuation indiscriminately!

Why yes, you may kill me now for being smug

 

[Megalodon]

Not much really. Some Joe Satriani and Mastodon have a couple of instrumental songs.

I'd quite forgotten about Mastodon's instrumental stuff, guess that means I like it. The main exception is stuff like Nightwish did on Dark Passion Play when they also did the entire album without lyrics, I'm just expecting the lyrics for the entire song and it annoys me when none surface