Let's talk about the best Mike McCready solos

[VinylGuy]

november hotel and all alone from the mas season album are incredible too.

And there are great moments in the rockfords record.

[stip]

mike's studio work is usually pretty great

[PHATJ]

Mad Season's "Wake Up" probably is my favorite. Mike is on fire and Layne's voice compliments it so well. Love it.

[stip]

the better question is probably what mike solos don't people like

[iceagecoming]

the better question is probably what mike solos don't people like

Amongst The Waves.

[stip]

there you have it.

that's probably at the top of my very shot list.

Someone mentioned the wash solo earlier. I need to listen to that. I can't even recall it.

[iceagecoming]

there you have it.

that's probably at the top of my very shot list.

Someone mentioned the wash solo earlier. I need to listen to that. I can't even recall it.

I love the Wash solo. I think in the Lost Dogs notes it's described as an 'anti-solo'. Very restrained and tasteful.

I usually have no qualms with Mike's studio work. Amongst the Waves was the only example I could think of.

I don't mind the wanky guitar-hero stuff, but sometimes I wish he'd opt for melody over showiness. For example, NAIS and I am Mine at least seem thought-out and structured (even though they're mostly improvised), whereas something like Breath or Life Wasted often just feels like lazy filler.

[verb_to_trust]

I'm not a big fan of that Johnny Thunders thing he is doing at the beginning and end of Gonna See My Friend. Amongst The Waves is straight cheese, but the song almost dictates it so I am not sure that is all Mike's fault.

[VinylGuy]

ATW in studio form...yeah, its lazy.

Wash is one of my favorites because of what´s he is doing there...the anti solo thing is nice, it reminds me a lot of what Kim Thayil does in Slaves & Bulldozers.

[stip]

I'm not a big fan of that Johnny Thunders thing he is doing at the beginning and end of Gonna See My Friend. Amongst The Waves is straight cheese, but the song almost dictates it so I am not sure that is all Mike's fault.

oh man, I love the start to GSMF

[Blenheim Augustine]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

[VinylGuy]

His work with Money Mark, Victor Indrizzo and Chris Chaney in the Horrible Bosses soundtrack is great.

Really funky.

[Angus]

I would probably agree Mad Season was his very best moment.

[PHATJ]

I would probably agree Mad Season was his very best moment.

[stip]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

are you talking about the solos, or what he is playing during the rest of the song?

[Blenheim Augustine]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

are you talking about the solos, or what he is playing during the rest of the song?

Solos in the list. In terms of comp parts it feels like he gave up once Ed unnecessarily started playing guitar on songs (which I feel works on very few occasions). For example on Binaural: Breakerfall, God's Dice, Evacuation, Thin Air, Insignificance, Grievance, Rival, Parting Ways - Mike doesn't add anything to these songs.

[darth_vedder]

I think Mike does really good work on Big Wave. I know that song is kinda hated, and I think only me and spenno like it, but Mike sounds good regardless.

[VinylGuy]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

are you talking about the solos, or what he is playing during the rest of the song?

Solos in the list. In terms of comp parts it feels like he gave up once Ed unnecessarily started playing guitar on songs (which I feel works on very few occasions). For example on Binaural: Breakerfall, God's Dice, Evacuation, Thin Air, Insignificance, Grievance, Rival, Parting Ways - Mike doesn't add anything to these songs.

he adds A LOT on breakerfall, evacuation, insignificance, grievance, rival and parting ways.

[darth_vedder]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

are you talking about the solos, or what he is playing during the rest of the song?

Solos in the list. In terms of comp parts it feels like he gave up once Ed unnecessarily started playing guitar on songs (which I feel works on very few occasions). For example on Binaural: Breakerfall, God's Dice, Evacuation, Thin Air, Insignificance, Grievance, Rival, Parting Ways - Mike doesn't add anything to these songs.

Mike adds a lot to Insignificance. The phaser pedal effect in the background is really cool (I think it's a phaser pedal??), then the cool breakdown part around the 3 minute mark is fantastic then when it kinda explodes around the 3:40 mark, Mike really sounds good.

I'm assuming that is indeed Mike playing those parts. If not, please disregard my post.

[Blenheim Augustine]

I think with Mike it's not that some of his solos aren't good, but that he's failed to come up with good complementary guitar parts on so many songs.

Solos that aren't good:
Corduroy - studio version - "Is this thing on?"
Comeback - Wait till I hit my pedal.
Life Wasted - justified fade out.
Alive (sorry) "Yes I'm still playing that same lick"

are you talking about the solos, or what he is playing during the rest of the song?

Solos in the list. In terms of comp parts it feels like he gave up once Ed unnecessarily started playing guitar on songs (which I feel works on very few occasions). For example on Binaural: Breakerfall, God's Dice, Evacuation, Thin Air, Insignificance, Grievance, Rival, Parting Ways - Mike doesn't add anything to these songs.

Mike adds a lot to Insignificance. The phaser pedal effect in the background is really cool (I think it's a phaser pedal??), then the cool breakdown part around the 3 minute mark is fantastic then when it kinda explodes around the 3:40 mark, Mike really sounds good.

I'm assuming that is indeed Mike playing those parts. If not, please disregard my post.

I always thought that was Stone and Ed but if not then I'll give way. He looks like he's pissing about here copying Stone's part during the breakdown: