Thursday, May 12, 2016

Fave Guitar Solos: Part Two



Andy Partridge, who will pop up one more time as I do this, shouldn't be called "underrated" as a guitarist. That would imply he has been "rated" at all, and sadly, no one ever talks about his guitar playing except for XTC fans. In his new book, he refers to his solo in "Church Of Women" as "feminine" and "curvaceous." I might not be able to do better than that, but I will say that the space at the beginning feels like a thunderbolt, like that initial strike of love at first sight, and the way it unfolds feels like you were just told best news ever. It is too gorgeous for words. So, Mr. Partridge, mission accomplished.

5 comments:

buzzbabyjesus said...

Andy has a very good ear. That solo has Great tone and geography.

A walk in the woods said...

Love everything about Andy Partridge and his music. Feel free to keep rhapsodizing ad infinitum about this guy!!

p.s. I think that Wasp Star album that produced this song is WAY underrated.

Shriner said...

Wasp Star (IMO) gets unfairly dinged because Dave Gregory left the band before recording and is not on it (though AP says most of the guitar parts on it were things that Gregory came up with.) I think it's a very good album if it serves as the final example of XTC on record apart from those 2-3 singles that came after. I like it better than Apple Venus because it rocks more...

Dr Wu said...

re: 'Wasp Star'; I think ''Stupidly Happy' is an earworm song if there ever was one (reaquainted with during 'Joy Week' - thank you Sal!). XTC has so many of those.

dogbreath said...

When "Stupidly Happy" was used in the TV advert here in the UK for a beds & sofa company, everybody in the house (including the cat) was up & jiving to it as well as singing it (badly) non-stop. Anyway, back to the solo in "Church of Women": no argument, you're spot on, a thing of rare sustained beauty & joy. Cheers!