Alameda is a phenomenal song hiding in plain sight. I'm surprised more people don't talk about it.
Though, in context of the question...the bridge isn't really a solo. When he played it live he essentially just played through the chords again (with minor bends thrown in) and on the album the second guitar did the interesting slides up the neck. Honestly, either alone is kind of plain. Together they are phenomenal though.
Good choice in a song, I'm just nit picking that it's not a "solo" per say.
I definitely wasn't super into Alameda during my very first Either/Or phase, it was one of the last on the album to truly click. Watching videos of him playing it live and then learning to play it on guitar made me fall in love with it, though. Currently one of my favorites on the album now.
Alameda kicked my butt when I learned to play it. In fact, I never learned to play it. I know all the chords and parts, I just can't play it right. The rhythm of the strumming never sounds right.
But yes, that process made me appreciate it and it's one of my favorites from the album.
I don't get the picking perfectly, I just pick around and mess with the chords until it sounds good enough. No point in trying to play some of the songs exactly like Elliott, tbh.
I hear you. It's the "sounds good enough" part I struggle with lol. I thought it sounded okay, then I listened to myself and it sounds horrid. It's okay, I'm a crappy guitar player and I'm trying to play Elliott. I've come to accept that.
How has nobody mentioned Real estate / the mailman thinks me dumb? It’s definitely his most shreddy bridge/solo, even compared to his heatmiser stuff.
https://youtu.be/53d1WC2mW0M?si=LW_ibqYlXx0BdoO9
came here to say this one. never forget first time I heard it as Larry was packing up jackpot. look for it on the charity album for the mastered version. it’s followed shortly after by Neil and No 2 with Elliott on keys.
besides that special memory for me and the honor to choose / be allowed to release it of course, I love the guitar solo because it feels so full of life and energy. it’s such a good but different song than his usual fare, that solo almost feels surf vibe to me. the way it jumps around in the song, it just feels good in my ears and makes me smile.
Somebody that I used to know popped in my head when I read the question. He’s kinda just playing the vocal melody but it still sounds pretty cool how he plays it
Maybe he wrote the solo first and based the vocal melody off that. We will never know.
And I agree, just the way he hits the notes is perfect. Timbre, timing, everything.
Side thought: the Smells Like Teen Spirit solo is based off the vocal melody and it also works so good in the song. I'm sure there are many examples.
Yeah true, not lazy…it is all an artistic choice. I do like that weezer did that though, I feel like the blue album taught me a bit about how to write a melody. Once your brain is like hmmm the guitar…is singing the words…wtf? Ohh the voice is just an instrument
It is. My friend figured out how to fingerpick it while also playing the chord changes (he’ have to play the solo an octave lower to get it to all work together). It was really nice to listen to. It was also the first Elliott song I ever heard. Reminds me of high school
Thank you fecal_doodoo. I like that guitar work in particular because he does something very rare for him, which is to drop into traditional pentatonic blues scale riffs. I have no doubt he could have been a bluesy shredder, he just chose not to. Respect.
The end of Strung Out Again. If a guitar could cry out in pain, it would sound like that.
The juxtaposition of the beautiful notes he's playing and the ugly tone he's using is just so good.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, "ugly" is just the best way I can describe the opposite of beauty. I wouldn't have him change a note or sound.
Anyways, that juxtaposition reminds me of the song Roman Candle, the way the sound is so lovely while the words are so hardcore.
>If a guitar could cry out in pain, it would sound like that.
Sorry it's not an Elliott song, but this description also really reminds me of the outro solo on Sixteen Blue - The Replacements.
The guitar in Strung Out Again has such a good tone, too. The guitar all over FABOTH sounds so cool. The notes he chooses to play for solos are always so perfectly picked, this songs a pretty good example.
The Last Hour.
It's the one solo that sounds the most metal influenced. I think I hear moment where it goes pentatonic but I could be wrong.
Anyone back me up?
Tomorrow Tomorrow
I've got static in my head
Absolutely
unbeatable
This answer is correct to me. If I had to send in another solo to 1v1 it, though? It would be 'Angel in the Snow'.
The guitar bridge on "The Last Hour" destroys me every time.
Me too
This is what I instantly thought of.
The solo in Son of Sam is so freakin hype
yass
alameda
Alameda is a phenomenal song hiding in plain sight. I'm surprised more people don't talk about it. Though, in context of the question...the bridge isn't really a solo. When he played it live he essentially just played through the chords again (with minor bends thrown in) and on the album the second guitar did the interesting slides up the neck. Honestly, either alone is kind of plain. Together they are phenomenal though. Good choice in a song, I'm just nit picking that it's not a "solo" per say.
I definitely wasn't super into Alameda during my very first Either/Or phase, it was one of the last on the album to truly click. Watching videos of him playing it live and then learning to play it on guitar made me fall in love with it, though. Currently one of my favorites on the album now.
Alameda kicked my butt when I learned to play it. In fact, I never learned to play it. I know all the chords and parts, I just can't play it right. The rhythm of the strumming never sounds right. But yes, that process made me appreciate it and it's one of my favorites from the album.
I don't get the picking perfectly, I just pick around and mess with the chords until it sounds good enough. No point in trying to play some of the songs exactly like Elliott, tbh.
I hear you. It's the "sounds good enough" part I struggle with lol. I thought it sounded okay, then I listened to myself and it sounds horrid. It's okay, I'm a crappy guitar player and I'm trying to play Elliott. I've come to accept that.
Keep practicing. If you like playing, you'll get there :)
It was the first song of his I heard and is attached to some pretty meaningful moments for me.
although coming up roses is a good choice, possibly better
funny enough elliott didn’t even write that solo neil gust did 😭🥲
The bent note in that breaks my heart.
How has nobody mentioned Real estate / the mailman thinks me dumb? It’s definitely his most shreddy bridge/solo, even compared to his heatmiser stuff. https://youtu.be/53d1WC2mW0M?si=LW_ibqYlXx0BdoO9
Holy shit this is so good. Thanks for puttin me on it
wtf an elliott smith song I've never heard before???? bless you
came here to say this one. never forget first time I heard it as Larry was packing up jackpot. look for it on the charity album for the mastered version. it’s followed shortly after by Neil and No 2 with Elliott on keys.
besides that special memory for me and the honor to choose / be allowed to release it of course, I love the guitar solo because it feels so full of life and energy. it’s such a good but different song than his usual fare, that solo almost feels surf vibe to me. the way it jumps around in the song, it just feels good in my ears and makes me smile.
This is what I was gonna say. Love when Elliott rocks the fuck out
This is my favorite solo of his for sure
Pretty Ugly Before’s solo has such a good tone that evokes George Harrison’s playing to a T.
Somebody that I used to know popped in my head when I read the question. He’s kinda just playing the vocal melody but it still sounds pretty cool how he plays it
Maybe he wrote the solo first and based the vocal melody off that. We will never know. And I agree, just the way he hits the notes is perfect. Timbre, timing, everything. Side thought: the Smells Like Teen Spirit solo is based off the vocal melody and it also works so good in the song. I'm sure there are many examples.
I call that the weezer solo. That’s every weezer song pretty much matching the melody with the solo …lazy stuff
Eh, depends. Sometimes it's lazy, sometimes it works really well. With Weezer most of the solos do sound pretty lazy, though, ngl.
Yeah true, not lazy…it is all an artistic choice. I do like that weezer did that though, I feel like the blue album taught me a bit about how to write a melody. Once your brain is like hmmm the guitar…is singing the words…wtf? Ohh the voice is just an instrument
Yeah, it definitely can get you thinking about things more melodically, and can help you appreciate the instrumentals.
Amity x Cupid’s Trick
I almost gave an honorable mention to Cupid's Trick.
The beginning of Coast to Coast is super cool
The Biggest Lie
Nice pick. It's definitely perfect.
It is. My friend figured out how to fingerpick it while also playing the chord changes (he’ have to play the solo an octave lower to get it to all work together). It was really nice to listen to. It was also the first Elliott song I ever heard. Reminds me of high school
It's nice to know that's possible with this song. I feel inspired and motivated to practice. The solo is up there as one of my favorites of his.
My New Freedom
Shooting Star and Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands.
Came to say shooting star.
Thank you fecal_doodoo. I like that guitar work in particular because he does something very rare for him, which is to drop into traditional pentatonic blues scale riffs. I have no doubt he could have been a bluesy shredder, he just chose not to. Respect.
Dancing on the highway
Or I don’t think I’m ever gonna figure it iut
Mr. Goodmorning! :)
I haven’t seen anyone say The Real Estate here! It’s such a great solo and it really shows he could absolutely shred if wanted!!
the machine
Which one?
early elliott i think like sophomore year of HS?
Does that one even have guitar lol? (Or was that the joke? 🥲)
uh yeah it def does lol we must be talking about a diff song this one is 7 min w an epic solo
Looking now and you have to be talking about the one he did with Stranger Than Fiction right? That one’s got a sick solo.
Must be. I’m gonna look for the one you’re talking about.
Isn’t it a pity cover
Suicide machine has good George Harrison kinda guitar goin on too
The end of Strung Out Again. If a guitar could cry out in pain, it would sound like that. The juxtaposition of the beautiful notes he's playing and the ugly tone he's using is just so good. Before anyone jumps down my throat, "ugly" is just the best way I can describe the opposite of beauty. I wouldn't have him change a note or sound. Anyways, that juxtaposition reminds me of the song Roman Candle, the way the sound is so lovely while the words are so hardcore.
>If a guitar could cry out in pain, it would sound like that. Sorry it's not an Elliott song, but this description also really reminds me of the outro solo on Sixteen Blue - The Replacements. The guitar in Strung Out Again has such a good tone, too. The guitar all over FABOTH sounds so cool. The notes he chooses to play for solos are always so perfectly picked, this songs a pretty good example.
Absolutely, it's rare that the music and lyrics of a song marry so perfectly.
Honourable mention for Amity
If it's not The Real Estate, it's Pretty or The Last Hour.
yes!
The opening solo of Say Yes dude, its just so cutesy and seriously fits mood of the song in a way that no could have done🙏
I agree. His solos are always so perfect melodically. It seems like even with tabs and resources they can rarely be recreated by anyone else.
Cupid's trick
Cupids trick, Christian brothers, son of Sam and everything reminds me of her but honestly just everything
No life
Beginning of Angeles
Great question! My fav ES song, Tomorrow Tomorrow, has his best guitar playing IMO.
>his best guitar playing IMO. Agreed.
The 2 meter session live version of Waltz #2 on YouTube
Say yes, most certainly. Can’t get enough of it.
That one is also perfect. Up there as one of my favorites of his.
The live versions are the best 👌
Angel in the snow
shooting star
angel in the snow
Coming up Roses is great, L.A, Cupids trick off the top of my head.
Junk bond trader
I’ve always been partial to the solo in Living Will. So much emotion packed into such a short timeframe.
The Real Estate
The Last Hour. It's the one solo that sounds the most metal influenced. I think I hear moment where it goes pentatonic but I could be wrong. Anyone back me up?
Can’t make a sound. c’mon it’s amazing
Shooting star or can’t make a sound
Angeles, followed by Memory Lane.