Where have all the good riffs gone!

AirGuitarHero · #1 04-17-2005, 10:56 PM

I know many of you will disagree with me, but here it goes:

Am I the only one who thinks that riffs are the essence of rock songs? If so, what happened to great riffsters? Where are they? Have I gone deaf or riffs aren't the building block of rock songs any longer?

I hardly ever hear riffs that 'grab' me anymore. To me, most bands post-mid 90s sound bland and dull. That's why I love Queens of the Stone Age. Homme is hardly a virtuoso, but he can make a great song with a couple of chords, just like Iommi. Queens is one of the very few bands that can play the same riff for 4 minutes and not bore me, strangely enough. But that's just my taste.

Perhaps Nuno was right when he said Jimmy Page had already written all the good ones...

Man, I sound like my father, I'm getting OLD

Rattlehead · #2 04-17-2005, 11:18 PM

They left with Randy Rhoads

Two hands31 · #3 04-18-2005, 01:57 AM

Half the time it seems like someone writes one good (though sometimes not great) riff, and uses it for a whole album

There's still some good stuff out there though. But I know what you mean. I learned guitar off riffs, especially Metallica (Black album stuff mainly). Back when I didn't know the theory or the names or anything, but I knew the pattern of the riff and could play it, even if I didn't know how it fit together.

**elcid** · #4 04-18-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

They left with Randy Rhoads

Thats not true, great riffs went away after Master of Puppets

lyconxero · #5 04-18-2005, 02:26 AM

I dunno. I thought for a while that great riffs had gone as well, but then I heard Dream Theater's latest album and was just amazed at how well Petrucci was at coming up with riffs. Generally with those virtuoso types, they can write great lead stuff and damn good licks, but they're riffs are generally lacking. But this is just not so with Petrucci and I'm definitely a DT convert.

bob mclaughlin · #6 04-18-2005, 09:47 AM

Pick up the new Black Label Society's Mafia c.d, Zakk will show you how it's done......

fettouhi · #7 04-18-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcid

Thats not true, great riffs went away after Master of Puppets

??? What about Eddie's riffs on their 1991 album or Poison's 3 first albums.

Regards

André

Tom Gilroy · #8 04-18-2005, 01:34 PM

Great riffs left after Zeppelin broke up.

fettouhi · #9 04-18-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

Great riffs left after Zeppelin broke up.

BAH

!

Regards

André

Tom Gilroy · #10 04-18-2005, 04:14 PM

I'm sure there are other good ones but I couldn't be arsed to listen to them. So for me anyway good riffs left when Zeppelin broke up.

evil_k666 · #11 04-18-2005, 04:44 PM

i was always digging into this kind of firehouse or xyz's "inside-out" type of riffs... i think firehouse was one of the greatest...
today there is still a lot of good riffers... thinking of disharmonic-metal-kings opeth (they come up with stuff where i always just sit with my mouth open wondering what kind of mastermind mikael akerfeldt is...)

Goozman · #12 04-18-2005, 04:46 PM

Adam Jones of Tool. Excellent riffs.

Goozman

AirGuitarHero · #13 04-19-2005, 12:31 AM

Ha, I started a cool thread!

My opinion: I find 70's riffs the most catching. They're the ones that grab me by the balls! Zep, Sabbath, Aerosmith, Purple, Nazareth, AC/DC early Priest, Rush, Queen and many I forget.

In the 80s: Van Halen, AC/DC, Maiden (although Maiden is not very riff-oriented). I never cared for heavy metal or hair metal, not my cup of tea. I forgot Eat'em and Smile LOL, a masterpiece. In general I find 80s music bland and dull (funnily enough, pop was very good back then, although I don't like it)

Late 80s and early 90s: a magical time, so many new bands and styles, so much exciting and daring music. As well as the classics (Metallica, Megadeth, Maiden, etc. NOT Van Halen though!) and shred/virtuosos, we had Extreme, Jane's Addiction, Pantera, Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Mindfunk, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam (only 1st album)... Most of them delivering serious riffage! No 'labels', 'genres' and nonsense. Just music. That's the time I was learning to play and I'm greatful for that.

What happened then? I won't be the umpeenth person to blame Kurt Cobain for that. He just did what he did and did it well, and I don't think he had anything against other types of music. How could so much good music dilute into what we have today?

I think the music industry is a lot to blame, with their zeal for 'segmenting' the market and labelling every new band, thereby not giving a chance to different musicians. But I also think musicians have 'labelled' themselves by not being very imaginative and becoming comfortable in their niche. Van Halen's abominable decline is the prime example.

Anyway, back to riffs. Nowadays, what band do you think is keeping riffing alive? I'm talking simple, groovy riffs that form the basis of the song and make you want to bang your head. In the words of David Lee Roth, 'it makes you want you drink, dance and f*ck' For me, it's Queens of the Stone Age.

Thoughts?

Disclaimer: these are just my opinions and tastes and they are no better or worse than anybody else's. Everybody has an as*hole, and here is mine

tone_connoisseur · #14 04-19-2005, 01:24 AM

I think there are some bands out there that will bring a whole new wave of good songs with licks to boot. To name a few of my favorite innovators of good licks:

Nuno
George Lynch
Gilbert
Vai
Akira Takasaki
Ronni Letekro
Malmsteen
Eddie Van Halen

I think we have a HUGE catalog of music, but it would be nice to hear something new and innovative.

I'm sure I left out some great ones, feel free to add your favorites!!

evil_k666 · #15 04-19-2005, 01:26 AM

aerosmith...goddammit, how could i have forgot to mention them! aerosmith is probably one of the greatest bands ever!
talking bout 80's or 70's , i do think this were the times, where you could live from the music easier than nowdays... ppl wanted to hear your playing, your band, so they went to the concerts! nowadays the "steal" your music, buy the dvd or whatever... concerts must had been more of an adventure earlier...
i always loved the view at the g3 in the audience --> you see that they are kind of bewitched...
nowdays queens of the stone age are good riffers...
used to like early testament stuff (alex skolnick)... not talking about riffs, but about solos! think he's one of the best.... yet thats another topic