The Best Air Guitar Album in the World…Ever Vol.1
The Best Air Guitar Album in the World…Ever Vol.1
Artist: Various Artists
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The Best Air Guitar Album in the World… Ever! should not be mistaken for a “greatest rock album ever” kind of affair as it would cause monumental arguments as to why it includes Robbie Williams but not Led Zeppelin. The songs chosen by Queen guitarist Brian May are all there because they make the fingers start flexing, the head to start banging, and force you to assume the imaginary position of a pouting rock guitarist on stage in front of thousands of screaming worshipers. The first disc kicks of with Queen’s heavy blues-rock anthem “Tie Your Mother Down” and ends with one of the most epic guitar solos ever recorded, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” which sadly appears as an abridged version. Highlights along the way are the brooding intro to Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel”, the Surfaris “Wipeout” and seminal guitar moment from beardy rock god Eric Clapton on “Layla”. Disc two has a few more inclusions from recent years with Robbie Williams’ storming “Let Me Entertain You”, Weezer’s “Hash Pipe” and Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag” alongside such classics as Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades”. So in summary there’s no “Stairway” but plenty of guitar hooks, stabs and widdles to keep you prancing like Kiss while sounding like Beavis and Butthead. –Georgina Collins
Good… But should have been greatThis idea has huge potential and these albums could have been a truly great compilation of songs with amazing riffs, solos and all air guitarists want. But there are serious problems.
My first major complaint is that all 3 albums are highly commercialised: Robbie Williams, Avril Lavigne, Blink 182 etc. are on these albums to make sure the younger generation are interested. Also there’s more than just rock on these albums; there’s pop, rap and hip-hop just to please as many people as possible. The reason why that’s annoying is that no pop or rap artists play the guitar, they just get some studio guy to do it.
Throughout the 3 albums there also seems to be a lack of variety, bands wise. There is too much Queen, Status Quo, Def Leppard, ZZ Top etc.. Another thing that annoys me is that Brian May’s arrogance makes it necessary for a Queen song to start each album and funnily enough the band with the most songs on these albums is…. Queen! What a surprise. There is also a lack of some truly great guitar players: Dave Mustaine, Steve Vai, Slash… ‘Sweet Child ‘O Mine’ has one of the greatest riffs ever and a wicked solo!
Enough of the dissing though. Some great songs are present and for most people these albums will have enough solos and riffs to keep you satisfied.
Rock on…
What a fantastic compliation. Maybe not the ‘Best Air Guitar’ album - there are some glaring omissions (Sweet Child of Mine? Anything by AC/DC?) but as a rock compilation is pretty darned good.
You have to wonder why Robbie Williams was included (well, spose it gets the kiddies interested…) but, man, it’s worth it for the sleeve notes alone. Brian May - I’m seeing you in a new light, dude.
not bad but should be better
its still worth buying i suppose, its got some classic songs like smoke on the water, bohemian rhapsody, and apache. Although some songs shouldnt be on this, like robbie williams let me entertain you, personally i like the song but it still shouldnt be on a guitar album. The other problem is that Lynyrd Skynyrds freebird is cut short by about 5 mins and sounds wrong as it has been cut up and glued back together. Derek and the dominoes only number 1 is cut short aswell leaving it half a song, i know the rest of the song is on a piano but it makes the song complete.