The purpose of this thread is simple: to show that Robert Smith is one of the greatest guitarists ever...
We'll start with a 1984 live song: 'Blow the House Down', when Robert was part of the Banshees:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYt8Kszng_I
The Kiss from France 2002 :smth020
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=_emPuX4Zka8
And he still KICKS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :smth023 :smth023 :smth023 :smth023 :smth023
Baby Rag Doll Book---MSG, NYC JUNE 21st 2008!!! :smth020
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpVcEhWYfpA
My top 5 RS guitar songs:
I'm Cold(Studio Demo) from TIB Deluxe
A Forest from Seventeen Seconds
All I Have to Do Is Kill Her from L'Olympia 1982-07-06
It Used to Be Me from Join the Dots
Pornography from 4Play
Quote from: revolt on July 02, 2008, 14:01:23
The purpose of this thread is simple: to show that Robert Smith is one of the greatest guitarists ever...
We can say that Bob has a special way to play guitar,
but saying that he's one of the greatest guitarist ever :shock:
Listen to M for instance, very simple.
Em C Em C Em C B
He's no Hendrix or Clapton or Beck or Zappa...
He's Robert and he plays simple guitar.
That's why we like him i believe.
Quote from: Zio_Ulisse on July 03, 2008, 09:24:05
[We can say that Bob has a special way to play guitar,
but saying that he's one of the greatest guitarist ever :shock:
Listen to M for instance, very simple.
Em C Em C Em C B
He's no Hendrix or Clapton or Beck or Zappa...
He's Robert and he plays simple guitar.
That's why we like him i believe.
When I say "greatest" I don't mean "the most technically accomplished". Robert surely isn't a virtuoso like Hendrix or Clapton or Beck... I'm talking about things like "feeling", "taste" and "inventiveness"...
Now, about his guitar playing being simple... It depends on the songs, really. Some are simple, sometimes he only plays simple chords to keep the rhythm. But even that can be great in its own way. A rhythm guitarist can kick ass too! (Keith Richards, anyone?) However, the kind of stuff I was thinking when I started this thread was the songs where Robert plays lead... There are quite a few recordings with great solos, whether live or in the studio. Maybe this thread will show that.
Well, here's 'A Forest' at the Nurburgring Festival 1986:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnb73If1-is
You can compare the solo with the one on the 'In Orange' film, also recorded in 1986:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGCARzk5wos
Quote from: cure_kitty on July 02, 2008, 15:57:49
And he still KICKS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :smth023 :smth023 :smth023 :smth023 :smth023
Baby Rag Doll Book---MSG, NYC JUNE 21st 2008!!! :smth020
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpVcEhWYfpA
Nice try, cure_kitty, but in that video it is kind of difficult to discern who plays what, Porl or Robert... Also the song is kind of weak, me thinks....
Quote from: mint car on July 02, 2008, 15:51:31
The Kiss from France 2002 :smth020
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=_emPuX4Zka8
Great guitar playing in there! Although I´m not sure if the first part of Robert's solo fits the song's aggressive mood - it feels almost too cool for such a powerful song. But he eventually gets the fire started, that's for sure...
I still haven't heard a live rendition where the solo is as great as in the studio version, though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=galjhGOIWDU
Hi there, I just registered because I lurked around here and stumbled on this thread :)
Regarding The Kiss live, what about this one? I think it's full of energy but that's maybe only because I went to that show :roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriPN1HJeIg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriPN1HJeIg)
I have always dug his intro and playing on '82 versions of 'A Short Term Effect'--incredible.
Quote from: revolt on July 02, 2008, 14:01:23
He's no Hendrix or Clapton or Beck or Zappa...
clapton ? beck ? everything that any post punk band has deliberately rejected (to stay polite).
so, no, he's definitely not one of them.
fortunately.
and i don't even need the kiss to prove myself that RS is a great guitarist ; any carnage visors or faith, as simple as they are, are sufficient enough.
since when the number of notes played, or the speed of your fingers, says you're a great musician ? not since 1976, that's for sure, and not before either, of course : morton feldman has made amazing pieces, even where there is one note played every two minutes.
I have to agree with revolt - Robert may not be the most technically accomplished guitarist, but it's the level of feeling and emotion in his playing that gets me....listen to the Trilogy version of Bloodflowers...pure emotion....gets me every time...
Forever from Toronto 2004! :smth023 :rocker
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWV0z-H5S8
Quote from: inja on July 03, 2008, 21:08:22
Hi there, I just registered because I lurked around here and stumbled on this thread :)
Regarding The Kiss live, what about this one? I think it's full of energy but that's maybe only because I went to that show :roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriPN1HJeIg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriPN1HJeIg)
Well, that's a good version (actually I never heard a bad version of 'The Kiss') but I like the 2002 France version posted here better - both in sound quality and performance. Still the studio version is even better.
Quote from: disintegration on July 04, 2008, 12:56:04
Forever from Toronto 2004! :smth023 :rocker
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWV0z-H5S8
Powerful rendition of a great song, yes! But... watching the video I conclude that Robert only plays basic rhythm guitar here. The occasional lead-like parts seem to be played by Perry Bamonte, no?
Here's 'Killing an Arab' live in 1980 (Boston).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APEzEjjUDfo
Short and to the point, but what a guitar tone!
yeah, we all agree... but Porl doesn't half compliment RS!!!
Shiver And Shake from Rio De Janeiro 1996 :)
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=mUWawxnVaNE
ROBERT IS GUITAR HERO !!! :rocker
Quote from: mint car on July 05, 2008, 18:26:28
Shiver And Shake from Rio De Janeiro 1996 :)
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=mUWawxnVaNE
ROBERT IS GUITAR HERO !!! :rocker
Not among my favourite Cure songs, but Robert gets a good rock style on that one...
One a more pensive mood, two live versions of 'If Only Tonight We Could Sleep'...
From the 'Trilogy' DVD (recorded in Berlin, 2002):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucbfzjFqbUc
From 2000, Dream Tour (there's some lack of sync between image and sound, but nevermind):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxmCEDU-G1M
Here is 100 Years played live in Barcelona, in 1985:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW71q07kALc
Robert really goes wild on this one, he even sometimes goes ahead of the beat and gets a few "wrong" notes... A real "take no prisoners" attitude! :-D
Here is a powerful 1984 live version of 'Pornography', with fine trippy guitar work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAe5waeCcao
Quote from: revolt on July 17, 2008, 17:24:33
Here is a powerful 1984 live version of 'Pornography', with fine trippy guitar work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAe5waeCcao
great. There was Andy on drums and Phil on bass :) it was interest formation for me...
Quote from: revolt on July 10, 2008, 15:51:31
Here is 100 Years played live in Barcelona, in 1985:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW71q07kALc
Robert really goes wild on this one, he even sometimes goes ahead of the beat and gets a few "wrong" notes... A real "take no prisoners" attitude! :-D
Yeah, that's a great one. My second favorite, actually. But I think the "Live in Japan" version tops it. For me it's one of the highlights in Mr. Smith's live playing career. He just goes NUTS on that one!
I'm hesitant to find a crappy YouTube link, because it probably won't do it justice.
But this is something I've been meaning to bring up for ages... What happened to the guitar solo for 100 Years? It's like he's given up on it.
It's been almost EXACTLY the same ever since 2000. So short and predictable. This kinda ruins the song for me anymore, because it always ends on a such a cliché. :smth015
Quote from: mint car on July 18, 2008, 11:39:02
Quote from: revolt on July 17, 2008, 17:24:33
Here is a powerful 1984 live version of 'Pornography', with fine trippy guitar work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAe5waeCcao
great. There was Andy on drums and Phil on bass :) it was interest formation for me...
A very untypical line-up, yes, but they kicked ass! Andy Anderson is just a great drummer and, well, Phil Thornaley is the guy who produced the 'Pornography' album...
Quote from: lostflower4 on July 18, 2008, 13:00:34
Quote from: revolt on July 10, 2008, 15:51:31
Here is 100 Years played live in Barcelona, in 1985:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW71q07kALc
Robert really goes wild on this one, he even sometimes goes ahead of the beat and gets a few "wrong" notes... A real "take no prisoners" attitude! :-D
Yeah, that's a great one. My second favorite, actually. But I think the "Live in Japan" version tops it. For me it's one of the highlights in Mr. Smith's live playing career. He just goes NUTS on that one!
I'm hesitant to find a crappy YouTube link, because it probably won't do it justice.
But this is something I've been meaning to bring up for ages... What happened to the guitar solo for 100 Years? It's like he's given up on it.
It's been almost EXACTLY the same ever since 2000. So short and predictable. This kinda ruins the song for me anymore, because it always ends on a such a cliché. :smth015
Well, here is the You Tube link to the Japan version (hope you don't mind):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFeGRuLj-G0
Yeah, I really like that solo...
The Kiss... best guitar thing Robert has done.
But really, speaking Cure, I never think of Robert as the guitar XD I love him for his lyrics, his personality, *his hair*, and his butt chin!
Here is a passionate rendition of 'Sinking', live at the Nurburgring festival:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojTxQCjlgw
Very nice guitar playing on this one (and great voice too).
Is it possible to kick ass when you're playing simple rhythm acoustic guitar and you're not even that loud in the mix? I think so. Here is some evidence: Robert playing "Pull to Bits" with Siouxsie & The Banshees, in 1983 (this is from the 'Nocturne' video, and, by the way, is one of the best Banshees songs ever - the studio version was originally a B-side).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYoSxxmoBUM
My three faves are The Kiss & A Strange Day from the Berlin 2002 Show (Trilogy DVD) & Push from the Festival 2005 DVD.
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=yshUFah31iQ
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=9atr_8a3bxk
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=v0XGbTbiu3s
Quote from: pussycat on August 11, 2008, 01:51:52
My three faves are The Kiss & A Strange Day from the Berlin 2002 Show (Trilogy DVD) & Push from the Festival 2005 DVD.
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=yshUFah31iQ
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=9atr_8a3bxk
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=v0XGbTbiu3s
perfect choice :rocker