James Dean Bradfield's Weirdest Guitar Solo? No poll apols

[cherrybomb]

It's All Gone? I seem to remember a few Lifeblood era besides having strange little solos.

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by cherrybomb

It's All Gone? I seem to remember a few Lifeblood era besides having strange little solos.

Had a listen to that and couldn't tell if it was cut together or just James practicing for People Ruin Paintings!
I think a borderline could be Love Torn Us Under. It starts melodramatic then just goes fuck itttttt.
Keep your suggestions coming. And apologies if everything you here from him will make you think is this weird enough?

[Glyn]

Oh god, does the Stylophone solo on So Why So Sad count for this thread ?

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by Glyn

Oh god, does the Stylophone solo on So Why So Sad count for this thread ?

I still love that. James once tried or played that on guitar. But looked really embarrassed playing it!

[Porco]

Good thread, weird is subjective. Is not being weird the weirdest thing in a question of what is weird if it’s done weirdly?

I am going to suggest the underrated JDB (That’s No Way to Tell a Lie) B-side Don’t Look Back. Here is my argument:

- The (solo’s)/choruses’ 2nd guitar basically (re)starts/returns about half way through the song and continues til the end, both under the vocals (so arguably not a solo then, indeed the song is kind of a duet), but it’s a B-side from a solo project. So that’s all a bit weird really isn’t it?
- It’s made up of notes and then chords towards the end.
- It’s very straightforward notes-wise, almost obtusely ‘horizontal’. Probably to evoke the forward momentum of the train of the lyrics.
- It has this awesome perfectly/barely-restrained vibrato that sounds like it’s almost trying to do something else at various points (A pitch bend? A harmonic pinch? To look back?!) but is held on the tracks… then focus on the very, very end of the song, it gets this weird feedback/distorted little bend and I’m not even sure if it’s a guitar or distorted synth blended into it, but I guess it’s like a train putting the brakes on as it rolls into the station (or encounters leaves on the line?!).
- It’s a lovely little tune that is IMHO better than some of the TGW album tracks, yet he made it a B-side. Weird (as in strange, not unusual for him or the Manics though!!).

Flaws in my Case / Flies in my Ointment (JDB: On the Naughty Step: Deluxe re-release bonus track):

- It’s not very complicated or discordant or weirdly timed or anything.
- If it’s still going under the vocals it’s not really a solo? Well, some of it. Maybe? Depends on your definition. There’s even vocal stuff going on in the proper solo bit.
- Am I just being biased to promote/remind people of this track because I love Thórunn Antonía Magnúsdóttir’s voice on this? Maybe a bit. Maybe that would me being weird though? So there’s a conundrum as to whether it helps or harms my case. Hmm.
- I may have overthought all this and should have just said ‘yeah, it’s Faster’.

[Clint Bradfield]

The first solo in 'comfort comes' is quite bizarre.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Dac X Lee

To be honest, I weirdly liked SYMM ever since I was very young. Like, we're talking puberty here, preadolescence.
I found the lyrics to be pretty interesting and honest, and that sound added some kind of a mysterious feeling to the whole package, while the idleness of it kinda pierced into my sense of empathy.

TIMTTMY came out when I was 13 and at first I didn't like the lyrics at all, referring to 'this song' during the song seemed a bit trite, but also I have to admit at that age I was uninformed about Hillsborough and it makes more sense to me now.

Originally Posted by rosetree

Valley Boy one is weird and just stunning! would love to hear it on the tour.

Seconding this. An incredible song that deserved more than being tucked away on a b-side, but yes, what a majestic and surprising solo. I'd love to see it played live.

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Seconding this. An incredible song that deserved more than being tucked away on a b-side, but yes, what a majestic and surprising solo. I'd love to see it played live.

Possibly the solo made it a b-side. It is superb on Lipstick Traces. I'm not sure when the band last played it, would be perfect for Critical Thinking tour.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by rosetree

I'm not sure when the band last played it

Sadly I don’t think it’s ever been played live, one of their many excellent songs that never made a setlist.

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Sadly I don’t think it’s ever been played live, one of their many excellent songs that never made a setlist.

That is a shame whoever decides what they play live, or does James remember the chords on Valley Boy. I also wish they'd play Sepia or any they haven't performed before.

[less than zero]

Originally Posted by Glyn

Oh god, does the Stylophone solo on So Why So Sad count for this thread ?

Came here to say exactly this

[UEF]

Originally Posted by rosetree

That is a shame whoever decides what they play live

I believe this video should clarify there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewWcMPBtFTk

I also wish they'd play Sepia or any they haven't performed before.

I asked for that at the last Banquet Records/Pryzm acoustic show and James laughed

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by rosetree

That is a shame whoever decides what they play live, or does James remember the chords on Valley Boy.

Setlist choices is a topic that comes up from time to time. It's a weird one, I have seen them play quite a range over the years, especially when they've played full albums that included lesser performed album tracks, but then so often they do have a fairly predictable bunch of "standards". Then from time to time they throw out rare songs which don't stick around for whatever reason, the Bath gig before Glastonbury for example.

I personally would love to see more b-sides or unplayed album tracks in the set over the same handful of singles, maybe a rotating approaching like The Cure, but they seem to be unwilling a lot of the time. James has even said that he doesn't like it when he goes to gigs and artists avoid the hits.

Originally Posted by rosetree

I also wish they'd play Sepia or any they haven't performed before.

Originally Posted by UEF

I asked for that at the last Banquet Records/Pryzm acoustic show and James laughed

I mean, that is kinda (like) amusing, but also such a shame! Sepia is a wonderful song, probably my favourite EMG b-side.

[Son of Stopped]

This thread has at least given me the idea of James getting to sleep in a hotel room before bursting out laughing again going "Fucking Sepia!'.

Comfort Comes is a great pick. And his b-sides are probably worth digging back out.
But yeah, James laughing at Sepia request. My chest trembling with a silent laughing fit just typing that sentence.

[Europa Gluten Free]

We have to get Sepia played somewhere on the next tour.

Can people start shouting it at him, especially at the intimate album launch thing.