I just don't get The Edge

[Jahn]

He serves the song, and doesn't wank over it. Johnny marr has a similar approach- with his own style of course.

[MERCYFULFATE]

The Edge is awesome!

[Fretgears]

The thing about The Edge is that he always plays an appropriately emotional accompaniment to the song, and historically his influence is in showing guitarists that they don't have to bend notes or play a blues variation to actually make compelling music.

Sure it isn't exactly complicated, but if you look at the top selling acts of all time in terms of album sales, 99% of them at the top of the heap are not playing complicated things.

They were appropriately capturing a feeling or emotion though.

[DC1]

The job of a guitar player is to bring life, through his/her playing to the music. To elevate it to a new place, to make it better than it was, to reach the hearts of the audience.

By any measure, Edge is a fab player.

Impressing other players?

Not even on the radar. Doesn't matter, never did matter, never will matter.


dc

[The Last Rebel]

This whole thread is like that lightbulb joke.

[thefacelessnate]

I can't wait to catch It Might Get Loud. The part in the trailer where he himself admits that he's not doing much on guitar on one particular song, but its just the effects, is awesome. He really does love effects, and I think he got SO into it years ago that he really loves it. Plus, to do what he does live is very impressive. Clearly he's got a great team to help him get from song to song cohesively, but still, much respect.

I do empathize though, as a U2 fan, on this last record I was expecting perhaps a different take from him, but I heard some sounds that were all too similar. Oh well... he can do whatever he wants and still make it sound good. But the stuff that he was doing in the 80s was very different for what was happening at the time. Nowadays the dotted eighth is everywhere (did Angels & Airwaves really think they were THAT original?), and unfortunately it is used very poorly.

In the end, the Edge really does have a lot of different sounds for the amount of songs he's done, and that to me is impressive.

[Foggy]

Just caught "Rattle and Hum."

While I don't consider Edge a great lead guitarist I think he's an excellent rhythm guitar player who really sets the tone for U2.

Loved B.B. King's cameo and telling Bono that they needed to have someone play the chords because he "wasn't good at chords." Edge played the chords and B.B. wailed on Lucille. Great stuff.

[BBSuggs]

Lil Edgies will live large for generations. Ain't it cool. Even average players can make a fortune when the stars all align and it's packaged just right.

[Tonealicious]

Think about it, he's the guitarist from the one of the most popular bands of all time, and he has never played a pentatonic cliche or blues based lick.

[semi-hollowbody]

Originally Posted by BBSuggs

Lil Edgies will live large for generations. Ain't it cool. Even average players can make a fortune when the stars all align and it's packaged just right.

An average player that can probably smoke most of us here...
r we jealous???

[GerryJ]

Just like Jimi did the best Band of Gypsies guitar style, Edge does the best U2 style.
'why did Hendrix use so much univibe, etc' just a matter of taste

Without edge, U2 would sound like a 100 other UK 80s bands and be long forgotten.
They'd sound like Simple Minds, etc.

It's fine if you don't care for that style of music.

[troykennedy]

He isn't great because of using the delay or because he has impressive chops, which he doesn't.

He is impressive because he is so dang creative, original and musical with the parts and colors he creates in the context of that band. He has innovated an original definitive sound that is his. We should all be so gifted.

[Antelope]

Originally Posted by pedalcr8z

He does indeed have his own sound that is recognizable within a few notes ala Santana which is the mark of a creative musician. Now whether you care for that musician is another story. Myself.........U2 is one of those huge phenomena/cult type bands that make me wonder why along with Grateful Dead and Phish. IMHO these bands are revered as "symbol" groups for what they represent as opposed to any special musical talent.

I can understand not liking the end product, and certainly not liking "the scene" that developed, but I honestly can't understand how anyone could listen to any of the three bands listed in this post and at not at least concede that they have special musical talent.

[pedalcr8z]

Originally Posted by Antelope

I can understand not liking the end product, and certainly not liking "the scene" that developed, but I honestly can't understand how anyone could listen to any of the three bands listed in this post and at not at least concede that they have special musical talent.

You misunderstand my thoughts.......certainly they have some musical talent but not enough in my book to match all the hoopla that these 3 bands garner.

[jimfog]

You know how it is......

If U2 was an obscure cult band, The Edge would be hip enough to be lauded and made a hero.

But, due to their insane hugeness, they all automatically become suspect in some people's eyes.

It's the bizarre nature of the beast.