best instrumental rock albums emphasizing melody over technique no jazz/fusion !!!

[zepwanker]

looking for some new tunes/bands. I've greatly enjoyed:

steve stevens memory crash,
pete thorn guitar nerd,
andy timmons resolution,
steffen shackinger electric guitaristry,
joe satch's latest album unstoppable momentum


In my opinion, these examples all have great guitar playing, not too far out there making it hard to acquire a taste for, and have MELODIES i can remember and stick in the brain...a good recipe for music that is enjoyable, not just impressive.

On the acoustic side:
antoine dufour
hunter van larkins
andy mckee
phil keaggy

Examples of BANDS that fit the same bill to my ear/preferences:
zeppelin, pink floyd, guns n roses, u2 etc....

thanks for any recommendations!

 

[Jimmydeez]

I really like Explosions in the Sky - the earth is not a cold dead place.

 

[pete100ca]

looking for some new tunes/bands. I've greatly enjoyed:

steve stevens memory crash,
pete thorn guitar nerd,
andy timmons resolution,
steffen shackinger electric guitaristry,
joe satch's latest album unstoppable momentum


In my opinion, these examples all have great guitar playing, not too far out there making it hard to acquire a taste for, and have MELODIES i can remember and stick in the brain...a good recipe for music that is enjoyable, not just impressive.

On the acoustic side:
antoine dufour
hunter van larkins
andy mckee
phil keaggy

Examples of BANDS that fit the same bill to my ear/preferences:
zeppelin, pink floyd, guns n roses, u2 etc....

thanks for any recommendations!

Any Dixie Dregs album.

 

[mango]

Any Dixie Dregs album.

+1

add The Introduction - Steve Morse Band

 

[guitardork]

Blow by Blow

 

[Mayflower]

Blow by Blow

Absolutely.
I actually hashed them all out and played the more known.

 

[mugician]

I really like Explosions in the Sky - the earth is not a cold dead place.

Beat me to it.

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care is another of their albums that fits the description.

That said, Explosions in the Sky is definitely not in the same vein as Pink Floyd/Led Zeppelin, so...

 

[GtrWiz]

Not fusion or rock, Duke Levine's Country Soul guitar is one of the most melodic and tasteful guitar records I've ever heard.

 

[catpeople]

Ohm. I know you said no fusion, but the lead guitarist used to be in Megadeth. It's actually a jazz trio with Cream's attitude, Megadeth's energy, and beautiful melodies. Check them out.

 

[CowTipton]

He may be most well known for technique but Paul Gilbert's Fuzz Universe is chock full of great melodies.

 

[markjsmith]

Greg V.-Tailgate Troubadour-just great understated guitar music!

 

[MickeyJi]

Neal Schon : Beyond The Thunder

Guthrie Trapp : Pick Peace

Thomas Blug : Electric Gallery

 

[Average Joe]

This lives in some odd but wonderful place between pop/rock/country/jazz

For non-fusion melodic rock I think Satch is the master. He may not be the fanciest in terms of flash or technique but he's always got a melody in those solos

 

[guitararmy]

+1

add The Introduction - Steve Morse Band

I also like Steve Morse's earlier solo releases like High Tension Wires, Southern Steel and Coast to Coast, as well as Stressfest.

 

[DaveKS]

Combination Head. 1st release all instrumental. But dont ignore later releases because of the few vocal tracks.

Ronnie Montrose (RIP) - Mutatis Mutandis, hard to find but worth every note. PM me if interested.

Very worthy but getting into fusion, Volto. Very hard jazz/rock.

Gamalon- Aerial View fusion but it rocks hard.

It's getting harder to find pure instrumental melodic guitar oriented rock. I love Memory Crash, Andy McKee also.

If you want to get out of pure instrumental stuff...
Unitopia - The Garden 2CD set, not a filler on it. Artificial just as good.
Spocks Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep - Limited Edition
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia

 

[huw]

Anything by The Hellecasters.

 

[Chrome Dinette]

I don't know if it fits the OP's criteria, but this is my favorite instrumental rock record:


Killing Time by Massacre

Fred Frith-Guitar
Bill Laswell-Bass
Fred Maher-Drums

 

[Porrig]

I really like Explosions in the Sky - the earth is not a cold dead place.

First one into my head as well. Also, in a somewhat similar vein, Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling.

 

[RV52]

Are my eyes fooling me or did really nobody mention Danny Gatton so far?

 

[michaelvincent]

Waking Season by Caspian is amazing. Simple, melodic, and really beautiful music.


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