Would guitar solos have worked in REM?

No; REM wasn't about showing off guitar skills, and their music was much too hypnotic in a way for solos to have worked out that well. That's just my opinion anyway.

 

They had guitar solos here and there, they were just very melodic. The one I love comes to mind.

 

Short melodic ones definitely, extended shred wank-fests, not a chance.

 

Silly question - REM HAD guitar solos that fit the music perfectly.

 

Guitar solos in REM? Sure why not.


No they weren't a "guitar solo band" but then again a guitar solo doesn't necessarily mean Eddie Van Halen either. A good guitarist can play a nice melodic phrase or texture to anything. While the songs obviously do not have a "solo section", if they had been interested in a solo, they would have had them and the space would have been made for it.

If you have a guitarist that insists on playing all of the time and showing off, this type of guy would not have worked, but a composer type that played a lead here or there would have worked fine.

 

why not record some REM covers with a band, add extended guitar solos, and see what you think?

 

No, that's one of the things that I and many others liked about them when they came out. They were a breath of fresh air from all the guitar wankery that was dominating pop at the time.

 

Maybe not during the last 10 years. But their early albums had all kinds of riffs and guitar breaks.

 

I have the distinct impression that Peter Buck is not a "hey, look at me!" type of guy/guitar player.

 

This thought has occurred to me as well...

My opinion is that if the music doesn't have a compelling need for solos - of any instrument, not just guitar - then leave it out. A lot of really bad music has been created over the years by so-called "musicians" who approach everything on a formulaic level, plugging in a solo here and there, simply because "it's expected".

My feeling is if that's the way your mind operates, then best for you to not attempt any kind of creative, artistic activity, and go into someting a lot more structured & formulaic instead - like engineering or mechanical drawing.

MM

 

Because you could only make it worse...

MM

 

flowers of guatemala
orange crush

 

reminds me--srv w/ bowie on teh let's dance album. bad on paper magic on carpet

so maybe it wouldve worked out for REM. or violin solos.

 

If so, for some reason, I'd think a U2-type of solo would work on a couple of tunes. I love how the Edge layers his solos with effects, and such.

 

Had they wanted solos, they would have made them work.

 

"Flowers of Guatemala" has one of my favorite Buck solos done in a very mainstream rock style.

 

You have good taste