Is Malmsteen mailing it in?

[ghosty999]

I'm a young Yngwie fan and when I watch Leningrad on DVD it blows me away. (I know alot of it was dubbed from various nights) And then when I return to see this it just makes me sad. My brain says "Don't do it Yngwie" and he does it, another guitar swing, another generic run over a rhythm section.

I've read both his autobiog and unofficial biog and I've never read two more different accounts of the same guy. I think he's numb to the thrill of playing live and just does it cus he has to fund parts for his failing Ferrari 308s and Vintage Rolexs.

I saddens me, the playing on the live Alcatrazz DVD is just insanely clean, low gain and perfect. Shame his tone is so distorted and saturated these days.

 

[tech21man]

Yngwie has been an egomaniac and a douchebag for nearly his entire career but he always had the playing to back up his mouth and actions. Nowadays he's a fat half asser that is in fact mailing it in. Some people may argue "but the world of guitar wouldn't be the same without him" and to that I would agree completely but let's look at some of the legendary players that have influenced how guitar is played today. Slash, Zakk Wylde, EVH, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Kerry King, Paul Gilbert, and so on. All of these guys can play as good as they could in their prime or better. Sure Kirk may also be mailing it in but he has proven that he can still play the old stuff and his solo on the new Exodus song is pretty sweet. These guys all kept up their chops for the most part, some more than others but they can all still play. Yngwie can still play but I just don't think his heart is in it as much as his need for a paycheck.

..... and for a guy that emphatically says he doesn't like donuts he sure looks like he's had a few.

Without wanting to disrespect anyone...Yngwie completely changed the game in the eighties...I cant say the same for your boy Kirk Hammett, who just may have the absolute worst vibrato ever committed to tape. I agree with you about Mustaine, but Hammett is amazingly sloppy live (I have witnessed this many times). Also, please dont put Kerry King in the company of the players you mentioned above. Take that Kahler off of him and he might as well turn the amp off. Completely useless. That being said, Yngwie's early albums set the bar for the post-VH players back in the day. That's a fact.

You know what dude, for hammett getting such a bad rap about his vibrato from malmsteen I say envy (not for the vibrato).

Vibrato is something completely personal, like fingerprints and it can come to taste. F@#$ malmsteen for having one of the most sissy vibrato for me. I don't like it and is one of the reasons I can't listen to him anymore (well not even one of the top 5 reasons). Hammett's vibrato is what it is, and so is zakk wylde's for example. Shaken and stirred. Thing is, hammett DID contribute into game changing even if his stuff is simple vs the classical rip offs of malmsteen. And malmsteen of course will envy metallica's bank account more than hammetts technique of course. Maybe because hammett can drive a real ferrari instead of the failed pontiac fiero malmsteen used to drive...now that's envy. I've read malmsteen mentioning the hammett thing so much in mags etc that he seems more agitated towards hammett instead of the guy that boned april...




But if you wanna talk bad performances it's the g3 jams. He is so, so out of tune with the whole mood that I had a friend almost wanna bash the tv on the little wing and voodoo child jams whenever he saw it!!! There should be a law banning him from that stuff.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I'm a young Yngwie fan and when I watch Leningrad on DVD it blows me away. (I know alot of it was dubbed from various nights) And then when I return to see this it just makes me sad. My brain says "Don't do it Yngwie" and he does it, another guitar swing, another generic run over a rhythm section.

I've read both his autobiog and unofficial biog and I've never read two more different accounts of the same guy. I think he's numb to the thrill of playing live and just does it cus he has to fund parts for his failing Ferrari 308s and Vintage Rolexs.

I saddens me, the playing on the live Alcatrazz DVD is just insanely clean, low gain and perfect. Shame his tone is so distorted and saturated these days.

Nicely put..especially the part about funding parts for his vintage Ferraris because he can't afford anything they built past 87. Bottom line, too much gain, too much speed, too much don't give a f_ck.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

lol at the 6:48 mark. What is he doing with his guitar? Takes it off, swings it, pops the strap, holds the strap ... he's got to be loaded. Dreaming solo was great though. I'll give him that.

 

[Everyonesdarling]

Even if i do not listen to Malmsteens music anymore there are not many players that influenced my playing as much as he did.
Paul Gilbert is a great player and a nice guy. But he didn`t revolutionize guitarplaying as Malmsteen did. Not even close, Metallica is all about James Hetfield and Zakk Wylde man you can`t be serious- what are we discussing next Britney Spears guitar skills?

 

[BMoore77]

Even if i do not listen to Malmsteens music anymore there are not many players that influenced my playing as much as he did.
Paul Gilbert is a great player and a nice guy. But he didn`t revolutionize guitarplaying as Malmsteen did. Not even close, Metallica is all about James Hetfield and Zakk Wylde man you can`t be serious- what are we discussing next Britney Spears guitar skills?

Agreed...If James and Lars dont like it, Kirk aint playing it.(or at least its not going on the album) I do agree that YJM's tone has suffered big time lately. The Alcatrazz and early YJM Rising Force tone was the best . And I could care less about bank accounts, ego, cars, ect. like the one guy mentioned. I thought this was about guitar playing. If you think Malmsteen's vibrato is terrible and Hammett's vibrato is good....wow. I disagree about Hammett being a innovator, trailblazer ect. Dont get me wrong, I appreciate him for what he contributed solo wise on those old albums, but I wouldnt put him in the company of EVH, Randy, and yes, YJM just yet. Kirk's sloppiness was so apparent live because Burton (later Newsted) and Hetfield were so perfect and on point. I thought Mustaine said it best on that Megadeth Behind The Music regarding Hammett.."I saw how long they gave him to do his solo and thought...God, he's horrible." LOL. Speaking of...back in the day, all the guitar nerds in the stores raved about Skolnick and Chris Poland when thrash first hit. Hammett's technique, not so much...The only one mentioned was Burton, really,.... maybe Hetfield's downpicking. Yngwie set the bar when he arrived. Then EVERYONE tried to copy him. Everyone started to say how they were influenced by Pagannini and Bach (Bach n' Roll, remember that one?) sweep picking,Shrapnel label, harmonic minor runs, Phrygian, Phrygian, and more Phrygian! Yngwie started a whole new genre and style playing that was copied by thousands. Yngwie clones, they called them. Never heard of too many Hammett clones. (thank God). All you would need is a wah pedal, mediocre talent, don't rock the boat, be a "yes" man, and keep your mouth shut while James and Lars plan your every move. Yeah, it worked out pretty good for him, God bless. Props to Newsted to have the stones to move on.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

sounded fine to me

you go to a show

to watch a show get put on!

 

[timeroo]

Yngwie has been an egomaniac and a douchebag for nearly his entire career but he always had the playing to back up his mouth and actions. Nowadays he's a fat half asser that is in fact mailing it in. Some people may argue "but the world of guitar wouldn't be the same without him" and to that I would agree completely but let's look at some of the legendary players that have influenced how guitar is played today. Slash, Zakk Wylde, EVH, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Kerry King, Paul Gilbert, and so on. All of these guys can play as good as they could in their prime or better. Sure Kirk may also be mailing it in but he has proven that he can still play the old stuff and his solo on the new Exodus song is pretty sweet. These guys all kept up their chops for the most part, some more than others but they can all still play. Yngwie can still play but I just don't think his heart is in it as much as his need for a paycheck.

..... and for a guy that emphatically says he doesn't like donuts he sure looks like he's had a few.

Without wanting to disrespect anyone...Yngwie completely changed the game in the eighties...I cant say the same for your boy Kirk Hammett, who just may have the absolute worst vibrato ever committed to tape. I agree with you about Mustaine, but Hammett is amazingly sloppy live (I have witnessed this many times). Also, please dont put Kerry King in the company of the players you mentioned above. Take that Kahler off of him and he might as well turn the amp off. Completely useless. That being said, Yngwie's early albums set the bar for the post-VH players back in the day. That's a fact.

Kerry King is what he is, riff wise one of the best in the business but solo wise.... well not so much. However that being said, what he and Hanneman did with their whammy bars and their chaotic soloing styles also revolutionized metal. LOADS of death metal and thrash metal players followed suit with trying to create eerie and uncomfortable landscapes with their solos while maybe not having amazing prowess technique wise. Ive never personally been a fan of the whole whammy bar dumbfuckery but I will say that King and Hanneman started that stuff and it became very popular and still remains popular much like Malmsteen's neo-classical shredding.

 

[mentoneman]

night games
little savages
icarus suite
fire
soldier without faith
caught in the middle
magic mirror

 

[Soulstealer]

Yngwie has been an egomaniac and a douchebag for nearly his entire career but he always had the playing to back up his mouth and actions. Nowadays he's a fat half asser that is in fact mailing it in. Some people may argue "but the world of guitar wouldn't be the same without him" and to that I would agree completely but let's look at some of the legendary players that have influenced how guitar is played today. Slash, Zakk Wylde, EVH, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Kerry King, Paul Gilbert, and so on. All of these guys can play as good as they could in their prime or better. Sure Kirk may also be mailing it in but he has proven that he can still play the old stuff and his solo on the new Exodus song is pretty sweet. These guys all kept up their chops for the most part, some more than others but they can all still play. Yngwie can still play but I just don't think his heart is in it as much as his need for a paycheck.

..... and for a guy that emphatically says he doesn't like donuts he sure looks like he's had a few.

Without wanting to disrespect anyone...Yngwie completely changed the game in the eighties...I cant say the same for your boy Kirk Hammett, who just may have the absolute worst vibrato ever committed to tape. I agree with you about Mustaine, but Hammett is amazingly sloppy live (I have witnessed this many times). Also, please dont put Kerry King in the company of the players you mentioned above. Take that Kahler off of him and he might as well turn the amp off. Completely useless. That being said, Yngwie's early albums set the bar for the post-VH players back in the day. That's a fact.

You know what dude, for hammett getting such a bad rap about his vibrato from malmsteen I say envy (not for the vibrato).

Vibrato is something completely personal, like fingerprints and it can come to taste. F@#$ malmsteen for having one of the most sissy vibrato for me. I don't like it and is one of the reasons I can't listen to him anymore (well not even one of the top 5 reasons). Hammett's vibrato is what it is, and so is zakk wylde's for example. Shaken and stirred. Thing is, hammett DID contribute into game changing even if his stuff is simple vs the classical rip offs of malmsteen. And malmsteen of course will envy metallica's bank account more than hammetts technique of course. Maybe because hammett can drive a real ferrari instead of the failed pontiac fiero malmsteen used to drive...now that's envy. I've read malmsteen mentioning the hammett thing so much in mags etc that he seems more agitated towards hammett instead of the guy that boned april...




But if you wanna talk bad performances it's the g3 jams. He is so, so out of tune with the whole mood that I had a friend almost wanna bash the tv on the little wing and voodoo child jams whenever he saw it!!! There should be a law banning him from that stuff.

So weak, man......anyone that thinks Yngwie has a pussy vibrato is just completely clueless. He also has several actual Ferraris, which were shown in Guitar Aficionado magazine.

Yeah, I wish he would try a little harder to play cleanly, or push himself, but it is what is. He's still a legend and game-changer.

Kirk is a great guy, played some great solos, gets slammed WAY too much....but he IS very lucky to have hooked up with that band.

 

[BMoore77]

night games
little savages
icarus suite
fire
soldier without faith
caught in the middle
magic mirror

How about the solo in "I Am A Viking"? Please go revisit that one. Just for "Black Star" alone, or "Far Beyond The Sun."

 

[tribalfusion]

Yngwie is still a really great player at his thing.


I saw his last tour and I am not even primarily a rock or metal fan...the criticisms here are laughable. Then to counterpose Kirk Hammett etc to him? Laughable.

Yngwie has all the excesses he always had but he's fantastic at what he does well. His vibrato, pitch and execution were fantastic.

The band was there to showcase him. I prefer Blackmore with Dio and Rainbow in that sense but this is not some new Yngwie problem.


Some of you rock guys are so petty.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I didn't think it was that bad actually.

 

[Code001]

I didn't think it was that bad actually.

Agreed, especially considering his guitar was in the air half the damn time.

 

[mentoneman]

night games
little savages
icarus suite
fire
soldier without faith
caught in the middle
magic mirror

How about the solo in "I Am A Viking"? Please go revisit that one. Just for "Black Star" alone, or "Far Beyond The Sun."

everyone has their favorites for different reasons. i don't list much alcatrazz because james dean screaming on vocals ruins most of that for me but i pretty much learned that entire album when it came out.

i am a viking is just so gwar vocally but the playing is great. black star and far beyond the sun were too showoffy and overly dramatic for my tastes as songs but there are moments of beautiful insanity in those too.

to say i was a casual fan would be an understatement

https://youtu.be/tL04k_SiYhY


and the first two songs are pretty cool in this deal:
https://youtu.be/VrWD8UAK3m8

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

The only argument I am making is that he isn't really trying..... that's about it. Still an amazing player and agreed on his vibrato. It is one of the best in the game. Incredible. Big meaty hands like that on 8's can't end up any other way.

 

[Racerxrated]

Yes he's got an ego, and maybe he doesn't play as precise as he used to. We all age and don't do certain things as well as when we were young. That's life. He still sounds pretty fn good to me. As far as vibrato goes, I disagree that it personal taste, or a fingerprint. If you have shit vibrato, you have shit vibrato and instead of working on sweeps you should have perfected a half ass decent vibrato. I personally can't stand hearing players with crap vibrato even if they can play well otherwise. I don't want to diss Hammet but he's one of the only iconic players I can think of that has shit vibrato. If its not important why do all the great players have good vibrato? Evh, Yngwie, Lynch, SRV, Ty Tabor, Jimi, Govan, Gilbert, etc....? It is important.

 

[Aidanspaghetti]

To anyone who doesnt really dig him, please please please listen to "Inspiration"..
An album of covers and just shows what a groovy fecker he is when playing good songs
Its awesome.... !