This song was off the first album I ever bought. I played it to death on my cheap record player with built in receiver and speakers attached. I came to a realization very recently that this album, along with a few others like Get The Knack (second album I ever bought) are really my biggest influences when it comes to songwriting. It's that power pop sound; rocking guitars with tons of melody. When it comes to songwriting, you don't get much better than this. Everything is ki

When I was seven years old, I discovered an acoustic guitar while playing with my cousins in their basement. My uncle's guitar was in it's case in a closet. I opened the case and looked at it. Something made me want to touch it, so I strummed all the strings and heard a sound like this: That's all it took. From that moment on I wanted to play guitar. My uncle ended up lending me his guitar and the following year I began lessons. Fast forward to the present day... Yesterday,

I have to admit that when I first heard this song when it was released this summer, it didn't really speak to me. Now, I have to say, it is growing on me. I am a fan of LCD Soundsystem and have been for some time but I was a little put off when their sound began to venture into 80's alternative land. I was and am a huge fan of bands like New Order, Joy Division and the Cure and I hear a lot of their influence in this song. I also hear a lot of Bowie in it, especially in the

Recently, I created a chart to help organize all the elements that a student would need to learn to become one or all of the following: - Solo Accompanist - Rhythm Guitarist - Rhythm and Lead Guitarist - Rhythm, Lead Guitarist and Improviser - Songwriter This chart is by no means definitive but I feel it's at least enough to give students some solid guidance for whichever path they choose. Click here to view the interactive chart. Click on any of the paths listed at the top