i think it's a bit harsh saying he coudln't write a tune bassed on one short clip of him where he's just showing off different impressive techniques.
but thats kind of my point...if he is the kind of musician who is driven by whatever it is that makes a person show off fancy tricks on stage for 5 minutes, then is he going to be the kind of musician who is able to write a brilliant, composed and well-structured, humble song? Sure, he might be able to, but I'm not convinced from watching that clip, not convinced at all.
I've been listening to a lot of jazz guys of late, and they really blow this guy away. People like Charlie Parker could play technically very accomplished pieces but it always had a musical goal in mind - it was always heading somewhere.
A friend and I were also just talking about this too. I know it may well be improvised but its symptomatic of a lot the things in shred guitar that I just don't like (please note, it's only my opinion). He is playing licks that he has obviously learnt previously, and playing them extremely fast. This isn't music that is 'in the moment', and just doesn't interest me as such....regarding improvisation, I was listening to the guitar album by Ali Farka Toure/Diamani Tuobate 'In The Heart Of The Moon' and happily listened to it many times thinking it was some of the best recorded acoustic guitar playing and songwriting I'd heard in a long long time. My jaw hit the floor when I found out it was all improvised.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that - to me - this music has become irrelevant simply because I find it to be soulless. Musical instruments should be used to create music, and music is only impressive when judged as a complete whole, melody, rhythm, harmony, regardless of technique. There is nothing particularly out-of the-ordinary, apart from technique, in that guy's 5 minute spot.
(in my opinion
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