That’s an interesting comment, and while I agree with you in the specific (Soul Asylum), I disagree with you in the general. I think Danny is a great guitar player. But I always found it unusual -- and have actually remarked to several of my friends over the years -- that Soul Asylum lacks a distinctive and unmistakable guitar voice. And yet, they're a guitar band. I personally think most guitar bands do have a signature sound apart from the vocals. Think about bands like Sonic Youth, X, Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies, Television, the Smiths, U2. Those are all bands where the guitar has an incredibly distinctive voice. And haven’t you been able to pick out bands based on a few bars of music even if it’s a new song or one you previously hadn’t head– well before the vocals kick in?Jackofalltrades wrote:With the vast majority of bands, the vocals is what defines the sound.
SA’s sound certainly changed over the years, but I remember thinking it was odd that as a band they didn’t have a signature guitar sound – especially since, up until now, Danny has been a constant. It’s interesting that SA’s most distinctive guitar riff is the intro that Dave plays on Somebody to Shove.
I do think that Made to Be Broken/While You Were Out-era Soul Asylum had a distinctive “chugga chugga tick tick tick” sound. And Danny did introduce a guitar style on “All the Kings Men” that resurfaced in later songs. But you are right that Dave gives Soul Asylum its sound.
Not saying it's good or bad. But I've always found it unusual.