Thoughts on Yngwie Malmsteen?

Love Yngwie. Bought his debut album after hearing all the buzz around him at the time. Master of the fretboard. I personally loved the neo classical shredding, although I’ve somewhat grown away from it. Those 1st four solo albums are fantastic, especially Trilogy & Odyssey, where the songwriting actually outshined the guitar work.

He’s pretty amazing and extremely prolific

I’d also have Mark Boals & Joe Lynn Turner #1 & #2 because those albums meant so much to me at the time, but Goran Edman who sang on some of the later records is one of my favorite unsung rock vocalist of all time.

Not an Yngwie song, but this is a killer cut (and album) with Yngwie’s amazing keyboard player, Jens Johansson, Michael Romeo, of Symphony X, on guitar, and Goran Edman on vocals.

The Last Viking

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How do you feel about Yngwie as a guitarist? Where would you rank him all time?

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Whatever technical skills there are to have on the guitar, he has them. Show him something that anyone played: Chet, Hendrix, Van Halen? He can probably play it blindfolded.

But, as far as his stuff? Stuff he wrote/created? Never cared for a lick of it. I don't find it musically pleasing in any way, compared to his peers Satch, Vai, Eric Johnson and the like.

Friend of mine doing lead vocals with him......Speed King

LINK

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How do you feel about Yngwie as a guitarist? Where would you rank him all time?

I’ve always thought he is an amazing player. The master of sweep picking, which is very difficult to master. I bought his album “Trilogy” when I was in high school and that was my first exposure to his music. Great album.

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Fantastic player for sure. I'm not the biggest fan of all of his music (prefer Buckethead type shred as opposed to neoclassical), but some of his techniques were groundbreaking. And yes sweeping is very difficult to master.

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Whatever technical skills there are to have on the guitar, he has them.

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Never cared for a lick of it. I don't find it musically pleasing in any way, compared to his peers Satch, Vai, Eric Johnson and the like

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This is where I am with him

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This is where I am with him

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Yeah, same here. Never enjoyed it. Yes, it's impressive you can play that well. It's unfortunate that the songs have no real soul to them.

He's immensely talented, and his influence during the 80s was unmistakable.

I'm a fan - was aware of him since Alcatrazz, and then Rising Force came out and completely changed the scene well beyond Eddie and Randy. His right-hand economy picking is ridiculous. Most people forget he was in a serious car accident between Marching Out and Odyssey, and he had to re-learn a lot after being in a coma.

The first five albums are all very strong, but then he never really grew beyond them save a song or two per album. The Concerto album is worth a listen.

Of course, his songwriting is awful, and now he's singing live. He's become a caricature, and the progression of younger players has moved beyond him.

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But, as far as his stuff? Stuff he wrote/created? Never cared for a lick of it.

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I know the catalogue isn't very deep, but you don't like Icarus Dream Suite? Trilogy Suite?

I think those are moving and beautiful.

For the rockers, the song Rising Force is very fun.