Do you like Steve Hackett or Steve Howe Solo More?

Hackett. Nothing beats Cinema show for me!!

Steve Hillage

Gerinski wrote: I have always been a bit puzzled by how mediocre Howe's solo music is (apart from the typical acoustic guitar solo pieces) while is work with Yes is so fantastic. It just reinforces my feeling of how important was Jon Anderson's contribution to Yes compositions.

An interesting comparison. Howe does great work with Yes and puts Asia on the map - the moment he goes - so do I. Neither can sing worth a dime.The track "Australia" from Beginnings had me wondering if my (then) turnntable was running slow.

The remark about Anderson and Howe compositions rings strong. Sometimes certain duos act in conjunction. Lennon, McCartney, Page, Plant, Thelma and Louise etc. Howe plays great guitar of course and operates in a way that is anti-rock being a contemporary Chet Atkins. But he works best in the context of adding to work rather than initiating them (solo). Hackett is more practiced at solo albums - nearly 40 years of not being in any but his own bands. Both are versatile, innovative - I's go for Howe's acoustic work more as he seems to demonstrate some more identity there but Hacket kind of fills that area that could be where Gilmour, May and Manzanera have not gone (if that makes sense, it may be the vino calypso doing it bit there.)

The best example should have been GTR. Oh dearie me. Oh god. Sob. Trying to be prog and pop can be done but it needed a deftness of touch. Neither are blues based forms, one is classical work based, the other is sophisticated (not ham-fisticated) work. The best pop (mini symphony of harmonic detail supporting a strong melody with a matching if contrasting chorus - think ABBA or The Beatles) and the best classical (Albinoni to Francseco Zappa ;) and all points in between). GTR manged to avoid all of this. Bless the 198ps and the industry determined to milk a financial reward. Industry - go for a musical intent and you will actually benefit financially. Unless the non gate keeper directed work of Led Zeppelin's example has passed you by. The GTR might have been that blend of adventurous music with top tunes identifying the music rather than a pandering (chasing a nonexistent audience)... sorry about that it still gets me worked up.

Where was I? Listening to BOC and sipping the vino... H or H? I suppose the closest way of comparing the two objectively is Symphonic Yes (with Genesis drummer Bruford - yes I am joking a bit) and Vangelis's singer Anderson as well as Tull's orchestrator, the former Make David Palmer- no longer kidding - not is he/ she). Compared to Hackett's revisiting Genesis.

Hackett by a short and curly.

Tom Ozric wrote: .  Steve Howe in YES .  Steve Howe solo  (and please don't ever, EVER sing lead....).

Either and both of 'em. And Jeff Beck. Great on guitar, switch off the mic. Anderson  - great, Wetton, Collins, Gabriel  -  great. Let the axe meisters work where they accomplish the most the best.

infocat wrote: I think Hackett's voice has actually been quite good on recent albums.

Ah, the blessings of auto tune. Unless it is a coincidence.

So long as he writes, plays guitars and gets worthies like Mr Wetton to do the vox - and bass! then all is well. Shame H and H did not get JW and the rest of Asia to do the super group thing. Fashions eh.

Snow Dog wrote: uduwudu wrote: infocat wrote: I think Hackett's voice has actually been quite good on recent albums. Ah, the blessings of auto tune. Unless it is a coincidence.So long as he writes, plays guitars and gets worthies like Mr Wetton to do the vox - and bass! then all is well. Shame H and H did not get JW and the rest of Asia to do the super group thing. Fashions eh. I disagree. I positively like Hackett singing on his own solo albums but i doubt autotune goes anywhere near him.

I actually like/love most of Hackett's singing, even early on. He has gotten better too. Squackett vocals were exceptional. I like his vocal on the Genesis Revisited version Fountain of Salmacis too. It holds up surprisingly well next to Gabriel's.

Edited by HackettFan - May 25 2013 at 15:00

Hackett......and it's surprising that as good as Howe is his solo work hasn't been more interesting.

Blacksword wrote: Not sure why, but I've never been inspired to listen to a Steve Howe solo album.

If my avatar is any indication, then Hackett wins by a country mile. No contest really. Howe's work with Yes is fantastic of course, but Hackett's solo work is quite fine while Howe's solo albums aren't emotionally/intellectually stimulating in any way to me.

Edited by Mirror Image - April 08 2014 at 20:02