zappa blows petrucci away...

stonebeard wrote: perhaps my post was a not all that well thought out...but i am confused as to why zappa isn't as thoroughly talked about on the forums as petrucci. i love petrucci and DT's music (personally, i think its very emotional, sweeping, and grandoise). however, i still maintain that he is very similar to other metal guitarists whereas zappa was a complete innovator and mastermind of musical concepts not to mention orchestration and other instruments besides the guitar. maybe i am comparing apples to oranges or maybe i'm just pissed off that octavarium wasn't all that i hoped it would be....

Well I like Zappa too (what I've heard), but Petrucci is now and they have a new album out, so he's bound to be discussed (or just cussed)more!

I think also that Octavarium is rather average too BTW

perhaps my post was a not all that well thought out...but i am confused as to why zappa isn't as thoroughly talked about on the forums as petrucci. i love petrucci and DT's music (personally, i think its very emotional, sweeping, and grandoise). however, i still maintain that he is very similar to other metal guitarists whereas zappa was a complete innovator and mastermind of musical concepts not to mention orchestration and other instruments besides the guitar.

maybe i am comparing apples to oranges or maybe i'm just pissed off that octavarium wasn't all that i hoped it would be....

wrax wrote: When Zappa wanted a shredder he called on Vai, in any case.

Steve Vai and Mike Keneally were his "stunt guitarists". The greatest stunts being Approximate and Drowning Witch. I wonder how many people think that was played by Zappa ...

Speaking of Vai: Two of his archives albums are devoted exclusively to Zappa. One features the various songs he played with/for Zappa, the other one features Mike Keneally playing selected Zappa songs on the piano. GREAT stuff!

Man Overboard wrote: Petrucci has an extremely recognizable style.  A few weeks ago, someone posted a clip of an unrecognized song, and I'd never heard it either, but after listening to it, I realized it was Petrucci's playing, so some research led to me realizing it was from his brand new solo album.  So you're wrong on THAT count. However, Zappa *does* blow him and many others away.  Way to be ignorant about metal guitarists, though, many of them have very unique styles.  Douche.

Zappa owns other players as far as truely inventive improvising is concerned. His solos may seem like aimless noodling, but when you take a closer look you'll find that most of what he's playing really makes sense and is not just built from a collection of licks. Few other players manage that, maybe Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Scott Henderson (and others I may not know).

I agree that Petrucci is extremly recognizable. His alternate picking and sweeping are as unique as are his chords in clean passages.