singemfrc 
Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 4407
Location: California
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 Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 7:18 pm Post subject: 6/29 DLC: The Who and Stevie Ray Vaughan! |
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| Harmonix wrote: | How do artists achieve icon status? Releasing material like Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Crossfire and The Who I Can See for Miles is one surefire way to make a lasting mark! Youll want to pick up this new DLC debuting Thursday in the Rock Band Music Store.
Theres plenty of debate as to who the best guitarist ever is (or was), but one name that is always in the conversation deservedly is the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan. Crossfire, the lead single off Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Troubles fourth and final studio album, 1989s In Step, is a blues-rock masterpiece and SRVs only U.S. number-one hit. On this track, Double Trouble Tommy Shannon on bass, drummer Chris Layton, and keyboardist Reese Wynans are in fine form and the cut is bolstered further by the Texacali Horns (Joe Sublett on sax and Darrell Leonard on trumpet). Starting off with a machine-gun snare fill followed by a slinky bass figure and subtle organ, Crossfire gets its first salvo of SRVs distinctive pentatonic six-string wizardry at the 10-second mark. At :26, Stevie lends his gravelly, soulful voice to the track and the overall sonic picture of Crossfire is complete. The song is fundamentally steeped in the blues, but this isnt some yawn-inducing retread of same-old, same-old 12-bar bar blooze rather, the result a piece that has foundational roots in blues tradition, but adds some modern, pop-ish changes and arrangements that make it both more accessible and interesting. In many ways, Crossfire is structured as almost a duet or call-and-response, with SRVs iconic axe(referred to by Vaughan as his first wife) reacting to, and countering, each vocal line. At 1:57 begins a truly masterful solo characterized by barely contained bends and silky smooth hammer-ons and pull-offs. Ironically, given the chart success and enduring legacy of Crossfire, at the time the powers that be believed that SRVs guitar heroics were too wild for mainstream consumption. Layton has recounted that the label said, Its a great song. And it would really do everything that [a hit] needs to. But wed have to get rid of the guitar solo because that kind of stuff doesnt really work on contemporary hits radio. And Stevie said, Well, I thought we were a guitar band. So anyway, it turned into a little bit of a heated discussion because they were really pushing for this. Safe to say the bigwigs got this one wrong! The guitar thrashing that begins at 3:35 and intensifies through to Crossfires climax a minute and a half later is remarkable, unhinged, dynamic, and pure magic. Whether youre familiar with Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble or this serves as your introduction to this axe-master and his powerful backing troupe, you are in for a serious treat!
One of the biggest names of the 60s British Invasion, architects of modern hard rock, and an act that laid the foundation for what evolved into both heavy metal and punk, The Who are one of the most significant bands of the modern rock era. I Can See for Miles, the only single from the groups 1967 album, The Who Sell Out, is a thumping, powerhouse barnstormer that brought The Who their greatest U.S. chart success, reaching #9 on the Top 100. All the signature elements are in place Keith Moons manic work behind the drumkit, John Entwistles groundbreakingly virtuosic bass lines, Roger Daltreys unhinged howl, and the power-chord bashing of the inimitable Pete Townshend but somehow even more muscular and nasty than the quartet had managed to commit to tape up until that point. The ultimate Who record The most rock n roll, the dirtiest thing [theyd] ever done, Townshend called it upon release (later disappointed that the single didnt reach #1 as he had expected and hoped), and many would agree! Coming in with all guns blazing, I Can See for Miles kicks off with distorted guitar, grumbling bass, and ominous drums before Daltreys sinister, threatening vox join the fray at the 10-second mark. Lyrically, the track is well, *creepy* a not-so-thinly veiled warning from the protagonist to his lover to not mess about while hes out of town, because (wait for it) he, can see for miles and miles and will know what shes up to. At the first chorus, Townshend unleashes a gnarly one-note guitar lead that presages the punk movement by roughly a decade. At 2:11 the actual guitar solo takes this motif and runs with it: a single twangy note played at high speed, over and over, for 10 whole seconds. Attitude, anyone? While in todays context The Who may be something of a legacy act, in 1967 these boys were edgy, pissed, and downright dangerous. The whole song is fizzy/fuzzy guitars, snarly vocal delivery, aggressive lyrics, and a relentless rhythm section. Oh, it doesnt hurt that its also catchy as hell! Moon is justly revered for his inventiveness and reckless abandon on the kit, but wow does he really unleash on I Can See for Miles! Every time it seems his haphazardly aggressive, take-no-prisoners approach to the drums is going to abandon any concept of keeping time, he lands squarely back on the beat. Chaos with just a tiny touch of restraint is the name of the game for just over four minutes, making for one of the most innovative and influential songs in rock history. You probably already know this banger and if you dont, you will be so very glad to add it to a new favorite to your playlist. Its hard to fathom how I Can See for Miles still sounds every bit as fresh and revolutionary today as it did upon its release over a half-century ago, but truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Bow down to one of the all-time greats! |
Available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, and PS5:
RIVALS SEASON 32 SEASON PASS - ( $24.99/ $24.99)
Entitles purchaser to all 17 songs released between now and August 16th!!)
For some reason the XBox Season pass is again not available on the web store
- I Can See For Miles by The Who ($1.99/$1.99)
- Crossfire by Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble ($1.99/$1.99)
(Most tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation systems approximately 3 days after listed date)
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **
Note: As of this post, above tracks marked with are available for the Xbox One/Xbox Series X and tracks marked with  are available for PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5; these tracks are not compatible with Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or Nintendo Wii.
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PSN: singemfrc
Twitch: singemfrcps |
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