Steve Morse vs....

[Raz]

OK I'm not trying to be a prick here and if people feel this thread is in bad taste, then we can have it removed. Someone made a comment that, when comparing Eric Johnson with Steve Morse, Eric has the edge due to the amount of technique he knows. Well I've heard both guys play, and I don't want to be biased (it is hard though), I mean not to take anything away from Eric Johnson, the cat is smooth, but I'm just not familiar enough to make a comment here...my heart tells me Steve is a technical genius, and so do other countless articles. I've watched EJ on TV and heard some of his music, but what I have heard Steve do, I mean I don't think there's anyone who covers as much guitar ground, that being rock, fusion, country/rock, and the Galic flavoured Riverdance music (sorry I'm not up to par on these genres) as Steve does, or at least as well as he does...so what are your thoughts?

 

[blackspy]

Yeah Morse seems to have so much versatility in him, very interesting player. Not to take anything away from EJ. I think they both do their thing, they're both great players. I hate comparing players since I view at as what one guy might say one way on the instrument, another might do it totally differently. Technicalities aside. For example EVH does his thing, and it's always been incredible, I'm sure there are other players that are 'technicaly' better, but EVH's sound is his own. Morse, Johnson, Petrucci, Johnson... whoever, they all have their individual voices, that's what makes them great players, not specifically what they play.

IMO anyway....

 

[jimmyp]

Both are amazing players - personally, I prefer Johnson. Maybe its just the type of music I prefer (I'm not really a country or Deep Purple fan, no disrespect to Steve) - I really don't care which knows more theory - they are both great players

 

[AxSport4me]

Eric Johnson is one of the most well rounded players ever.....he can play anything!!!!! Steve is great as well but.........i dont know,to each his own!

 

[beej]

Love 'em both.

I'll just leave it at ... they can both kick my ass

 

[Raz]

Yeah stupid thread, I don't know why I posted, I'm normally the guy who hates comparing...man it must be the heat...

 

[SteveB]

I agree with Beej..

Either of them had better technique, skill, and craft in the 1970's than I will ever have.

Ever listen to EJ's "Seven Worlds" album? That version of "Emerald Eyes" was cut in 1976! Friggin' amazing! I was 6 years old, and he already had tone for days, and the chops and wits to put together a song that great.

Morse was probably blowing minds with the Dixie Dregs at the same time.

I really can't find a way to compare the two in my mind. It's like choosing between pizza and beer.. the world is better for having both.

 

[Funky Chicken]

I like EJ. I've seen him live. Great player, great tone, chops, etc.

IMO Steve is on another level for reasons not necessarily tied to just playing skills.

As a composer Steve is able to write convincingly in more styles than EJ. He thinks orchestrally in a way that EJ doesn't. Maybe EJ doesn't care to do so, or maybe he can't. Doesn't matter-I still give Steve the nod.

I hear EJ play and my reaction is 'great guitarist', but I don't really care to learn how to play his stuff. I hear Steve and I want to go pick up my guitar and figure out what he's doing. Big difference.

 

[Raz]

I agree with Beej..

Either of them had better technique, skill, and craft in the 1970's than I will ever have.

Ever listen to EJ's "Seven Worlds" album? That version of "Emerald Eyes" was cut in 1976! Friggin' amazing! I was 6 years old, and he already had tone for days, and the chops and wits to put together a song that great.

Morse was probably blowing minds with the Dixie Dregs at the same time.

I really can't find a way to compare the two in my mind. It's like choosing between pizza and beer.. the world is better for having both.

Ok, so who is the pizza and who is the beer?

 

[phatduckk]

well i just listened to both the dude for the first time on musicmatch ondemand ...

disclaimer: neither plays my kind of music

so anywho. I found myself leaving Morse on for longer. I guess I just liked his songs (composing) better. but like I said ... its not my kinda music so im not one to really comment. but like people said above ... they're both super good and at a level that 3,000 years of practicing won't get me to

 

[Hookpunch]

I am wondering how you can measure the amount of techique either Steve or Eric knows? It is not something you can really get a stopwatch out and check is it?

All I know like has been said here - both are fantastic, but Steve is I think more versatile.

 

[jimmyp]

I am wondering how you can measure the amount of techique either Steve or Eric knows? It is not something you can really get a stopwatch out and check is it?

All I know like has been said here - both are fantastic, but Steve is I think more versatile.

I think both are amazingly versatile - it's like a dog lickin its ass - its all a matter of taste...

 

[AxSport4me]

I remember reading an article in 1989 or so where Steve said there`s this guitarist in Texas named Eric Johnson and he is absolutely amazing! He went on to say Eric was one of the best guitarists he had ever heard and thinks he will make it big one day!

 

[Antoine]

I think it's only a matter of taste, i find both incredible players, even if Steve is my fav' of the two !
I don't like to compare guitarists or musicians in general, music is not a sport, and at such a high level, it's impossible to compare, to each is style of playing, and to each his fans !

 

[kbaim]

I like EJ. I've seen him live. Great player, great tone, chops, etc.

IMO Steve is on another level for reasons not necessarily tied to just playing skills.

As a composer Steve is able to write convincingly in more styles than EJ. He thinks orchestrally in a way that EJ doesn't. Maybe EJ doesn't care to do so, or maybe he can't. Doesn't matter-I still give Steve the nod.

I hear EJ play and my reaction is 'great guitarist', but I don't really care to learn how to play his stuff. I hear Steve and I want to go pick up my guitar and figure out what he's doing. Big difference.

About as perfectly said as can be perfectly said.


I'd add that I could watch both play live for as long as they'd let me, but steve's classical training puts him in a composing category few musicians ever reach.

He's as close to this generations Mozart (with muscle ) as you're likely to find

 

[tommyindelaware]

i typically would listen to a new eric j recording say..100-200 times... (alot)
i typically would listen to a new smb recording probably 500-1000 times.....why ?????because to (me)....his compositions are more interesting.......

that said.........eric is still one of my favorites......tone to die for ...& immaculate phrasing .
he's just not the composer steve is......

& remember...we are not voting here....just discussing differences in style

 

[yesandno]

I don't get tired of listening to Steve's music. EJ's music is a different expression and is unfair to say one over the other. I like him, too, but just don't get the same kickassedness...more a mellower form of virtuosity.
I saw EJ and Robben Ford on two close but separate dates last year. EJ wasn't really "on" that night. I somewhat blame his lackluster drummer. I wish he was using the drummer Robben Ford was playing with...a woman named Hillary Jones, I believe...she really grooved.
It's hard for guitar instrumentalists to maintain a listeners interest. The other two most notables, Vai and Satriani, although I only experienced them live by way of their respective recent live DVD offerings, bore me after a short while.
Vai's live set notably gets real tired fast because of that incessant sustainiac whammy bar squealing...in-every-g*dd*mn-song. It drives you nuts and is a BIG turnoff. I did get his Alien Love Secrets video and it has some really beautifully composed and played tunes on it, however.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Okay Raz -

Now I'm really ticked. First you started this topic BOUND to rile up a stir. Then, it leads people into bashing other artists for the fun of it (presumably safe, since they don't play guitars made by the sponsor of this forum).

So, for all of you who think Steve Morse is God I have this question: Which recording of his in particular do you point to as displaying his best compositional skills?

And, for all of you who think Vai just squelches all the time, well, he does some of that, but I dare say the "composing" on his latest album was actually quite spectacular. In addition, the playing on his "Live at Astoria" DVD had some very soulful playing, as well as plenty of sustaniac squelch.

But I really want to know about the Morse stuff. I have a number of his solo albums and am just curious as to where I can here these amazing (Mozart like, isn't it?) compositions.

By the way, EJ is an amazing player and wirter. I think he plays what he wants to only. Why else would you release your music only once a decade?

 

[tommyindelaware]

i know steve morse....& i know he's not god.......god doesn't break bones skateboarding or need planes......

it was my hope & intent that i could discuss differences in artist w/o offending anyone .

 

[savannah_sean]

So, for all of you who think Steve Morse is God I have this question: Which recording of his in particular do you point to as displaying his best compositional skills?

The question of "who I think God is" notwithstanding, I would point to "High Tension Wires" as having, to my ears, the "deepest" compositions. I'm not sure I can pick out specific tunes...maybe Highland Wedding. I think Country Colors is also quite complex, from a compositional standpoint, but it's one of my lesser favorites on that album. I would point to "Flat Baroque" from the Coast to Coast album as an example of technical and compositional skill as well. I realize, however, that Mozart wasn't from the Baroque period...

I also think the Dregs album "Full Circle" has great compositions. The song "Calcutta" comes to mind immediately.