The following 10 categories are intended to account for those CD's which, for whatever reason, didn't fit into previous sections. Whilst some of the recommendations are repeated elsewhere -- and must, through reason of importance, be included here -- many are, I consider, essential listening for the connoisseur of modern guitar music. I have also taken liberties with labelling; for instance, some albums listed might easily have been included in other categories. Happy listening!
5 AOR/Commercial:
Alien: Alien (Virgin/1988)
Giant: Time to Burn (Epic/1992)
Journey: Frontiers (CBS/1983)
Steve Lukather: Lukather (CBS/1989)
TNT: Knights of the New Thunder (Vertigo/1984)
5 Experimental:
Carlos Creator: Pure Guitar (President/1991)
Alex Masi: Vertical Invader (Metal Blade/1990)
Praxis: Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis) (Axiom/Island/1992)
Joe Satriani: Not of this Earth (Relativity/Food for Thought/1986)
Steve Vai: Flex-Able (Urantia/Food for Thought/1984)
5 O.T.T/Full Shred:
Michael Angelo: No Boundaries (Thermometer Sound Surface/1994)
Impellitteri: Impellitteri (E.P.) (Relavtivity/1987)
Mario Parga: The Magician (President/1991)
Bernd Steidl: Psycho Acoustic Overture (Shrapnel/1992)
Vinnie Vincent: Vinnie Vincent Invasion (Chrysalis/1986)
5 Fusion/Jazz:
Frank Gambale: Live! (Legato/Important/198?)
Paul Hanson: Paul Hanson Orchestra (Across the Sound Music/1992)
Scott Henderson/Gary Willis/Tribal Tech: Illicit (Relativity/1991)
Allan Holdsworth: Hard Hat Area (Cream Records/1994)
Shawn Lane: Powers of 10 (Warner Brothers/1992)
5 Power/Heavy Metal:
Chastain: The 7th of Never (Leviathan/Black Dragon/1987)
Dr. Mastermind: Dr. Mastermind (Shrapnel/1987)
Craig Goldy: Insufficient Therapy (Shrapnel/1993)
Leatherwolf: Street Ready (Island/1989)
Vicious Rumors: Digital Dictator (Shrapnel/1988)
5 Neo-Blues:
Gary Hoey: Get a Grip (MGI/1989?)
Greg Howe: Parallax (Shrapnel/1995)
Stephen Ross: Midnight Drive (Shrapnel/1991)
Blues Saraceno: Never Look Back (Guitar Recordings/1989)
Joey Tafolla: Infra-Blue (Shrapnel/1991)
5 Neo-Classical:
Jason Becker: Perpetual Burn (Shrapnel/1988)
Vitalij Kuprij: High Definition (Shrapnel/1997)
Tony MacAlpine: Maximum Security (Squawk/Vertigo/1987)
Yngwie Malmsteen: Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force (Polydor/1984)
Michael Romeo: The Dark Chapter (Inside Out/1997)
5 Progressive:
Crimson Glory: Transcendence (Roadrunner/1988)
Dream Theater: Images and Words (Atco/1992)
Chris Poland: Return to Metalopolis (Enigma/Roadrunner/1990)
Spastic Ink: Ink Complete (Dream Circle Records/1997)
Toxic: Think This (Roadrunner/Roadracer/1989)
5 Southern Rock/Country:
Michael Lee Firkins: Michael Lee Firkins (Shrapnel/1990)
Rob Johnson: Rob Johnson (Screemin' Geetar Records/1994)
Steve Morse: Southern Steel (MCA/1991)
Pride & Glory: Pride & Glory (Geffen/1994)
Dave Uhrich: Dave Uhrich (Red Light/1993)
5 Thrash:
Dyoxen: First Among Equals (Active/1990)
Megadeth: Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying? (Capitol/1986)
Metallica: Ride the Lightning (Music for Nations/1984)
Testament: The New Order (Megaforce/Atlantic/1988)
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects: Sol Niger Within
5 Recommended Instructional Videos:
Marty Friedman: Melodic Control (Starlicks Masters Series)
Brett Garsed: Rock Fusion (REH)
Paul Gilbert: Intense Rock: Sequences & Techniques (REH)
Scott Henderson: Jazz Fusion Improvisation (REH)
Shawn Lane: Power Rock/Power Solos (REH)
Taken from The Modern Guitarist: A History of Rock Guitar Since the Seventies, Mad Matt Music Publishing 1995
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