Re-Upping with Rolling Stone

I've been receiving issues of Rolling Stone for the past year and I'm fairly certain this was gifted to me although I'm not sure by whom. I know this because I've never paid for it. Despite all of its shortcomings, I enjoy the magazine and typically read through everything but the political articles, however, I've largely ignored the requests to "renew" my subscription. Yesterday, my final notice arrived in the mail along with the Yearbook 2007 issue. I set it aside and readied it for the trash. It wasn't until I opened the magazine and noticed that, shockingly, there was an interview with none other than the reclusive Cormac McCarthy. Well played RS, my $12.95 is in mail.

It wouldn't be fair to mention this without noting that NF got me into Cormac this year with "The Road" - easily the best book I've ever read - and I've been tearing through his other books ever since.

A New Day, A New List: Underrated Guitarists

It's not clear if this is from Rolling Stone or Rolling Stone's readers. It's entertaining nonetheless.

1. Prince
2. Kurt Cobain
3. Neil Young
4. George Harrison
5. Ace Frehley
6. Mike McCready
7. Lindsey Buckingham
8. Mick Taylor
9. Nels Cline
10. Johnny Greenwood
11. Tom Verlaine
12. Carrie Brownstein
13. Mick Jones
14. Robert Fripp
15. Johnny Marr
16. John Frusciante
17. Izzy Stradlin
18. Daniel Johns
19. Vernon Reid
20. Robbie Robertson
21. Mick Ronson
22. Billy Corgan
23. Elliott Smith
24. Eddie Hazel
25. Phil Keaggy

An Interview With Mr. Frusciante @ RS

I still haven't tracked down the list or picked up the magazine, but as soon as I know who Rolling Stone's Top 20 New Guitar Gods are...you will know.

And I have no idea why I am obsessing over a list from this magazine on this topic as much as I am. But I am. I think part of it is finding out where the current greats (in my mind) stack up on a list from a guy with the knowledge and access that David Fricke has. I respect the intelligence and opinions he brings to the magazine. At any rate...a list is a list. In the end it's an opinion. But, I am interested.

In the meantime there is some John Frusciante love over at Rolling Stone's website. David Fricke interviewed John Mayer, Derek Trucks and closed the article with his talk with John. As is often the case with John, the quick chat is interesting: "Luckily, I've always thought of myself as a musician more than a guitar player. Since I'm always changing as a person and my tastes are always changing, that is reflected in the ways I approach my instrument. I never feel like I'm running out of ideas, because it is clear to me -- music is infinite."

RS: The New Guitar Gods

This will hit newstands on Friday. The 25 people on the list were selected by David Fricke and are bound to be hotly contested. Head here to check out a jam session between the cover boys. A special thanks to Emily, wherever you are, for the head's up. The omission of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez will be a sin I will never forgive. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Top 100 Songs of 2006 at RS

More on this later. Here's the Top Ten. This list gets pretty gross, quick.

10. Goldfrapp, "Ooh La La"
9. Wolfmother, "Dimension"
8. Clipse w. Slim Thug, "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)"
7. Lily Allen, "Smile"
6. Bob Dylan, "Thunder On The Mountain"
5. The Pack, "Vans"
4. T.I., "What You Know"
3. Chamillionaire, "Ridin'"
2. Raconteurs, "Steady As She Goes"
1. Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"