Board 8 > Jcgamer ranks your rock instrumentals

(+) Yeah! (+)

Unlucky Morpheus did The Dance of Eternity live too so they definitely have the chops. Amazing cover.

Road Rash really hipped me to a lot of great music back in the day

Yeah, the transition in Akuma no Uta at 2:16 is one of my favorite things ever, but I like the entire thing quite a lot. Honestly surprised [untitled] is still here since I thought I was the only person who liked that

Legitimately having a hard time because I like everything that's left

30) Desert Sessions - Monkey in the Middle
Submitted by: MarkS2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHvafY7KxU4

I like the laid back beat and garage rock sound of this. It does feel kinda long even at 2:47 - it gets a little repetitive - and the guitar makes some odd sounds, but it's still a pleasant riff.

29) Polyphia - G.O.A.T.
Submitted by: Steiner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gkpYORQLU

This is pretty cool musically, but I can't help but get an emo-high-school vibe from it when combined with the video. Each musician getting a chance to show off makes for a fun jam, even if I can't fully get into it.

28) Brian Kahanek - Gemini
Submitted by: ZeroSignal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOldJqSWQjk

Brian Kahanek. Gemini. Great song I wish I could play like this guy go pick up his album Real Life from Cdbaby.com. This song was also on guitar hero.

27) Ozric Tentacles - O-I
Submitted by: NFUN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT1Q2__0_Ig

This song takes a trip from East to West Asia - starts with like an ancient Japanese sound to it, then transitions to music suitable for galloping through the desert, with cool drumming in between. 0:53 reminds me of Born to Be Bone from Gitaroo Man, and a neat synth breakdown shortly after that. Freakin great little organ & latin percussion jam at 2:06. The wah-wah guitar effect at 3:06 is so crazy that I thought it was someone running vocals through a guitar a la Peter Frampton upon first listen.

songs are maybe the hardest thing i can think of, to rank

26) Daft Punk - Da Funk
Submitted by: CaveDweller2000
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwILkY9gRrc

There are better Daft Punk songs, to be sure, but Da Funk is a solid, groovy riff. I say 'riff' in reference to the entire track, because, save for the middle section, it essentially is one riff the entire time. Still, good luck not bobbing your head or tapping your foot to it.

Halfway!

25) Faith No More - Woodpecker From Mars
Submitted by: neonreaper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGA21QxzsM

Remember in Shifting Sand Land in Mario 64 when Mario did a line of coke and started running around and this track started playing and some mummies showed up and started moshing? Serious drums entrance at 0:52, gottdam. The bass starts going hard as well around 1:30. In this case I actually don't like the down-tempo breakdown in the middle as much, compared to other tracks on the list. Start and finish are really strong, though.

24) Planet X - Noble Savage
Submitted by: NFUN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzZPQITw6wI

I like these Planet X tracks just fine, but not enough to put them toward the very top. This one takes a while to get rolling - I'm not the biggest fan of the jazzy opening. The highlight is probably the electric guitar in the middle section (and again at 4:42), followed by BREAKING NEWS at 3:19. Cool mixed-meter stuff elsewhere, but the guitar part feels kinda meandering at times.

23) Jesus Christ Superstar - Overture
Submitted by: Raka_Putra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvuKX0KvKUY

Probably the least likely track to wind up on this list, the Jesus Christ Superstar overture is so good that even after deducting some points for vocals near the end (and a few more for being more 'showtune' than rock instrumental), it still wound up this high. Make no mistake - this song is firmly into 'rock instrumental' territory from the beginning until the main fanfare at 3:22 - an incredible moment btw. I'm not even that big a fan of this musical overall, but boy the main theme is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUvUFZK5sLk

...and if you haven't seen the Mr. Show parody of JC Superstar, check this shit ooouuuuuutttttt

22) Planet X - Desert Girl
Submitted by: Mr_Lasastryke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJxF-s96Igc

The synth loop is so weird it's almost surreal....I'm still not sure if I like it or not. What I definitely do like is the phat beat drop at 0:43, then we go to an insane, frantic rhythm at 1:15, and back to the phat beat + a Rage Against the Machine bass riff this time at 1:31 - it's groove whiplash but in a great way. The section from 4:24-4:59 is wild - you have the guitarist, and especially the drummer, playing these crazy frantic fills - it almost feels like the whole thing's going to come apart, before they lock back in for the final ~minute.

21) The Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein
Submitted by: TheKnightOfNee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65XSHM3jlAY

One of the most well-known rock instrumentals ever recorded, and for good reason. Terrific musicianship all around, and the main riff goes hard right out of the gate. It pains me to say it as a drummer, but although the drumming elsewhere is excellent, I think the drum feature is the weakest of the solos and doesn't serve the song a whole lot. The build-up leading into it and the arpeggiation coming out of it are both great though. Nice addition of woodwinds at 1:32, that's a fun section. 0:16 is such a great little B riff, sounds like Beatles or something, it's really a shame it doesn't repeat near the end.

Tracks remaining: 20/50
Bitto: 1/1
BlackDra90n: 1/2
CaveDweller2000: 1/2
Epyo: 1/1
Murphiroth: 1/1
Not_an_Owl: 2/2
Place: 2/3
SeginusTemple: 2/3
Snake: 1/2
Steiner: 1/3
tazzyboyishere: 1/2
TheArkOfTurus: 2/2
TheKnightOfNee: 1/2
UF8: 2/2
Xtlm: 1/2

Out: firefdr, BlueCrystalTear, Chaeix, FL81, MarkS2, ZeroSignal, neonreaper, NFUN, Raka_Putra, Mr_Lasastryke

oh nice i didn't expect to make it in the top half at all, was only really trying to see whether i could break the rules by doing a different genre blatantly rather than do remotely well lol

20) Dream Theater - Hell's Kitchen
Submitted by: Snake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQOI_0LGrDI

And now, a haiku

Nice chill groove to start
Really great drumming; guitar
3:40 - hell yeah

19) Polyphia - Playing God
Submitted by: BlackDrag90n
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5NoQg8LdDk

This one shakes off the high school-emo vibe faster than the other Polyphia track, plus it has a cooler rhythm to it. 1:38 was an interesting interlude that I wasn't expecting at all, and I love the light dance beat that comes in under it at 1:53 - that section boosted it like 10 spots alone. That there's a hell of a drum fill at 2:13, go off my guy. Another nice mini one at 3:00. Hard to imagine there are better Polyphia tracks than this.

18) Merrow - Pillars of Re-Creation
Submitted by: Steiner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSiOo3Yk7lQ

Man that chiptune/electronic opening is great, that's by far my favorite part. The rest of the track and the guitar and everything are fine, but it can never quite match that opening 10 seconds. 1:09 - 15/8 alert!

17) Animals As Leaders - Gestaltzerfall
Submitted by: TheKnightOfNee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RbJRY_pU8

Ooo that opening guitar lick is very nice. 0:45 WHOA WHERE ARE WE GOING? What a rhythm shift - I can't even really tell what time signature it is. Makes the track much more interesting. 3:53 - AH here we go again.

2:53 - well placed, big half-time beat coming out of the chill, mysterious-sounding middle section. Kind of insane drumming after that at 3:17 also. Just really impressive musicianship and timing, with all those rhythm changes.

Playing God is definitely my favourite Polyphia song. Very catchy and interesting.

felt like everybody was talking about Playing God a few months back. A bunch of guitar youtubers I follow were talking about it or trying to learn it.

16) Daisuke Kurosawa - Banana Fusion
Submitted by: UF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP8HnQYP3GA

That guitar progression at 0:59 is beautiful, *chef's kiss*. The synth solo that follows ain't bad either. Just an upbeat, joyous track. It's no wonder this guy composes stuff for Konami rhythm games.

15) Thank You Scientist - Suspicious Waveforms
Submitted by: TheArkOfTurus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-1ZCq4P4vk

This feels like a scattered mess at times, but the main groove you hear at 0:33 is terrific - the meshing of guitar and brass calls to mind The Seatbelts. Nice solos, starting @ 1:20 with the violin feature, followed by saxophone, trumpet, guitar, bass and finally drums. Despite being kind of frantic and all over the place, the timing is very tight. I can't say it's especially memorable (aside from the main groove) since it's largely a succession of solos, but it's a fun ride.

14) Pain of Salvation - Dryad of the Woods
Submitted by: TheArkOfTurus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GWjDt2r_8E

A somber opening that gives way to a comforting piano part at 1:27 - it's like reaching a safe haven and coming in from a storm. Gettin' kinda 'Stairway' at 2:16. Then we have a major tonal shift 2/3 of the way through, and some pretty crazy syncopation with the drums coming in @ 3:38. Then there's another rhythm shift as it goes double-time at 4:01. Very interesting track with emotional depth, almost feels like it tells a story.

Yeah that Playing God tune is real pretty, never heard that before. I'm a fan of Gestaltzerfall too

surprised how long Pavement is holding out with a lark on Take Five!

okay let's wrap this up

13) Atsushi Koga (GARIN) - Through the Clouds
Submitted by: UF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFt_hyB5Y74

Miyamoto patch this song into Mario Kart 8 right now. Sounds like a hyped-up Vulfpeck jam at times. Sam Gendel-tier sax solos @ 1:16 and 5:07, bah-gawd. Pretty nice synth solo following the first iteration, too. Just a great jam with impressive soloing, it flows together really well the whole way.

12) Pavement - 5-4=Unity
Submitted by: Epyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Kq9crN7KI

I swear I had this typed out before Seginustemple's comment

I Can't Believe It's Not Take Five! A fun little 5/4 jazz-rock tune, with an interesting B melody (first heard at 0:29) that adds an air of intrigue. I like when it intentionally gets a little messy at 1:18. It was nice to break up the rest of the entries with a short, relaxed track like this, where the musicians sprinkle in little interesting bits for flavor without being too overpowering (the distorted strumming @ 0:39, for example).

11) Radiohead - The National Anthem
Submitted by: Place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfQD1QiQ9o4

I'm going to get in trouble for this one. The main fuzzy guitar riff is so great and catchy, but unfortunately, this isn't an instrumental at all lol. I mean, 90% of the time it is - there aren't a ton of lyrics here, but it's still like 2 verses' worth. I had already pretty much decided to rank everything that was posted before I realized this, oops!

The sound mixing is cool, I like tracks like this where there's a lot of chaos and it borders on collapsing in on itself, but still keeps a rhythm going. Great sax entrance at 2:39.

5:23 - approximately one hour after eating Taco Bell

Would have easily been top 10 if Thom Yorke could've shut the hell up, and been quiet for once in his life.

Your Top Ten:

Bitto
Ronald Jenkees - Guitar Sound

CaveDweller2000
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Pretty Little Ditty

Murphiroth
BAND-MAID - from now on

Not_an_Owl
Rush - YYZ
Streetlight Manifesto - Riding the Fourth Wave

Place
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression

SeginusTemple
Jeff Beck - If You Know What I Mean
Organ Freeman - Verve

tazzyboyishere
Neutral Milk Hotel - [untitled]

Xtlm
Strawberry Girls - Spanish Bay

Wow I can't believe I never noticed that Pavement song has an unusual time signature. No wonder I like that song, I love those

I just now noticed a little wrinkle in it too - the A section isn't all 5/4, every fourth bar gets an extra beat. That's practically prog coming from Pavement! (I say with love, they're one of the few bands on the list who I've bought every record from)

Ayyy got two in the top ten alright baby

10) Rush - XYZ
Submitted by: Not_an_Owl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdpMpfp-J_I

Bit of a jarring opening, but damn that dance-rock section at 1:38 is good stuff, made even better when the guitar comes in hard with the extra-funky strumming at 1:58. Oh yeah and this Neil Peart guy seems OK at drums, I guess.

(my apologies again, this time to Not_an_Owl - just the way things ended up falling!)

9) Streetlight Manifesto - Riding the Fourth Wave
Submitted by: Not_an_Owl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PluwjV6xz5w

I've had the main part of this track (0:35) stuck in my head more than maybe any other section of any song on the list. Unfairly catchy. I was kinda worried when I saw Streetlight Manifesto nominated to be honest - I find ska to be very hit and (usually) miss - but this is a great one, fantastic energy. I think maybe ska could often benefit from a lack of vocals......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG56AQISUfE

it's got to be SKAAAAAA

8) Ronald Jenkees - Guitar Sound
Submitted by: Bitto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLybNuk_Lpo

No false advertising here - you are in for some major guitar sound. Epic chugging to cue the drums at 0:21. The reverb effect combined with the distortion is perfect, the guy sounds like he's playing in a giant cavern. WTF is the key change at 1:10?! It's so bizarre but makes the track more fascinating at the same time. The transition in and out of the electronic stuff is very fluid - the synth at 4:22 is a great addition and keeps things from becoming stale. This track started in the 30s for me and I just had to keep moving it further and further up, by far the biggest mover from the initial rankings.

jcgamer107 posted...

The reverb effect combined with the distortion is perfect, the guy sounds like he's playing in a giant cavern

I think I meant "delay" instead of "reverb" here, actually

I have 1st and 2nd pretty much set, but it is tough sorting 3-7, I love them all. Even Guitar Sound was tough to drop already.

I love Streetlight Manifesto and never even noticed that song is an instrumental. Probably because I always zone out for the second half of that album, I'm not crazy about that one.

Their "The Hand That Thieves" album is probably in my top 5 all time though.

~~~

Oh also here's the original Catch 22 version of Riding the Fourth Wave for comparison's sake (the songwriter Tomas Kalnoky is in both bands, the Streetlight version is a remake):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAzRZKY9qBc&pp=ygUfcmlkaW5nIHRoZSBmb3VydGggd2F2ZSBjYXRjaCAyMg%3D%3D

Didn't expect to hit the top ten, nice.

Murphiroth posted...

Didn't expect to hit the top ten, nice.

Same

alright I've had some irl shit happening but #6 and #7 are dropping.......TONIGHT

7) Jeff Beck - If You Know What I Mean
Submitted by: SeginusTemple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzJ2WA-ubMM

So, obviously it's been a little while, and my reasoning for putting this track next is, unfortunately, it's the only tune I couldn't recall after a 10-day break. Every other one I've had a part of stuck in my head at some point, except for Mr. Beck. NOW, that isn't to say that this track isn't funky as hell, cuz it is. It's the perfect tempo and groove to go big city-struttin' down the street. The funk gets into DANGEROUS levels at 1:16, oh god it hurts don't look directly at it. The hits at 3:16 are also way too cool.

A very good track to listen to while smoking a certain substance, if you know what I mean.

6) BAND-MAID - from now on
Submitted by: Murphiroth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6ZSvmnkS00

Japanese chicks in maid outfits rocking out - what's not to like?? Not only that, but they go well beyond 'gimmick' territory by being very talented and rocking out hard af. The lead guitar especially, jebus. That ascend at 1:06 will make you cry.

1:34 - oh my god who is she what's her @

2:31 - VIOLIN?? AT THIS JUNCTURE??? I'M CALLING THE COPS!!

and then the drop at 2:59 is also illegal.

I dunno nothing I say can convey how hard this goes, you just gotta hear it. Another one that ended up like 20 spots higher than its initial position. Nice looking video too.

jcgamer107 posted...

A very good track to listen to while smoking a certain substance, if you know what I mean.

I see what you did there and I'll smoke a toast to that

5) Strawberry Girls - Spanish Bay
Submitted by: Xtlm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWhzEXjNNfY

Perhaps the most epic opening on this list - immediately hits you in the face with a bad-ass guitar riff. Then the track wisely dips down into a foreboding tom groove, because you cannot possibly go upwards in energy from there. Not a huge fan of the hyper strummin' & drummin' at 1:14, but it does have kind of a cool Dragonforce vibe, I suppose. Was very pleased to hear the opening riff again at 2:14, and the Red Hot Chili Pepper(hmmm)-style guitar & bass doubling was very tight and good. That rare combination of very skillful playing + great composition.

That song randomly came into my weekly suggestions on spotify and parts of it reminded of mega man. And because of that it was an instant save to the library! lol

4) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Pretty Little Ditty
Submitted by: CaveDweller2000
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mjZ61IW-Nw

Yet another track that moved waaaayyyy up upon multiple listens. the opening is fine, but HOLY SHIT the riff at 1:10 is SO PERFECT. what a chord progression. god and the brass too - when that riff comes back in again towards the end at 2:21, the brass accentuates it PERFECTLY. FFFFFFFffffffffff and that tambourine & marching snare at the end. I honestly feel bad that this isn't top 3, but that's how strong the top tier was.

You're my butterfly, sugar baby

Was thinking about where Pretty Little Ditty ranks among my favorite RHCP tracks - I think I'd put it 3rd after Around the World and Suck My Kiss

#3 tonight, #1 & #2 over the weekend

jcgamer107 posted...

Was thinking about where Pretty Little Ditty ranks among my favorite RHCP tracks - I think I'd put it 3rd after Around the World and Suck My Kiss

#3 tonight, #1 & #2 over the weekend

Have you listened to their latest 2 albums? A few gems on those

Seen them live twice, in 2003 and 2011 so I got to experience both Frusciante and Klinghoffer

and the bronze goes to......

3) Neutral Milk Hotel - [untitled]
Submitted by: tazzyboyishere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ6Er6AdSvE

I can see this track being polarizing, but man do I love it, I think it perfectly toes the line between bad-ass and ridiculous. Combining bagpipes with garage rock is such a good idea. In fact, bagpipe rock on the whole is an underrated genre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCkwZvAtl7U

There are definitely some harmonized "ahhhhs" near the end here, but I didn't realize it till late in the game, plus I had already decided to rank everything that was posted (I must admit it's a nice cherry to top the track off).

I would so love to jam with an actual bagpipe player on drums, it would be incredible.

Lol part of my laptop keyboard stopped responding, including some keys I need for my Windows password. I could use my phone but I'd really rather have my laptop for this. I'll get a USB keyboard soon and finish up. Bonus time!

jcgamer107 posted...

Lol part of my laptop keyboard stopped responding, including some keys I need for my Windows password. I could use my phone but I'd really rather have my laptop for this. I'll get a USB keyboard soon and finish up. Bonus time!

In the corner there's ease of access settings which includes an on-screen keyboard. Using it to make writeups is insanity but you can log in

NFUN SAVES THE DAY

Lol yeah I'm not doing the last write-ups till I get a USB keyboard, but I'm glad I can at least log-in, thanks

2) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression
Submitted by: Place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBchE1PMkg8

Whether or not this qualifies as rock is probably up for debate, but I had to include it, because, now I know where one of my all-time favorite DDR songs comes from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOgnKB8c3g

In fact, I think it crosses into plagiarism territory lol. But they both have kick-ass piano parts so I appreciate them almost equally.

The shift into a latin percussion groove at 1:07 is super cool. We then have some more video game action in the first third: someone loads up Centipede at 2:18 + we get some Dr. Mario right after. Gets a bit creepy and aloof in the middle third, but I kinda like it. Then it picks the energy back up with this early-1900s jazz-sounding part at 5:50 leading into the final section. It's COOKIN with gas.

This thing covers a lot of ground but is worth the investment.

which means your winner is...........

1) Organ Freeman - Verve
Submitted by: SeginusTemple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEz3GCZ4KAo

What. A. Sick. Ass. Jam. I must've listened to this track about 3x more than anything else on the list. The offbeat hits at 0:48 make me lose my mind in the best way. Then the first time I heard the hit at 1:11 + the wah-wah guitar entrance, my eyes rolled back into my head like a shark.

The groove it reaches at 3:12 after the solo is just pure elation. Then it somehow funks things up even harder at the 4-minute mark, my god. We're reaching levels of funk previously thought to be unachievable by human beings.

The ending cracks me up every time - it's like when you're running out of time in Mario or something lol.

It's so good that I had to bend the rules to ensure it got 1st place, that's a wrap, give this all the prizes, everyone can go home.

-----

Well this project took about twice as long as I expected, but part of the reason was honestly that the tracks near the top were so good that I didn't want to 'part' with them, so to speak. So, good job everybody, thanks for introducing me to some great stuff.

Glad you got a bunch of good stuff from the list! You never know with this kind of thing if you'll get gold or junk.

Ayy glad you liked it! The whole Organ Freeman self-titled album is a total groove overload, definitely check it out sometime if you haven't already