Search - Guy Mann-Dude :: Sleight of Hand

Underrated and overlooked instrumental punk-metal guitar mas

Spyguy | Chicago, IL United States | 04/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I see all the crappy reviews for this cd, and I think that these other reviewers are missing the point. Sure, it's easy for anyone to stand in the front row of a concert with our arms crossed and technically critique the playing onstage from our enlightened and superior points of view...especially if we are musicians ourselves...and if you play guitar like myself, you've been on both sides of that little game.



I used to be a technique junkie back in the 80's, more into technical skill and equipment than judging the music by the energy and passion of it's players and the emotions it makes me feel. This is back when I was enthralled by the playing of DiMeola, Beck, Vai and Satch...I used to think that stuff "rocked". Now much of it seems cold and soulless.



I began to get into Alternative and Punk during the late 80's, and began to realize that it's not neccessarily how technically superior ones technique is, but rather how emotionally charged and resonant the music itself really is. I began to appreciate the emotion-charged guitar playing of bands like Dag Nasty, Fugazi, The Jesus Lizard, etc. When this scene began to go mainstream in the early 90's, Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan were good examples...playing what some might consider "sloppy rock" but music that is undeniably emotional and passionate.



So the first time I heard Guy Mann-Dude was when I happened upon a cassette called "Sleight Of Hand" back around 1989 or so. Even though I was getting into more punk stuff and burned out on Satch and Vai, I was still impressed with Guy's uber-raw speed-metal-ish soloing skills and go-for-the-neck full-speed-ahead energy of his 3-piece band. There was no denying that these guys not only "rocked", but they were probably drunk or high and having an effing blast doing it. Eventually I lost that cassette when I transitioned into cd's...but I never did get that cover of "Paint It Black" out of my head.



I recently began to look for that cd online and finally found and ordered it through Amazon. When I played it I fell for it harder now than I did the first time. I deny anyone to refute that this isn't some of the most exuberant, completely gonzo rock you've ever heard. Almost every single track on this cd is completely insane, and these guys only know one direction - forward - and one speed - faster and faster.



Guy's playing is raw, yet his ideas are clear and juicy and he sounds as if he is playing with a loaded gun pointed at his head...as if his life depended on it. The bass and drums are tight and pounding and sound like they are on the verge of collapsing under the weight of their own musical insanity.



People don't record albums like this anymore. I wish they did, but they just don't. Too many producers, too many digital recording devices, too much money at stake and a lack of balls to take chances and go truely raw. The last band I heard that comes even close to this kind of insane low-budget vibe verging on the edge of mental breakdown would be Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, obviously less metallic but also more restrained and too self-conscious.



Cheesy...sure. Dated...yeah, but play "Riff Rock'n Rebel", "The Clincher", "Clusterphuck", "Shredd'n It Down", etc... from this cd...LOUDLY...for your guitar-playing or rock-loving buddies without telling them what it is and see what their reaction is. If they have any blood flowing through their veins and even a subconcious inkling of the big dumb stupidity that is needed to make good "rock" become truely emotionally charged kinetic "GREAT ROCK"...then they will want to know where they can get this cd.



Because this stupid slab of plastic puts to shame much of the "rock" that is out there today."

80s instrumental guitar

web surfer | 11/25/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you like guitarists such as Joe Satriani or Eddie Van Halen this cd may be worth a listen but there's no doubt it sounds dated. Driving hard rock guitar was big in the 80s and this "guy" was talented no doubt but not remembered as one of the best in the era. Guest artists include Alice Cooper and Kevin Dubrow (Quiet Riot). I personally prefer the high speed guitar work of Michael Angelo Batio or Joe Stump but this isn't bad."