Guitar Solo #2 "Meet Ze Monsta" by PJ Harvey

The guitar solo (which runs from 2:33-2:53 above) in PJ Harvey's "Meet Ze Monsta" is a master class in minimalism.  In the rapid fire delivery of the single note we can hear, in their most basic form, the two elements that comprise the guitar solo: passion and note selection. In future posts we can examine how note selection can evoke different types of moods. But what's key to look at here, is how much can be accomplished with the passionate delivery of a single note, which makes the rest of the band: the bass, the vocals and drums, much more distinct. As Ezra Pound said, it's not the thing that's interesting, but the thing's relationship to other things - I'm paraphrasing.

If there's anything to learn from this guitar solo, it's the importance of arrangement. Listen to how the rest of the band sets up the dynamic shift into the solo: they pull back for a bit at 2:12, right after the whistle (is that a dj scratching a record at 2:23?), just bass and drums, and then - is that a keyboard? or an organ tone that comes in at 2:27? then - BOOM! - the whole band is back, in perfect unison, pummeling the shit out of this riff. And on top of it is this dentist drill of a guitar note, filling your cavities. Really it's the power of the two tones together: the organ and the guitar, but the juxtaposition is awesome, the rapid-fire staccato of the guitar over the single, sustained tone on the organ. All of which serves to emphasize the power of the rest of the band.

The best guitar solos make the song better. They are mistakenly thought of as personal vehicles to rock and roll glory, and in that regard the guitar solo is one of the most egotistical aspects of rock and roll (and that's saying something!). In this song we see the power of the guitar solo turned inward - or something - so it's not about exulting the guitar hero's orgiastic and masturbatory energies, at least it doesn't have to be. A good solo sometimes emphasizes the power of the entire collaboration. Sometimes, with a little restraint you can end up rocking even harder. Those are just two of the mysteries that haunt rock and roll.