When I was growing up, it would be rare to hear a song on the radio without a guitar solo in the later half somewhere. It was an opportunity to convey emotion, energy, technical proficiency or all three and for me personally it was always welcomed!

In more recent times it seems the guitar solo has been overthrown. By either nothing at all, or even worse, the vocal / rap break. Oh dear. Yes, it may be argued that this is just a sign of the times, a changing of the guard, and that the modern equivalent is the vocal break. But really – while sometimes there is technical proficiency or novelty in the rhythm of the vocal, it seems more often than not this “art” is lacking the energy or emotional element that made guitar solos great.

As I type I’m reminded of the brilliant sax solos of the decade prior, a staple of the 80s pop sound. Give me a burning sax solo or rocking lead break over an autotuned “here today, gone today” vocalist any time.