The 10 best guitar tracks to hear this week

Something Real by Katy J Pearson

The latest single from the Heavenly signee, it opens with a simple guitar pattern before blossoming in the second chorus with a lovely descending riff. Katy’s vocals are peerless throughout, and the last chorus with the added brass secion in pure bliss.

Can I Believe You by Fleet Foxes

Now with an accompanying video directed by Sean Pecknold, the song was released as part of Fleet Foxes’ fourth LP, Shore. A marked change of pace for the band, it’s clean, driving guitars and orchestrated vocals offer a more heady, positive sensitivity.

After After by Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto

Sounding like the 60s British blues explosion viewed through a psychedelic kaleidoscope at a New York jazz club, Barrie Cadogan’s collaboration with Malcolm Catto is, to nobody’s surprise, a thrill ride with an undertone of darkness and emotion. Produced by Malcolm at his Quatermass studios in London’s borough of Hackney, it was mastered on 1/4″ tape.

Ball and Biscuit/Don’t Hurt Yourself/Jesus Is Coming Soon by Jack White (Live on SNL)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhN4M4aS50U

Performing a medley of Ball and Biscuit, Don’t Hurt Yourself and Jesus Is Coming Soon on Saturday Night Live, the former White Stripe displayed his guitar playing prowess in abundance, racing through old blues standards and classics from his own back catalogue, and played his modified EVH model as a tribute to the late Eddie Van Halen.

Get It Back by Pearl Jam

Previously only available as a one-day-only Bandcamp download as part of the Good Music To Avert The Collapse Of American Democracy Pt 2 compilation alongside unreleased tracks from the likes of Bob Mould, My Morning Jacket et al, Get It Back is the band’s first release since Gigaton and was written by drummer Matt Cameron.

My Way, Soon by Greta Van Fleet

Aiming to remove the trope of being a Zeppelin tribute, the young rockers push themselves further down the southern boogie route, with a chorus reminiscent of ZZ Top and Skynyrd, resplendent with shakers, sweet sounding Gibsons and Josh Kiszka’s signature snarl.

18 & Sleeping by Sam Brookes

Exploring the feeling of being lost and Sam Brookes’ relationship with depression, the single is a precursor to his album, Black Feathers, out later this month. Echoing both Luke Sital-Singh and Ben Howard in equal measure, the chorus “18 and sleeping through the day” offers a glimpse of hope beneath the sadness.

A Window/O’Keeffe by Emmy The Great

Written over a two week period in 2018, and then hidden away for a year during her maternity leave, April marks Emmy The Great’s travels to her birth place of Hong Kong. Ethereal and dream-like, it features singing bowls, prayer bells and Buddhist percussion found on her travels, with great arpeggiated guitar work that we’ve come to expect from her work.

Man From The Magazine by HAIM

A gem from their acclaimed third album Women In Music Pt. III, this new video accompanying the song features a version sang live in the deli. Offered up in a lo-fi setting on the LP, with a single acoustic guitar accompanying Danielle Haim’s vocal take that leans into spoken word, the video version is much the same, with added meat.

Sundowner by Kevin Morby

The first single from his forthcoming album of the same name, Sundowner is the first glimpse of a record that was recorded on four-track tape, where Morby wore headphones throughout. A sombre affair with a simple acoustic guitar accompanying his voice, it lifts around the two minute-mark with the introduction of brass.