The 10 Best Guitar Tracks to Hear This Week

The Adults Are Talking by The Strokes

The accompanying video for one of the lead singles from The New Abnormal, they’re still showcasing why they were one of the most important guitar bands in a generation. Skip to 1:45 for counterpoint guitar lines twisiting around a synth. Has there ever been a cooler band?

Christmas Is Coming (We All Know The Score) by Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

A sarcastic glam-rock take on the traditional Christmas requiem, the Cardiff quartet lean into it with plenty of verve; including sleigh bells and searing guitars in abundance. It’s uplifting and festive, if you choose to ignore the sneering attack on late-stage capitalism.

I’m Waiting For The Man by Matt Berninger (Live on Jimmy Fallon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaRMmyNPC-U

Turning left and ignoring his promo duties for his latest LP, Serpentine Prison, Berninger lent his hand to this Velvet Underground classic. The trudging piano and guitar, overdriven and encased in reverb, is euphoric.

Kill Them With Kindness by IDLES

IDLES third LP, Ultra Mono, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. The video for Kill Them With Kindness was directed and designed by James Carbutt and animated by Pip Williamson, inspired by the working men’s clubs of Barnsley. Brutal guitar work flips between Bowen and Kiernan on a Travis Bean and Esquire respectively, revealing again why they’re the two most important players in the UK today.

Wild World by Brandon Boyd

Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd recently took part in CatSong Festival, a curated online festival by Yusuf / Cat Stevens with over 40 artists covering songs by the seminal artist. A cover that’s courteous to the original version, the focus is on Boyd’s vocal ability and the descending unison riff on acoustic and upright piano.

Pure Pop by Blossoms

Released as part of the extended version of Foolish Loving Spaces, the opening arpeggiated riff is both psychedelic and rhythmic in equal measure, and arguably should have been included on the album proper.

Snow Day by shame

Album two is en route, and the second single again proves why this band are destined to be one of the most vital acts in the British post-punk revival. A paper-thin guitar riff acts as a perfect counterbalance to the sombre mood of the vocal delivery. Bliss.

R U Mine? By Arctic Monkeys Live at The Royal Albert Hall

The Sheffield titans emphatic return to the stage raised £250,000 for War Child UK, and their closing track remains one of the best rock songs of the 21st century. Known for his cheeky northern croon, Turner is equally adept with a jazzmaster in hand. Believe the hype.

Chinatown by Bleachers ft. Bruce Springsteen (Live at Electric Lady)

Echoing his fellow New Jerseyan, who features on the track playing acoustic and signing backing vocals, Jack Antonoff’s live performance of chinatown is one of those guaranteed nostalgic, lump-in-your-throat anthems. Sit back and revel in its greatness.

Age Of Machine by Greta Van Fleet

An epic, seven-minute single that announces their highly anticipated sophomore album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, Led Zep reincarnate return with a rousing single that opens with a sultry, overdriven SG tone and leans graciously into an epic chorus that beckons the audience to scream along.