The Ten Best Guitar Tracks To Hear This Week

Fix Me Up by Katy J Pearson

Heavenly Recordings’ Katy J Pearson has released her latest single //Fix Me Up//, which coincides with the announcement of her debut album, //Return//. Opening with a spritely Telecaster tone and Pearson’s exquisite vocals, it moves into an Americana-via-Bristol belter that should perk you right up.

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green recently passed away in his sleep at 73. He was a revolutionary guitar player that paved the way for the now sought after and highly imitated out-of-phase Les Paul tone. A superfluous guitar player who found fame in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before forming Fleetwood Mac, he was also a fantastic singer. Remember him by listening to one of the greatest instrumental guitar recordings of all time.

Care by Beabadoobee

Thrilling, buoyant and vulnerable all at once, the first taste of Beabadoobee’s debut album sounds like something lifted straight out of a 90s teen movie soundtrack. Featuring that slick and shiny guitar sound that’s at the forefront of today’s guitar nostalgia, it also includes a searing solo that would fit comfortably on Gish.

Keep Your Eyes Open by Bill Frisell

Originally appearing on his 1997 album Nashville, this classic recording has been reimagined for his album Valentine, centered around his three-piece ensemble with long-time collaborator Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston. Opening with Frisell’s signature harmonics and reverse delay work, it then leads into beautiful conversation between all three instruments.

Honey by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

The Aussie psych-rockers first new release of 2020, it follows the live albums that were put out via Bandcamp to aid Australian bush fire relief efforts. Featuring the band’s now characteristic microtonal approach, albeit acoustically, it also features some sultry mellotron.

Second Sight by Gardening

Second Sight is aptly the second single from the band formerly known as Mirror Shot and features breezy guitars and a gunshot snare that’s perfect to lift your spirits through the summer. Recorded using a well-worn 60s Jazzmaster and LP Goldtop, its reminiscent of early Sundara Karma and indie-faves Bloxx.

Scarlet by The Rolling Stones

The Stones have released this long-lost classic from their forthcoming reissue of the LP //Goat’s Head Soup//, which also features Jimmy Page. Recorded in 1974 at Ronnie Wood’s house, it also features Blind Faith’s Rick Grech on bass guitar.

A Boat To Drown In by METZ

Would you expect anything other than aggression or noise from Toronto’s METZ? No, and rightly so. Their new single, coming in at over eight minutes long, is gnarly, scuzzy, and downright dirty. Both claustrophobic and therapeutic, the Canadian’s prove once again why they’re one of the most important rock bands on the scene at the moment.

Ode To The Mets by The Strokes

Following the release of their long awaited sixth album, The New Abnormal, the NY band have released another single in video form. Opening with arpeggiated guitar reminsicent of Is This It, it’s underpinned by sultry mellotron and accented by Casablancas’s signature baritone. Skip to the 3:57 mark for some great chorus drenched guitars and a sombre cresciendo.

Tiny Desk (Home) Concert by Nilüfer Yanya

Perfectly contrasting her full band performance for NPR in September last year, this whole performance showcases her great guitar work, particularly her interesting chord shapes and percussive right hand.