Mike McCready from Pearl Jam... one of the top 100 guitarists of all time?

Gary Blanchard said:
It is interesting that this didn't come from some top 100 list; this is one guy's opinion. And, since he is a big fan, he would naturally feel this way. We can all disagree, but this is truth to him.
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So to him from a subjective point of view, McCready is a top 100 guitarist. And this is why I said a top 100 ranking is meaningless, unless it was someone saying these are my personal favorite top 100 guitarists. I really don't see how there can be an "objective" top 100 list, as I don't know of any scientific method for quantifying and ranking musical expression. Any attempt to make one is just a sham, and a way to generate attention to your article or web page. And a not very original way in my opinion.

So then I say all Top 100 lists are necessarily subjective. A person's subjective means something to that person, and to anyone that cares about who that person likes in terms of music. I do have interest in what my friends like in terms of music. I no longer try to change their opinions though. If anything, I try to learn.

I have long been very much NOT a Jerry Garcia fan. But I have friends, some of whom who are very good guitarists, who are. So I am trying to open up my mind to what I can learn. So I might care what my friend's top guitarist list is. (maybe not 100 worth though).

OTOH, it is rare I would spend any energy on some list by some dude in a music mag.
 
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Chad said:
McCready is absolutely on my top 100 list. I would love to be able to play as well as him.
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After writing the above,he is up there on my subjective list too. Though maybe he is not on the Top 100 list as measured by who is most skillful by most guitarists out there, he is way up there on mine. I also would love to be able to play as well as he does, and actually am inspired in my own pursuits by him.
 
I like Pearl Jam quite a bit and for me the question has never been "are you one of the greatest players of all time?" but rather "Do you play music that people actually give a damn about?" I think musicians get too caught up in how technically great someone is and many have the mindset "If I can play the songs this guy writes, he's not that good." Just my two cents which isn't worth a nickel but FWIW Yellow Ledbetter would probably be in my top 10 favorite songs if I had to narrow it down.

 
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These kind of lists are stupid! Everyone is going to have their own opinions and it is their right to have them. My opinion on him is he plays what fits the songs that his band writes (team player), is inspiring to watch live and plays with the passion of someone who loves music. What more could someone want from a bandmate? Who knows maybe when he is sitting around in his bassment by himself he can shred your face off, but who really cares anyways? More then a little sure that he could play circles around people that sit on the internet trashing his abilty.
 
Mark Wein said:
Why do they make lists? Lists are stupid.

And CC Deville plays guitar like monkees fucking a football.
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LOL....CC's GF is from the Philadelphia area and I saw the two of them walking around one time a bunch of years ago. He's an ugly mug in person.
 
micwalt said:
I agree with you completely. Of course, I don't like Pearl Jam, so I may be a little biased. But I don't consider him to be much above a pretty decent player.
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Mark Wein said:
Why do they make lists? Lists are stupid.

And CC Deville plays guitar like monkees fucking a football.
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Yeah, these two. Mostly I don't rate him as a guitar player because I don't enjoy any of Pearl Jam's music. He's obviously a good guitar player, and probably a great guitar player if you're into Pearl Jam.
 
Alex W said:
I think musicians get too caught up in how technically great someone is and many have the mindset "If I can play the songs this guy writes, he's not that good."
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^This.
If we look only at technical ability and ignore the artistic & creative process it took to come up with an innovative lick, riff, or solo that works well with a song, we're missing on what truly counts.

Thousands upon thousands can play EVH and Hendrix note for note, but how many of them can create something new at that level?
 
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Tig said:
^This.
If we look only at technical ability and ignore the artistic & creative process it took to come up with an innovative lick, riff, or solo that works well with a song, we're missing on what truly counts.

Thousands upon thousands can play EVH and Hendrix note for note, but how many of them can create something new at that level?
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I totally agree with this.
 
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I think McCready is a fine guitar player who fits very well with Pearl Jam. Top 100 ever? That's tough to say, there are a lot of great guitar players out there. I certainly would be very happy if I could play as well as he does.

CC DeVille, on the other hand, is a crap player from a crap band.
 
I had no idea CC was a session guy:

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