Squonk
Seeing that I am on a nostalgic trip, examining all the music I used to listen to.
I have been listening to T. Rex, 'Electric Warrior' and 'Bolan Boogie'. Been trying to understand why this appealed to me all those years ago.
Marc Bolan actually wrote some very good songs and plays some interesting electric guitar.
The Earlier T. Rex was a bit more folky with just Marc and a percussionist wonderfully named Steve Peregrine Took! Excellent song writing and magical themes and albums with brilliant names 'My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows'.
By the time "Electric Warrior" came along. T. Rex was a bit more electric but still with a lot of acoustic guitar. This Album influenced a lot of musicians at the time and years to come.
It does sound a bit dated and very simple, but Bolans songwriting and vocals are very unique. He doesn't feature in any Guitar Magazines but his riffs and solos IMO are simple but good stuff.
Have a go, you never know
Jack-Flash-Jr
Allow me to edit for you:
"It does soend a bit dated and very simple, but Bolans songwriting and vocals are very unique. He doesn't feauture in any Guitar Magazines but his riffs and solos IMO are simple but ABSOLUTELY AWESOME stuff."
If 20th Century Boy's intro doesn't knock your socks off you're dead or beyond redemption. Cold shivers and sheer guitar joy.
singemonkey
I love Marc Bolan. Super influential.
I think, like Bowie, he was influenced by Syd Barrett's look and stage persona. But he was the guy who really nailed the whole arrogant strut thing. I swear, you can see the difference in Jimmy Page's stage performance pre-Bolan, and post-Bolan. The pouting, the strutting. A huge influence on stadium rock in the 70's.
And he wrote fantastic songs (usually with pretty meaningless lyrics) that just give you that "Hell yeah!" feeling that rock 'n roll is supposed to give you. Awesome riffs, and he never bogs you down by trying to be too clever. He was (apart from the lyrics) a bit like an English Chuck Berry - great stage show, awesome rock 'n roll songs.
Lenny Kravitz is Bolan's heir imo.
