10. Annie Clark
Upon first listen you could be forgiven for not thinking there's much guitar featured in Annie Clark's band St. Vincent. Aside from the odd arpeggio and distorted wail, it may seem much more orchestral heavy. Clark uses pedals much like Tom Morello, turning her guitar into so much more than six strings, and creating soundscapes sometimes barely recognisable as the original instrument. Clark started out as a jazz guitarist, but her stint in The Polyphonic Spree helped her craft a true talent with effects. Annie Clark knows the worth of understated guitar. Many guitarists shred as if their lives depended on it, under the false notion that only fast guitar = good guitar. Clark, however, will lure you in slowly with dreamy jazz-tinted chords before blowing you away by ripping into a chaotic solo, such as in Northern Lights or Surgeon (see video below). Her last solo offering, Strange Mercy, delivered more guitar-wise than any of her previous records. With the quality of this, from riffs to solos and back again, here's hoping she'll demonstrate her skill further and further. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1Mvmi-KGM