10 Greatest Indie Guitar Heroes

4. Kevin Shields - My Bloody Valentine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyYMzEplnfU If you knew nothing about My Bloody Valentine and were just played the records blindfolded, you'd think that most of them don't even sound like there's a guitar on them, because Kevin Shields plays the instrument like no one else on the planet. This was evident from their first album proper, 'Isn't Anything', where he used the guitar as means to layer the songs, but the release of the follow up, 'Loveless', showed that he was straying into unchartered waters. Some of the most flowery prose has been written to describe Kevin Shields playing, so I'll cut to the chase, his style involves the constant use of a tremolo arm, which in itself is fairly weird but doesn't need much explaining, the records do that for themselves, you don't have to know anything about guitar playing to know what a sensual, erotic and downright evil sound that he creates is. There's no posturing when they play live, he just stands on the spot. But he understands the value of sound and melody, and most of all volume, he just doesn't apply them in the traditional way. Whilst other guitarists here are rightly praised for their versatility, Shields is to be applauded for his bloody-mindedness, that's not to say for a second that he's a one trick pony - whilst there is most definitely a house style to My Bloody Valentine, they don't repeat themselves. They are all about the sound that they produce, which ultimately comes from a man who can do things on a guitar that no one has thought of doing before, and one that can't be imitated. Kevin Shields is a singular guitar talent from a truly unique band. Go and have a listen, perhaps you may not enjoy it, but I'll guarantee you'll be fascinated, and then some.