Is "Master of Puppets" the best?

Do you know the site RetroCrush? You should; they do good work.

Well, the folks over at RetroCrush have teamed with a blogger at Strange, Weird Thoughts to produce yet another "all-time" list. This edition is entitled, "The 500 Greatest Guitar Riffs." To view the list (complete with an impressive set of links for tabs) as well as background/selection criteria, click here.

I usually only give lists like this a cursory look and little credit as they typically default to some sycophantic garbage about an artist, band or tune that clearly doesn't deserve the weight granted. But this list is actually different.

Rock monsters Metallica populate the list in a number of slots, including #1 with "Master of Puppets" (going forward known as "MoP"). Very few "all-time" rolls for rock's greatest whatever will include the Big M in the top 10 let alone give them top honors.

Remember: they're talking about riffs alone here, not solos. But riffs vs. solos aside, does "MoP" really deserve top honors?

First, consider the overall popularity of the tune. As one indicator, I searched the prominence of "MoP" as an iTunes purchase. Here are the results (click to see larger):


So, the song is in the top 10 of purchased Metallica music, which may or may not be a key indication of its sticking power and appeal.

Also consider album sales of the "MoP" disc at Amazon.com (again, click on image to see larger):


Well, this is a really hard way to determine the viability of a title as old as this album. Amazon has a nearly limitless number of CDs for sale at any one time, but it's safe to say that this is not one of their "hot" items at the moment.

Now we come to the hardest comparison of all -- the totally subjective estimation of whether "MoP" is truly better than its fellow top-10 tunes. Here is how they stack up:

1. Metallica - Master of Puppets
2. Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
3. Black Sabbath - Iron Man
4. The Who - Pinball Wizard
5. Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
6. Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
7. Derek and the Dominoes - Layla
8. Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
9. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
10. Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

The arguments could be made from nearly every side that any one of these songs has produced a better riff. Some of these riffs take more skill than others. Some of the guitar sounds are more memorable or receive more general exposure to the public. And some might even say there is really only the slightest hint of riffage with some of the tracks.

I haven't gone over the entire list to find titles that I believe are better contenders for #1. I will, however, grant that "MoP" is somewhat of a signature tune for the band and the genre. The riff has the right amount of drive and crunch to keep it sticking around, and these characteristics alone might solidify its standing atop the heap.

Judge "MoP" for yourself by viewing the item below ....

A "Danny Dumps" from Galaxy FM - Yorkshire

Name that tune . . .

Caught in the race against time,
The pit and the pendulum

Radio the way it should be.....

Regulatory guidelines of what is "acceptable" radio content, coupled with bad management decisions from large controlling corporations, has now created a massive void where there was once creative radio.

Once upon a time, back before anyone ever heard of a "wardrobe malfunction," every major radio market in the country had a few shinning stars working their tails off to produce classic bits of comedy. Granted, much of their efforts were what some might called "mean-spirited pranks" at the expense of unsuspecting callers or listeners, but it was all in the name of good fun and great ratings. This was the new golden age of radio.

Now, every market is pretty much the same, and there really is no point in trying to find something truly original on the American dial. This is why I'm pointing you to the fine folks across the pond at Galaxy FM - Yorkshire in Great Britain.

I would especially encourage radio fans to visit the "HIRSTY'S DAILY DOSE" portion of the site. Check out the "Danny Dumps" section to hear an old radio gimmick get new life. This is more like the way FM radio should be.

On the American side of the radio dial, do yourself the good turn of checking out the Rick Emerson program from Portland, Org. Rick Emerson and his band of merrymakers are producing one of the best, most original radio programs in the nation.