From neo-soul virtuosity to groove-infused grime-metal: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

Melanie Faye performs during FORM Arcosanti 2019 at at Arcosanti Urban Laboratory on May 10, 2019 in Arcosanti, Arizona.
(Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty)

From the potential death of the guitar solo, to the merits of smashing guitars onstage, to social media’s influence on the mental health of budding guitarists, there’s discourse – from every conceivable angle – on anything and everything relating to this instrument we love.

It can get so loud and heated that one can easily forget just why we all care so much in the first place – what brought us to the guitar to begin with. 

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.