Corduroy
Pearl Jam, 1994, from Vitalogy. Solo by Mike McCready.
The closing lead builds with the band, stacking melodic phrases toward one of Vitalogy's most cathartic moments.
Corduroy is one of the strongest songs on Vitalogy, and its closing lead is less a solo than a slow gathering of force. Mike McCready builds phrase on phrase with the rest of the band, stacking melodic lines that grow louder and more urgent as the song pushes toward its peak. Rather than a single spotlight moment, the guitar becomes part of a collective surge, which is what makes the ending so cathartic. It is a good example of Pearl Jam's knack for letting a song's final minute carry its emotional weight. Listen for how the lead line keeps returning to a simple melodic idea, raising it a little each time until the song finally breaks open.
Corduroy by Pearl Jam is featured in our Grunge (#21) list. The solo is played by Mike McCready and the song was released in 1994.
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Who played the guitar solo on Corduroy?
Mike McCready played the solo on Pearl Jam's Corduroy (1994).