Life Begins at the Hop
XTC, 1979. Solo by Andy Partridge.
A jerky, playful break that fits XTC's nervy, angular take on pop.
XTC's cheerful single has a guitar break that sounds as twitchy as the band itself. Andy Partridge plays in short, jerky bursts, with choppy rhythms and odd little melodic turns that feel slightly off-balance, like a dancer who keeps changing step. There is no attempt at a long, sustained solo; it is a quick burst of personality that fits neatly between the vocal sections. That wiry, playful attitude was central to XTC's early sound and shows how new wave players swapped virtuosity for wit. Listen for how tightly the break locks to the drums and bass, making the guitar sound almost like part of the rhythm section even as it carries the melody.
Life Begins at the Hop by XTC is ranked #332 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Andy Partridge and the song was released in 1979. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #90 (uDiscover Music).
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Who played the guitar solo on Life Begins at the Hop?
Andy Partridge played the solo on XTC's Life Begins at the Hop (1979).
Where does Life Begins at the Hop rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#332 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 1 of them.