Born: June 9, 1972
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March 02, 2005 at 11:41 am
Preston Reed...
Prompted by my recent incessant listening to Kaki King‘s music (you may remember me mentioning her here), I read a recent interview in Pop Matters. In it, she mentions being inspired by a guy named Preston Reed (maybe “inspired” is not the correct word):
“Basically, what I do is that I play just like Preston Reed,” says King. “I’ve always acknowledged this and I’ve always had a certain amount of guilt about it.”This led me to find some songs by Preston and give them a listen. Admittedly, Kaki’s playing style is very similar to Preston’s. I am surprised at just how alike they are. Both Preston and Kaki play the guitar by strumming and hitting the strings (and the guitar) to produce a very rhythmic style of folk/jazz/rock. They both write instrumental songs that don’t contain lyrics. They both have a hippyish appearance… One difference that I can hear is that Kaki’s playing seems a bit more intense — a bit of her younger angst coming out, I’d assume.
Still, both musicians are well worth the listen. Preston is fairly unknown compared with Kaki’s recent stardom, but he’s been around for a while and has some audible wisdom in his songwriting. Both Preston and Kaki put my guitar playing to shame and tantalize my ears with awe-inspiring licks.
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Comments (12)
Almost as good as my favorites Michael Hedges, John Fahey, and Leo Kotke. He sounds a lot like a little of each of them. Good stuff. Thanks Tim.
» Comment by p.e.horner () (URL), on March 02, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Dude… RIP Dimebag.
» Comment by dennisthemenace () , on March 03, 2005 at 09:53 am
Just kidding… Just bought the new Doves and Mars Volta. Whaddya think of either?
» Comment by dennisthemenace () , on March 03, 2005 at 09:53 am
Glad you like him, Peder! Have you listened to Kaki King yet?
Dennis ~ I had not heard either The Mars Vega (well, maybe) or Doves yet… I just did and they are both pretty cool. Doves are probably more my style than TMV, though — very moody (and I noticed the distinct Manchester influence before I even read more about them!).
Dennis ~ I had not heard either The Mars Vega (well, maybe) or Doves yet… I just did and they are both pretty cool. Doves are probably more my style than TMV, though — very moody (and I noticed the distinct Manchester influence before I even read more about them!).
» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on March 03, 2005 at 10:29 am
funny, cause i thought the same thing. i had a feeling Doves were more you kind of band. anyhow, new record in my opinion is good but probably their worst. check out Lost Souls (name of the record). i am almost positive you will love it. Who is Mars Vega? haha….
» Comment by dennisthemenace () , on March 03, 2005 at 10:45 am
Mars Vega? You haven’t heard of Mars Vega? Ha ha ha! 
» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on March 03, 2005 at 10:48 am
Kaki stinks compared to Preston. It isn’t even fair to compare them. Preston is THE best at the style he invented. The rest of the players out there are wanna-be Prestons. You need to really listen to Handwritten Notes and then try to draw some compairisons again. Unless you are a complete novice guitarist, you should be able to easily recognize who the real talented player/writer is between the two.
» Comment by Bert Johnson () , on June 25, 2005 at 11:29 pm
Wow, Bert… You’re really being a little harsh to me here. I understand your passion (I think), but please don’t judge me for my likes and dislikes when you don’t even know me.
That being said, I have listened to much of Preston’s music at this point (the original entry was written back in March). While I do appreciate his style, his technical skill, etc., I still value Kaki’s emotion — even if one of her songs isn’t the best-composed, I always fell like I feel what she felt when she wrote the song (try to say that ten times fast). Yeah, Kaki is young and needs to mature in her songwriting, but that just makes me all the more intrigued — I can’t wait to see what she turns into.
As far as Preston being the “inventor” of this style… Hmmm… That could be debated. People have been playing the two-handed style since the Baroque period (maybe not like Preston does it, but in some form or another).
That being said, I have listened to much of Preston’s music at this point (the original entry was written back in March). While I do appreciate his style, his technical skill, etc., I still value Kaki’s emotion — even if one of her songs isn’t the best-composed, I always fell like I feel what she felt when she wrote the song (try to say that ten times fast). Yeah, Kaki is young and needs to mature in her songwriting, but that just makes me all the more intrigued — I can’t wait to see what she turns into.
As far as Preston being the “inventor” of this style… Hmmm… That could be debated. People have been playing the two-handed style since the Baroque period (maybe not like Preston does it, but in some form or another).
» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on June 26, 2005 at 07:59 am
Ms King has “good energy”, but her technical and compositional prowess lacks considerably, especially when played side by side with the incomparable Preston Reed. She owes her career to Preston Reed, and though she can certainly play better than me, she is a pale, pale imitation of Reed. Reed’s blazing speed, rhythem and perfect, PERFECT inflections give his music a sophistication, style and depth not found in Ms. King’s “made for MTV” rip-offs.
» Comment by freebird , on September 16, 2005 at 2:42 pm
Hmmm… I have yet to see any Kaki King aired on MTV. 
While you are entitled to your opinions, I would never place the title of “perfect” on anyone (originator of a style or not). As you can see, Kaki freely admits that she tries to “play like Preston.” In my opinion, Preston and Kaki are both different people with similar, but different styles (as could be said about many many finger-style guitarists). Preston may be more technically versed, but Kaki comes loaded with all sorts of emotion. Both, for me, are listens for different days.
While you are entitled to your opinions, I would never place the title of “perfect” on anyone (originator of a style or not). As you can see, Kaki freely admits that she tries to “play like Preston.” In my opinion, Preston and Kaki are both different people with similar, but different styles (as could be said about many many finger-style guitarists). Preston may be more technically versed, but Kaki comes loaded with all sorts of emotion. Both, for me, are listens for different days.
» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on September 16, 2005 at 2:56 pm
I believe the quote was “I play JUST like Preston Reed.” I definitely give her credit for acknowledging Preston, she should. No, maybe not MTV, but you get the gist..the clips I have downloaded are targeting the hip hugger salivating 20 + er males who are amazed that there is someone playing a guitar…and IT’S a CHICK!
» Comment by freebird , on September 16, 2005 at 3:21 pm
If you need to defend well-packaged mediocrity, why not just say she plays with ....“emotion”? ...(whatever that means)....a compliment of last resort, to be sure.
» Comment by karlmarx , on September 16, 2005 at 9:00 pm