Five Solo Acoustic Guitar Albums You Must Hear

Music and lyrics go together like peanut butter and jelly. Most often this is the truth. And to be completely honest, many of the greatest songs of today's popular music collection are so influential because of the fact that the words speak to us in some profound way.

This may be the case, but sometimes music speaks for itself. Sometimes music without words is all we need. The pure energy generated by an artist and his instrument is something electrifying and genuine. That energy connects with the listener on a significant level.

These five albums embody the simplicity and power that music represents. Most importantly, they communicate more with six strings, a wooden box, and a microphone, than the majority of songs can with three minutes worth of lyrics.

Aerial Boundaries(1984) -- Michael Hedges

In Michael Hedges' breakthrough album, style and technique are impossible to categorize in any predetermined way. This is where you can literally listen to the rules of playing being rewritten in each song. The importance of this album lies in the way it resists conformity in every way possible. The title song, "Aerial Boundaries," sounds more like an orchestra playing several movements of a symphony than a man plucking away, while "Ragamuffin" incorporates impressive percussive techniques that you never thought were possible on a guitar. This is the album that opened all possibilities for growth and evolution within the genre, and you can hear the groundwork being laid within every song.

Art of Motion(2005) -- Andy McKee

It's hard to reduce an artist as great as Andy McKee to just one of his albums. Credited as the YouTube sensation who introduced the world to fingerstyle guitar with this album's incredible song, "Drifting," this seems to be the most appropriate place to start.Art of Motionshowcases the full range of emotions capable by a skilled artist and his guitar. From the mourning sounds of "Rylynn," to the fast-paced finger frenzy that is "Art of Motion," Andy McKee never ceases to amaze, bewilder, and entrance. The listening experience is like none other, and it is sure to leave you with a greater appreciation of the capabilities of a single artist and his instrument.

The Mystery(2006) -- Tommy Emmanuel

No artist can demonstrate the capacity of this instrument with as much enthusiasm as the man who coined the term "fingerstyle guitar." While certainly not his first, this is undoubtedly the most mature of his albums. Anyone familiar with Tommy Emmanuel's playing style can attest to the blistering Rock and Roll licks he is capable of dishing out. Often treating his guitar like a drum set, he is able to generate such incredible sounds out of it that you would swear he has a percussion track running in the background. This album is the result of all that energy being refined and harnessed to make something incredibly beautiful. His cover of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes," is a rendition like none you have ever heard before. He makes it a point to prove that precision and feeling beat out speed and intensity when trying to convey emotion. Don't be turned off with all this talk of slow, self-controlled performance, though. Tommy makes sure to pack this album with some of his most exciting and explosive performances to date.

Existence(2008) -- Antoine Dufour

While many of Antoine Dufour's previous albums are reminiscent of his influencing artists, most notably Don Ross and Stephen Bennett,Existenceproves to be Antoine's gateway into exploring his own unique style. This album is a creation unlike any other before seen in the acoustic guitar genre. It has complex rhythms, intricate melodies, and conservative use of percussive techniques that give the songs a surreal feel. His use of alternative tunings brings a completely renewed voice to the instrument and keeps this album varied and interesting. One of his most beautiful compositions, "You and I," shows the wide range of possibilities achievable through exploration on the instrument. Don't be surprised if you hear Antoine switch tunings mid-song throughout this album. This is just one of the amazing techniques he executes with great purpose and ease in order create a completely unique listening experience.

Per Se(2007) -- Kieran Murphy

Being only 13 years of age at the time he wrote many of the songs on this album, Kieran Murphy's young, spirited nature comes through his playing in a very refreshing way. Nowhere else can you hear such attitude expressed through one instrument. No song embodies this attitude more so than his remarkable composition, "The Chase," which incorporates lightning speed and remarkable precision in a way that makes you feel as though you should be watching a scene from an old James Bond movie. As much as it expresses attitude, this album exudes maturity, control, and emotion. His tribute song to 9/11, "After the Fall," provides perhaps the clearest example of how a story can be told with music alone. IfPer Seis nothing else, it is at its core a musical book of stories that must be heard to be experienced.

No description can quite capture the musical beauty of these albums. The only way to fully experience them is to listen for yourself. Sit back, enjoy, and release any preconceptions you may have about solo instrumental music. These are sure to be like nothing you have ever heard before.