Marty Willson-Piper

Unlike most guitar masters, Marty Willson-Piper is a strong songwriter who doesn't give in to twelve-stringed self-abuse. So while the upscale, mullet-free members of the GCC (Guitar Center Coalition) love him for his constantly inventive musicianship, the Indie Rock crowd and the general public dig his Nick Drake-meets-Tom Petty tunes. Unlike his work with the often otherworldly Church, MWP's solo material beats with a human heart. Between his Church duties, he's managed to release a number of winning solo records, not to mention a surprising number of should-have-been-hit singles. Hanging Out In Heaven (1999) is another strong effort that somehow manages to balance pop hooks, personal reflection, and Neo Psychedelic sea chanteys. Willson-Piper has also worked with the folk-gothic All About Eve, written a tune or two with Aimee Mann, and played with the charmingly retro, yet poppy Cinerama.