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Does anyone like the 1980's guitar shred scene? If you hate it why?

I am taking about Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Richie Kotzen, Tony Mcalpine, Cacophony etc.

I quite like some of it, although I could not listen to it every day. I would say "Perpetual Burn" is my favourire record of this era.

A lot of people have issues with fretboard wankery as they feel there is a lack of song structure and it is just showing off. However, this was what these albums were all about in my opinion.

I like it when it's not a backdrop for glam, Add Racer X, Vinnie Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force onto your list. I also like all the Shrapnel bands with talented guitarists.

"Too much wankery" is a pretty petty excuse in my books, Playing amazingly technical stuff doesn't necessarily make the music more superior which I think is why these people dislike shred. Shred isn't an elitist's genre (though it does seem to attract some a la Malmsteen) it's just the next stage in guitar inovation technically speaking.

I find a lot of the shred instrumental stuff very atmospheric, The vast knowledge of chord progressions etc helps I guess...

You mean the most of Shrapnel roster. Of course I find Cacophony very appealing. I like when killer guitarists show what they can. Sometimes I miss ideas, esp, neoclassical stuff can be pretty soporific, but heck, sedatives are needed sometimes, too.

hmm, how do you find Joe Taffola solo albums?

It's been a long since you have posted here welcome back and heavy new year, mate !

Heavy New Year to you, Nicolas and to the rest of Corro-crew. Well, 2008 haven't started friendly for me. I hope it will end better than it started. As it now seems I will post less in the future as well. Bah, we will see. Cheers!