Okay, I know there are some shred-heads out there in PB land, so I decided to post this just for you. I just picked up Vai's Sound Theories album (written entirely for orchestra and solo electric) about a month back, and this is hands down my favorite track. In my opinion, he's one of the greatest technical players of all time (and he's not a bad musician, either!). Enjoy the show.

PS - watch out for the "tongue harmonics"

__________________
Adam J. Myer
Back to looking for a call...
Evergreen PCA
Salem, Oregon

I actually disliked the whole first disk for Sound Theories...I really didn't enjoy "Steve Vai's Greatest Hits With Orchestra", it just felt kind of lame. Fortunately, the second disk had (mostly) original material which was quite good.

__________________
Vaughn Shideler
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Toronto, ON, Canada

__________________
John J.
Member Christ Prebyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

More of Vai shredding...this is definitely one of his greats.

__________________
Craig French
Married and father of a beautiful daughter.
Member of Christ The Word, PCA
Toledo, OH

MY BLOG

Is that a joke? I've never heard something so awful! This was a gag performance right?

I disliked a lot on that album, but I did like this track particularly well, and I do like the sound of it much better with orchestra than w/o. I think that the interplay and synthesis between guitar and the other instruments turns out to be very interesting to the ear, and adds a lot of color.

On some of the other tracks though you will keep asking yourself, "why are they there?"

Although the album that Attitude Song comes from, Flex-Able, is one of my all-time faves. Such a goofy and imaginative album, with cool and quirky tunes.

Vai is good, but most of his music is too erratic. About the only song of his that I can listen to over and over again is "For The Love of God".


There is soooo much emotion in this song. Although the version on the album was executed much better.

If there is any other of his songs that are not so dissonant let me know, I got tired of wading through his stuff just to find one good song.

Bad philosophy has definately had an effect on the arts and music is no exception.

I prefer Yngwie Malmsteen especially his work on his first two albums, Rising Force and Marching out and his album of improvised classical pieces. Smok'n Joe Satriani is also a favorite of mine, but like most artists their first few works usually contain the best of their lifes work in them and then it's just cranking songs out to honor their contracts with their recording company.

Here are a couple of upstarts I have recently discovered that are showing some promise.

Bill Majoros:
Bill Majoros

The best place to sample Bill Majoros work is in his compilation albums Dogzilla and Dogzilla 2. Best of all, all of his songs are full length free downloads. Bill sounds a lot like satriani but certainly has his own style to mix things up.

Garfo is also very good:
The Gareth 'Garfo' Thomas Website - Music Page

Garfo is also simply amazing! He does all his music by himself. It has been sometime since I visited his site and now I see that he has offered his whole first album to download for free. He has a way of creating a mood and ambience that is simply awsome, check him out.

__________________
David Morrow
Faith Community Church
Kansas City, MO
http://presupposetheism.blogspot.com

I've always been partial to this one:

Somebody just dubbed over Vai's performance...it looked genuine, though!

For the Love of God is good, but Lotus Feet is good, better, best.


And I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot stand Malmsteen. Vai has a much better musical sense, IMO, probably because of the Jazz degree from Berklee.

Here is a cool video with an explanation of one of his most ridiculous songs, "Freak Show Excess."


Conor

__________________
Conor Aubry
Member, Wellington Presbyterian Church, Wellington, Florida
Clemson University, Student, Clemson, SC

Reminds me of this:


One of the funniest things I've seen. It keeps making me think that this is what jazz really sounds like to the uninitiated.

I was asking myself that question while listening to the track you posted, Adam. The orchestra sounds like it's being used as merely a large rhythm section.

As for Vai's fleet-fingeredness, I think Stevie Ray Vaughan was better. And, of course, Hendrix...

__________________
Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.foft.wordpress.com

Talking to oneself is, I believe, considered a sign of lunacy. Thinking to oneself is most certainly a sign of it. - G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), in January, 1906

According to Frankk Zappa's autobiography, Mr. Vai is a very naughty boy.

__________________

Colour

I've never been interested in reading much from Zappa, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. He is one musician who's self-importance and anti-government/anti-Christian positions have ruined any interest that I otherwise might have had in his creative work.