Ai, ai, ai... Vot poliubuites', chto pishut pro 7th Song nashego krasavza!: zitiruiu:The 7th Song
Artist: STEVE VAI
(Epic/Sony)
Reviewer: MV
I'D never noticed it, but apparently former Frank Zappa and Whitesnake six-string stinger Vai always reserves the seventh track on each album for a really ''mellow'' song.
And this, his first compilation album, is a collection of all his ''seventh songs,'' including tracks from his earliest work, 1984's Flex-able, and his classic 1990 Passion And Warfare album, through to his latest oeuvre, 1999's The Ultra Zone.
This album is subtitled Enchanting Guitar Melodies Archives, Vol.1, and before I put it on, I was expecting something rather special. Vai himself calls the songs ''more devotional than technical'' and ''a reflection of one man's desire for spiritual communion.'' What he serves up, unfortunately, is generally quite lousy.
Part of the blame should be accorded to Vai's awful, jarring guitar tone. It's so muscular and angular that it is incapable of expressing any sort of sensitivity whatsoever.
While I can appreciate his intentions, Vai's heavy-handed style is ultimately unpalatable. The only real respite comes in the form of Burning Down The Mountain (which focuses on his acoustic guitar) and some moments in Boston Rain Meltdown.
Honestly, this is very disappointing stuff from a talented player who does not seem to know how to write a good tune. -