Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long Island's Favorite Son, December 8, 1999
Bought the CD and said damn! Bought the music book for Alien Love Secrets and said DAMN! "Alien Love Secrets" is Vai's finest moment. Right out of the starting gate, Vai gives us a clue for what we are in for with the opening riff of "Bad Horsie." It is a blazing riff that could be compared to a tornado put to music. With his Ibanez tuned down a whole step (tuned off the 3rd. fret instead of the 5th.), Vai gives us a down and dirty blues assault that rivals all. Equally glorius is "Juice" which closes with what an envious guitarist (such as me) might lament. My favorite is the majestic sounding "Die To Live." This one took me several months to learn. Next, Steve tips his hat to the great Jimi Hendrix with "Boy From Seattle." "Ya Yo-Gak" spotlights Steve's son, Jullian, on digitally edited vocals, followed by what has to be the most difficult song to play - EVER. "Kill The Guy With The Ball" should be re-titiled, "Kill The Guy Trying To Learn This Damn Song." The CD closes with the beautifully emotional song "Tender Surrender," which was nominated for a Grammy, which I believe there should be a congressional investigation into why "Tender Surrender" didn't win for Best Rock Instrumental. "Alien Love Secrets" is a fine accomplishment and a must for any guitar lover! This is a must. Afterall, look at all the things Steve has done for you!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent bookend to Passion and Warfare, August 12, 2004
Steve Vai made arguably the best instrumental guitar album in Passion and Warfare in 1989 (no arguably in my mind). Then in '93, he experimented with a normal band format with Vai and the record Sex & Religion. While the album wasn't bad and helped launch Devin Townsend's career, the idea was quickly put to bed after the tour and a lukewarm reception from fans and critics.
Vai decided to go back to making solo records and was creating what would became his Sgt. Pepper-esque Fire Garden and realized us fans would be without new material for quite a while. So he decided to create a stripped-down (for him) EP to keep us satisfied in the meantime, and he didn't disappoint.
The EP starts off with "Bad Horsie", an effects-laden mid-tempo song with a great groove and awesome sounds. "Juice" is probably my favorite Vai shred song. His clean-picked triplet run towards the end is phenomenal. "The Boy From Seattle" is Vai's ode to Hendrix and showcases a side of him we hadn't seen to that point. "Kill The Guy With The Ball/The God Eaters" is definitely the progressive centerpiece of the record. I remember a magazine describing the song as a cross of Jazz legend Joe Pass and Slayer. Pretty good assesment.
And, like Passion & Warfare, the album features two stunning ballads, "Tender Surrender" and "Die To Live". Steve's ballads are truly indescribable. He elicits so much emotion, I have yet to tire of them. If I had to pick, I'd say I prefer "Tender Surrender", mainly because of the flurry of notes that end the song that mimic laughter.
The only song I don't care for too much is "Ya-Yo Gakk", which is supposed to be Vai immitating his young child's attempt at speaking. As usual, his ability to make his guitar mimic human speech is unmatched, but the songs seems more of a throwaway to me.
While EPs are typically littered with alternate versions of popular songs, throwaway cover songs, and "lost" songs, Alien Love Secrets offers all new material and definitely raises the bar for EPs.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genius. Pure genius!, July 25, 2000
"Alien Love Secrets" starts off with one of the heaviest, coolest songs around, "Bad Horsie," which I accidentally played very loud at midnight when everyone else in my family was asleep. Thankfully, they never said anything. Anyway, "Bad Horsie" uses one of Steve's heaviest tones and sounds like it could be the theme song for the biggest, meanest cowboys ever to walk the Earth. I know that sounds weird, but just listen to the song. "Juice," in my opinion, could also be called "Vai Boogie" as it is like Steve's own version of Joe Satriani's "Satch Boogie." Both are simply jaw-dropping. "The Boy From Seattle" is a nice, thoughtful tune and shows a different mood than other songs on the album, as does "Tender Surrender." Of all the songs on this album, the coolest has to be "Ya-Yo Gakk," which is sung by his two year old son Julian. It is a testament to Steve's producing and editing skills that he can make a little boy sound like a rock star. Everything about this album is perfect. It cannot truly be described in words, so buy the album and you will have a true gem.
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by Steve Vai 
