Archives, Vol. 4

Steve Vai | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 6, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B0000CNWT5
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sweet Lady Luck

2. The Rumble

3. Ease

4. Home

5. Western Vacation

6. Noah's Ark

7. Drifting

8. Bold as Love

9. There's Still Hope

10. Autumn in Nepal

11. Feed My Frankenstein

12. Queen of the Night

13. Gone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This compilation is certainly unique, September 28, 2005

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Archives, Vol. 4 (Audio CD)

The Good
The album starts off with "Sweet Lady Luck"; a lost B-side from Vai's days in Whitesnake. The song is loaded with all the over-the-top production values from that era, as well as Coverdale's signature delivery and some fiery licks from our fret master. "The Rumble" is an eight minute instrumental that Vai contributed to a West Side Story compilation. Vai really puts his stamp on a combination of songs from this classic musical. Two tracks come courtesy of the John Lydon fronted Public Image Limited project from 1986. "Ease" is more of a trippy nod to classic 70s prog-rock, while "Home" comes off more like a combination of a new wave/hard rock mishmash. Good stuff just the same.

"Drifting" is a great ballad that was part of a symphonic Jimi Hendrix tribute. The soulful vocals come courtesy of Living Colour's Corey Glover. "Bold as Love" comes from the same album, only this time Vai is teamed up with Bad Company's Paul Rodgers. Vai's twangy tones fit well with Rodger's strong pipes. Not only did Alice Cooper tap Steve Vai to contribute to "Feed My Frankenstein", but so did Joe Satriani. Killer riffs all around. If you read the liner notes, you'll see this song is stacked with a who's who of hard rock.

The Bad
There are a few songs that disrupt the flow of the album due to their diversity; "Western Vacation" is heavy in dialogue and "Queen of the Night" is more operatic. And where are the David Lee Roth songs?

The Verdict
This compilation is certainly unique. How many other artists do you know that have been able to release something like this? With Various Artists, Steve Vai shows his diversity when it comes to his outside projects, but no matter what style, artist, or presentation the project may be, there's no question that Steve Vai is the one laying down the guitar parts.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Archives Vol 4 Was Awesome, February 1, 2009

By 

Larry Gonzales (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Archives, Vol. 4 (Audio CD)

This has some of the best music I have heard. It is not your typical commercialized stuff. It is soulful and outstanding music.

5.0 out of 5 stars warning: genius at work, December 16, 2009

By 

LBL (-) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Archives, Vol. 4 (Audio CD)

archives 3.5 / 4 possibly features Vai's most extreme, pyrotechnical play...what with ultra-speed picking, tapestries of tapping scalar work, floyd rose abuse and soulful vocals thrown in the mix too. Not to be missed