Customer Reviews

Defying Gravity

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a fan since '87 with Mind's Eye. I hear this one and at first listen it sounded like a rehash of his old stuff...the ones that become your favorites always start that way.
I listened a few more times and I heard that it is still his neo-classical style, but about 20 levels higher. God, I love it ! A must have for Vin fans. He plays that typical speed of light stuff, but if you listen closely, it has matured to a new level..
Take a chance, buy it..it's worth the price ! Bravo Vinman !!

There are lots of guitar players in the "market", Joe Satriani and his passion, Steve Vai and his experiments, Yngwie Malmsteen and his talent, but Vinnie Moore offers something different: integration. His composition are out of this world, his is probably the 20th-21st Century Beethoven, and every song is a real symphony. The Defying Gravity album is no exception, with lots of acustic guitars and a "spanish" influence, but you only need to listen to the first 3 seconds of the first song and you know it's Vinman...
I really would like to give this album 5 stars, but it's a way to recognize that there are better albums, like Time Odyssey.

Impression: Vinnie started out with an intense blend of neo classical and rock instrumental styles that were unique even with many other players that were doing the same thing. He done some really heavy work with Vicious Rumours, which I liked even after Vinnie left. "Mind's Eye" was one of the best neoclassical albums of it's time, the best since Yngwie's debut solo album, but still a Vinnie Moore who was looking for his own style. Ironically, his sound became more soothing and traditional sounding and that's when I really became a fan. With "Time Odyssey" Vinnie took a different direction, away from the squeely, pick scratching fret melting sound that was popular and used more fusiony tone and more legato technique to boot. I was blown away, having listened to a lot of Yngwie Malmsteen , and then hearing even more over the top playing, with what was to me perfect execution also. A few times Yngwie had played some interesting things live that were out of this world, Vinnie seemed to harness some of the wild moments of other guitarists and string them together into tight, well composed, classically themed songs. Listening again recently, it seems a little repetitive and boring, but it is a must listen album. "Meltdown" was more of a rock album, I'm not sure if it was Vinnie trying to follow the trends or prove something, but I only heard a few Vinnie type songs and really didn't go for it. Beer commercial rockers probably enjoyed it big time, and Satch fans who wanted a little more edge, but Vinnie's place is where he returns in a few albums. "Out of Nowhere" was what seemed to be a more creative effort, but I began to lose faith in Vinnie having another "Time Odyssey." "The Maze" was a great comeback for Vinnie lovers from the past. Almost as if this was his second album, there was some intense sounding guitar, and technique. I was convinced Vinnie would not become washed up after hearing it. I still was a little bored by hearing the usual stuff with Vinnie Moore's talent as an added bonus it seemed. But I would love to record an album like that some day and is second to his latest album. "Defying Gravity;" ah, Vinnie has defied time itself. This album is a masterpiece, everything I liked about Vinnie in the past came through on nearly every song. Particularly some very memorable song writing, ballads, technique heavy songs, and fresh sounding playing. Vinnie has found the sound, furthered his technique, made some just beautiful music and I highly recommend "Defying Gravity." Just to name a few, this album is in the ranks of Yngwie's debut "Rising Force," Steve Vai's "Passion and Warfare," Jason Becker and Marty Friedman's debut solo albums "Perpetual Burn" and "Dragon's Kiss" and is still in a class of it's own. The mix is also a masterpiece. Paul Orofino at Millbrook Sound Studios deserves an award in my opinion, for the greatest mixing of all time.

I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I must say The Maze WAS definitely Vinnie's best album, UNTIL I heard Defying Gravity. Vinnie truly has mastered the art of combining technical skill with melody; he has been and forever will be a virtuoso of the instrument, and never has this been more evident than in this album. Of course, if you're looking for an album like Mind's Eye, this is not it. This is a much more adult, mature album. Vinnie utilizes his incredible guitar skill to enhance the wonderful songs, instead of slapping us in the face with it as in Mind's Eye. (Don't get me wrong, Mind's Eye is incredible of course, but true musicians write good music, not just wow us with technical ability - Mozart will always be greater than Paganini.) And hey, the hot licks are there, and the solos will leave you breathless as always, so all of you shredheads out there, buy this album!

If you like Vinnie Moore, pick up this album. It's friggin' great. That being said, the two most important aspects of said album are these:
1) The Goddamn Tightest Rhythm Section (Maybe) Ever = Steve Smith & Dave LaRue!!!!!
2) The mix/mastering/production is terrible (as is basically every Shrapnel release ever). Start a petition. Get Varney to cough up the loot to remix AND remaster his entire catalogue so maybe we can get some big drums and audible bass in the speakers. Same with the Steve Morse stuff sometimes...the mixes are just baaaad.

Other than that, a MIGHTY piece of shred-work. Easily one of my favorites in the "guitar" genre. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

In my opinion, this is my least favorite Vinnie Album. Other than some of the acoustic songs, none of the songs grabbed me. I have all of Vinnie's albums and this one sounds like he ran out of ideas. The best albums in my opinion are "Out of Nowhere" and "Minds Eye". Those albums seemed to have a lot more to them. His chops are awesome as always, but the album is a little boring. I do enjoy the acoustic numbers and a few electric ones, but Vinnie has done better. Vinnie fans will still enjoy this one, but I will never say it is his best. I feel like it's his worst, but even Vinnie's worst is still pretty good. 3.5 stars. Vinnie, it's time to get a little more variety.

The good:
I think this album reflects the evolution of Vinnie as a musician and as a guitar player. Though he started amazing the world with his skill, step by step, his works have matured leaving gradually behind the tendency to compile execises in favor of a better structured an composed themes. In this album you wil find concepts that had been already used in previous works, but you`ll notice that they are developed more wisely here. As an example of this i can mention the acoustic tracks in comparison to "never been to Barcelona". Guitar solos of this album have been incredibly increased in shade an expression.
Friends like Steve Morse (Bassist is Dave LaRue) do not make you indifferent...xD
The bad:
Yes, the production sound is a little saturated.
But the worst thing i can say about this album is that it is too good all the time... xD

This is a VERY solid album. Not quite as good as "The Maze", but then what is? As a side note, I picked up the Japanese version of this album which has some cool artwork on the front instead of just a generic headshot. Mike Varney seems to be getting a bit ghetto in his packaging these days. I almost didn't buy Black Light Syndrome as a result of the retarded cover, but I am glad I did. By the way, that is another great album you should check out.

I'm not sure what to think, it seems like Vinne might be trying to go a different direction on the last half of the album, but still has yet to define the direction itself. I hope the next effort is more defined.
This is still pretty good though, I'm always amazed at how fluid Vinne can play with such small amounts of distortion.

Mindblowing guitar master...His music has a ''personality''of its own.This guitar work reminds me the ''MAZE''album a little and it has everything: super fast legato chops,amazing sweep picking technique and very melodic compositions. There are also more ''NEVER BEEN TO BARCHELONA'' type songs for those who liked Vinnie's approach to flamenco music... If you are a Vinnie Moore fun or if you just like good instrumental guitar music then this cd is the right one for you.