Customer Reviews

Electric Warrior - Acoustic Saint

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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I felt prompted to write when I read the "editorial review" provided by amazon--"26 tracks of acoustical jams"?!?!? Obviously the reviewer never listened to any of this outrageously over-the-top guitar masterpiece. "Angry Candy," "Marriage of Figaro," and "Plymouth Rock" are some of the electric highlights; however, there ARE a lot of great acoustic tunes as well. I had forgotten until I recently re-listened to this recording how astonishing some of Cordola's acoustic work is. He is so precise and clean while rampaging all over the guitar at hyper-drive speed. Sort of a Christian combination of Yngwie Malmsteen and Al Dimeola, if you can imagine such a hybrid. It isn't for everyone, mainly because there's some interesting jazz, pop, classical, even country, but all blended into what is primarily a LOUD HARD METAL recording ("acoustical jams," indeed!). It's an added plus just to hear how much fun Cordola has goofing off on the many shorter pieces as well. They don't really go anywhere musically, but you don't feel cheated because of the many longer jaw-dropping solos scattered throughout the recording. The few songs with vocals are okay, but they wouldn't be the reason you'd buy this. However, let me give one complaint--what a letdown (mainly because of the criminally lousy production) was Cordola's follow-up recording "Of Riffs and Symphonies." What on earth happened? But THIS wonderfully produced recording is a work of guitar genius--not a word I throw around lightly.

I bought this CD when it was released in 1991. It was one of my first CDs and earned a lot of play when I was in college. I hadn't listened to it in years as I have over 400 CDs. I had forgotten just how good it really is!

Lanny's "Cover" of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is inspired and really shows how a classical piece can be reinvented with electric guitar!

Although many of the pieces are short 2:00 or less, they are played with passion. The longer pieces, Angry Candy, When Shiloh Comes, Figaro, Plymouth Rock (Awesome!), Jabberwocky... There are more are well worth the price of a CD.

I wish this CD were a little less pricey now, but if you can pick-up a reliable used copy, you just gotta' buy it!

This is one of the few CD's I actually still own and listen to from high school days. Half of the fun is Cordola's obvious pleasure playing his guitars and the other half is the fantastic production quality. The wide range of musical styles (in the general soup of heavy metal) appeals to my eclectic taste. I don't listen to other heavy metal, it just annoys me, but Lanny's style I enjoy. Every note seems to have a purpose rather than just to be noisy.

The short riffs are fun and mind opening to what a musical genius can do without synthesizers. The "Marriage of Figaro" cover is definitely the showpiece here.