Customer Reviews

Odyssey

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The collaboration of Joe Lynn Turner and Yngwie Malmsteen make this album a classic in my book. The songs are perfectly crafted, which says a lot for an artist who is known as a guitar virtuoso, but a mediocre songwriter. In fact, this is the only album by Yngwie Malmsteen where the songs are equal in appeal to his guitar mastery.

From the opening cut to the final note, this album is a winner. The prerequisite themes of dragons, fire and medieval times are touched on, but not with the frequency of Yngwie's other albums such as Marching Out and Trilogy. Instead, Joe Lynn Turner tempers Yngwie's "mystical" view with a little romanticism that plays very well on this release. "Dreaming" and "Now is the Time" are probably the best examples of this blend, while "Heaven Tonight" is possibly the most overproduced and dated of all of the tracks. "Heaven Tonight" screams "...made for radio."

The vocal performance is outstanding, the musicianship is top notch, and the work as a whole definitely deserves five stars. Bravo! Encore!

This is far and away the best Yngwie Malmsteen album after his original RISING FORCE lp. Yngwie goes through lead vocalists like I go through pairs of shoes, but I always felt that Joe Lynn Turner was the best singer to complement Malmsteen on a studio recording.

This was a great album because Yngwie got a chance to fully develop his sound by melding it with an 80's hair band (ala Poison or Cinderella), but at the same time he freely expressed himself by way of mind-boggling solos, sweep-picked arpeggios and some of the fastest playing I have ever heard. Examples of this can be found in the three 'hits' from this album, 'Deja Vu,' 'Hold On,' and 'Heaven Tonight.' The last of the three starts with a fantastic vocal harmony and is probably the 'catchiest' Malmsteen song ever.

On the other side of the coin, I felt Malmsteen missed the boat on albums like TRILOGY and MARCHING OUT, where we had great hits like 'Queen in Love' and 'Liar,' whereas the remaining songs were never really that great. On ODYSSEY, however, I find myself enjoying other less known tracks like 'Crystal Ball,' 'Rising Force,' and 'Now is the Time.' All of Yngwie's solos on studio recordings are improvised and you will never hear the same solo twice. I always liked his live solos much better, but if I had to pick one studio release where I truly enjoyed his soloing over the live performance, it would be ODYSSEY. Notable solos occur on 'Deja Vu' and the instrumental 'Krakatu'.

Listeners not familiar with Malmsteen will inevitably be turned off by the corniness of songs like 'Crystal Ball,' and will dismiss it as unoriginal 80's hair band 'glam rock,' but those of us who can appreciate this style of guitar playing know how important and revolutionary Malmsteen's style was, and continues to be today.

Yngwie Malmsteen had suffered an injury to his picking hand when he crashed his farrari, and also found out some record executives had swindled him bigtime. Fans wern't sure if his next album would hold up in the guitar god technique department... but the rest is history. This album blows flames out of the sides when you open it. The singer is the best ever, the keyboardist and drummer are twin brothers and Malmsteens chops and tone are holding the metal scene hostage with lethal weapons. He slaughters naysayers and burys them with taste. This is a five star neo classical extraviganza!!!

I was estatic when I hear Joe Lyn Turner and Yngwie were hooking up. My favorite singer and my favorite guitarist. The album is a milestone, and to me, exactly what I had hoped for from Yngwie, though with some flaws. It's on this album where the songs ruled, and the solos accentuated. I just love the dreamy atmosphere of the album. Especially songs like "How Long," "Dreamin" and "Deja Vu." "Now it the Time" turns into a fun, pop song. Krakatoa is a jam. But "Crystal Ball" was the overlooked hit of the80's. A bluesy, beautiful song with beautiful vocals and one of the best melodies ever. Actually, Yngwie's guitar on this record seems a little too raw. I think it had to do with his accident that injured his hand. But still, I wish Yngwie had stayed in this mode. His guitar work gets more polished as the years go on, but his "Dungeons and Dragons" direction of his music doesn't appeal to me as much. Still, he's the greatest, and I enjoy most all his albums. An absolute wonder on the guitar.

Odyssey(1988). Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force's Fourth Album. The First And Last Album To Feature Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner.

With Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads captivating millions with their Neo-Classical Guitar style and insane "shredding" abilities, these guys built the ground-work for master guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force's self-titled debut, 'Marching Out', and 'Trilogy' received huge amounts of critical and commercial fame, with Malmsteen garnering the attention he so deserved, and many claimed he was best guitarist on earth. For Malmsteen's fourth album, 'Odyssey', he decided to take the band in a more commercial and melodic approach, while all the time keeping the breathtaking guitar flourishes and Power Metal that defined his first albums. For starters, he hired a new vocalist, former-Rainbow vocalist(Wouldn't it have been insane to have gotten Dio?) Joe Lynn Turner, whose melodic and accessible vocals could reach a wider audience. Many fans of Malmsteen disapproved of the more commercial approach, yet many fans shrugged it off and took it as it was. So, does 'Odyssey' benifit from the obvious commercialism or does it hurt the album? Read on to find out!

Track Ratings-

Rising Force- Behind a thunderous drum beat and eerie chanting, Malmsteen's electric guitar breaks out, delivering a hard-hitting, Van Halen-esque performance, except with actual talent. Turner's melodic, catchy vocals make this Power Metal song a guitar-driven masterpiece.

Hold On- Much like Dokken or The Scorpions, Malmsteen blends a Power Metal ballad with unforgettable vocals from Turner and two unbelieveable guitar and keyboard solos. Odd, yet the perfect song to go out on a date with!

Heaven Tonight- A fairly popular MTV video, "Heaven Tonight" was Malmsteen's blatant attempt at commercial success, and the result is very much like the Hair Metal ballads of the time, yet Turner's symphonic vocals, the uplifting choir, and Malmsteen's stellar guitarwork make "Heaven Tonight" a superb rocker.

Dreaming(Tell Me)- An odd ballad, "Dreaming(Tell Me)" combines Turner's brooding vocals with an eerie keyboard/synthesizer beat. Malmsteen's acoustic guitar kicks in, and he adds in an electric guitar solo(or two?) that just amazes. How ballads should be done.

Ride The Bullet- Imagine the immense talents Beethoven had with music and the piano, but think instead of Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar, and you get this instrumental.

Riot In The Dungeons- "RIOT!" Take the melodicism and catchiness of Dokken, the heaviness of Motorhead, and the sheer brilliance of Malmsteen's immense guitar talents, stick 'em in a blender, and get this headbanging thrill-ride. Smokin'!

Deja Vu- "Deja Vu, Dreams Come True, I See Myself Inside of You". How can you not like that line, especially when Turner's singing it?! Anyways, "Deja Vu" is once again a hard-hitting Power Metal rocker, blending a casual mixture of keyboards and guitars to create a surreal instrument experience. Malmsteen's *Red Hot Chili Peppers?*-esque solo is absolutely brilliant!

Crystal Ball- Wow. The pure emotion in "Crystal Ball" simply astounds me, from the upbeat, hopeful opening guitar riff to the beautiful, radiant vocals from Turner. Although it might seem a little *corny* to some, "Crystal Ball" is an uplifting, inspiring melodic rocker with *super-cool* guitar work!

Now Is The Time- An odd glimpse of Malmsteen's punkier side, "Now Is The Time" follows the melodic guitar-driven Power Metal of most tracks, but some of Malmsteen's riffs are undoubtedly punky(and great!), but the song still contains the catchy chorus and breathtaking solo you should expect by now.

Faster Than The Speed of Light- When Yngwie titled this track, do you think he was talking about himself? Well, of course he was right! Turner's last vocal track of the album finds him singing his heart out, and much like Dio, his voice has compassion but also an unmistakeable edge. Combine Dio with the Scorpions, and poof, you get this Heavy Power Metal assault that's "faster than the speed of light"!

Krakatau- A 6 minute, all Yngwie Malmsteen guitar instrumental. Need I say more?

Memories- Ditto, except shorter.

Overall, 'Odyssey' definitely lived up to the expectations I had set for Yngwie Malmsteen, and the praise that he's the best guitarist on Earth certainly holds true: I think I would have to agree. Although I'd heard anything past his first three albums was mediocre in comparison, if THAT's true, then his first albums must be flat-out masterpieces, because 'Odyssey' is simply magnificent. If you like Dio, The Scorpions, Dokken, Van Halen, Electric Guitar, and Heavy Metal, this album is an absolute MUST for you. I sware, Malmsteen will blow you away, or you SHOULD get your money back!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! YNGWIE WITH A GUITAR IS WHAT BEETHOVEN WAS TO A PIANO: AN INSTRUMENTAL GENUIS! CHECK..THIS...OUT...!

Killer Kuts- Everything

Also Recommended-

Marching Out- Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force
Blackout- The Scorpions
Tooth And Nail- Dokken

Thanks For Reading!

I have to admit that I originally purchased this CD because I'm a huge Rainbow fanatic and wanted to hear what Joe Lynn Turner was doing after he left that group. Of course, I was well aware of Malmsteen's status as guitar virtuoso and studied Blackmore stylings... so that didn't hurt the cause of me throwing a few bucks into this CD either. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. Yngwie is a flashier, more updated player than Blackmore (Ritchie still remains my favorite, though). The songs here are quite commercial sounding, which isn't surprising given Turner's presence. A couple of color-by-number ballads (Dreaming, Hold On) mixed with more typical fast fret burners (Riot In the Dungeons, the aptly titled Faster than the Speed of Light) make for an interesting listen. A couple of songs really stand out: Deja Vu, and my personal favorite Crystal Ball. Unfortuneately, Turner isn't a much better lyricist than David Coverdale, so you get an overdose of love-related themes. A small complaint though. This record is very late '80s sounding and will always remind me of summer days during my high school years.

Yngwie is a shredding god. What more do you need to know? Oddysey is one of my favorite albums by him. It's definitely required listening if you play guitar.

because I know that I will never be as good as the man. Sick guitar playing. I feel sorry for all the people that listen to rap who are missing out on a great.

I can still remember the first time I listened to Malmsteen.
It was the "Odyssey" album back in the summer of 1988.
It was a life-changing experience. I put the cassette tape on the player and pressed "PLAY". After 3 minutes of listening to the "Rising Force" track, my jaw had fallen on the floor. I had never heard any kind of guitar playing, like this before.
The arpeggios on this very first track were coming out of hell, executed with devilish virtuosity and unbelievable speed.

I can still remember the first time I listened to Malmsteen.
The same night I was not able to fall asleep. My mind was flooded with millions of notes, scales, arpeggios, and guitar riffs played at an out-of-this-world speed. The effect was permanent. I became a fan of the most technical & most innovative metal guitar player of the world.

My opinion about "Odyssey": catchy & commercial, yes, classic & powerful yet. Stands the test of time. A blend of good song writing and impressive guitar acrobatics. A nice introduction in Malmsteen music.

I can still remember the first time I listened to Malmsteen.

This album arguably showcases Yngwie at the peak of his songwriting skills. Having shared the pen here with the gifted singer Joe Lynn Turner, the final result is a perfect mix of neoclassic-flavored shredding and soaring-but-radio-friendly melodic vocal lines. These are all great songs, whether you play them with a full backing band (like in the album) or just with a poor acoustic guitar. I guess that's what makes this album so transcendent to my ears: the songs in there stand on their own, no matter how they're played, and that certainly is a big plus.

In fact, what I like the most from this album is what many hardcore fans seem to hate. First of all, the change in style is a total success from a musical point of view, even if it's true that there's an explicit commercial intention. Secondly, Joe Lynn Turner does sound mellow, but he adds a lot of value to Malmsteen's music. Turner's perfect intonation and well-controlled voice is a present to anyone's ears. In addition, his huge range, expressiveness and beautiful tone are top notch. I list him in my top five vocalists of all times, really. Take for example the power ballad "Dreaming". Yeah, that's a love song and everything but... do you want a better example of "baroque & roll with tears"? Both Turner and Malmsteen gave the best from them on that song! Also listen carefully to "Hold On" - admittedly a very AOR theme. Do you want a better performance than *that*? Or take a look to the big arena rock airs on both "Heaven Tonight" and "Now is the Time". Ok, they sound tamed as hell, I agree... but you can't deny those also are two perfectly crafted pieces of music, aren't they? And all that is in big part possible thanks to the wonderful pipes of Joe Lynn Turner!

Anyway, if you liked "Marching Out" and "Trilogy" I don't think you should complain neither. There's also some material here for fans of the "more traditional" Yngwie - it's a commercial release, so it targets every taste, right? ;-) Thus, the opening "Rising Force" with its syncopated riffing, its power-metal-influenced melody and its frantic soloing is perhaps the perfect example of good old Malmsteen. Also "Riot in the Dungeons" sounds like the original Malmsteen we all love, as well as "Faster than the Speed of Light" and "Deja Vu" - though at a lesser degree in the later.

One thing is certainly missing in this album: a good instrumental. "Bite the Bullet" does show Malmsteen amazing tone and technique, but it's too short; and "Krakatau" lacks of melodic hooks, it's too thrashy, too rhythmic; and the solos sound like pure jam - amazing solos, yes, but they sound like completely self-complacent jamming. However, overall this is a masterfully interpreted and conceived release. It is the first time (in my records) that Yngwie dared to show us a slightly different side of his musical geniality. It was the first time he demonstrated he could evolve, perhaps thanks to the teamwork with Turner. That reason instantly takes a bow from me. It sincerely think "Odyssey" is the most refined and mature release from Yngwie Malmsteen, and that's why I give five stars to it. So, go for the most criminally underrated of all Malmsteen albums and give it a good try with wide open ears. I'm sure you won't regret it!