Customer Reviews

Passion & Warfare

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Just read through all of the reviews here and WOW --- some people on here must be tone-deaf or something! I think these days too many people think that the point of music is "hooks" (hence why the few who have given this album very negative reviews seem to mention satch). If you refuse to listen to any music that doesnt have some kind of hook or catchy riff that makes you tap your foot or nod your head, you will lead a very sheltered musical life! In this album, Vai takes a MUCH more mature approach to music than this, and creates a combination of catchiness on certain pieces (erotic nightmares for example), raw power on some (audience is listening, I would love to), and sheer emotion in others (for the love of god, blue powder). You have the absolute delicacy and wonderfully simple composition in "ballerina 12/24, and then complete experimentation in Love Secrets (which throws up some moments that can only be described as divine).

I cannot say one bad thing about this album, it is a work of art (as are all of Vai's works) -- beautifully crafted and impeccably delivered as always.
I think some people are just prejudiced towards any guitarist who shows signs that they have actually put serious effort into mastering their instrument. Where i come from we call this "jealousy".

p.s. i've been playing guitar seriously for 12 years, and i still cant play like Vai -- you can learn the notes, you cant LEARN the passion and soul. Open your ears.

This the definitive Vai album. It contains Vai's greatest work and the playing is the best i've ever heard. Warning: no real vocals ( I know some people need vocals to enjoy music). Vai lets his guitar do most of the talking on this album and boy can he make it talk. Here's a breakdown of all the songs:

1 - Liberty - 5/5 - This song seriously sounds like it could be a national anthem.

2 - Erotic Nightmares - 5/5 - This song rocks hard and he makes some crazy noises with his guitar on it

3 - The Animal - 5/5 - This song is just downright cool.

4 - Answers - 5/5 - This is a very fun song.

5 - The Riddle - 5/5 - This song feels very mysterious.

6 - Ballerina 12/24 - 4/5 - Not my style, but boy does it sound cool. This song is very.. um.. different. It sounds like a baby song.

7 - For The Love of God - 5/5 - This song is a Vai classic and although it is hard it is also soothing.

8 - The Audience is Listening - 5/5 - My favorite song by Vai. This song is very funny. He is a little boy and his teacher lets him play a composition is class and he goes wild and turns the classroom into anarchy.

9 - I Would Love to - 5/5 - Yet another great song.

10 - Blue Powder - This song is very cool and contains a great bass solo.

11 - Greasy Kid's Stuff - 4/5 - This is a cool song, but it doesn't do much for me for some reason

12 - Alien Water Kiss - 0/5 - Just skip this nonsense, it's a bunch of noise.

13 - Sisters - 5/5 - This is a very light song and is very very soothing.

14 - Live Secrets - 3/5 - It's alright but it isn't anything special. It's pretty wierd.

*Every song on this albums contains great guitar work except for Alien Water Kiss.

I first became aware of Steve Vai during his stint as a hired guitar pyrotechnic with David Lee Roth (hey, I was too young for Zappa!) Anyway, I bought this on tape when it first came out some 10 years ago and I still have yet to get bored by it.
The collection of songs represents the full range of Vai's prodigious talent.

"Liberty" serves as an intro to the album with big, sweeping guitar line that is repeated throughout. "I Would Love To", "Erotic Nightmares" and "Greasy Kid's Stuff" are straight-out rockers that exhibit his agility on the fret board. "Answers" and "The Riddle" flow logically into each other, and are progressive mid-tempo numbers. These two showcase what's great about Vai, he throws in seemingly every kind of distortion and effect that was available to him at the time, runs his guitar through it, and sees what comes out, but never does it sound forced or grating to the ears; it flows perfectly in the songs. "The Audience is Listening" is perhaps the most well known song. He made a video for it (the only Vai video I've seen), and has the trademark Vai humor with the dialogue of a cranky old elementary school teacher calling a young Vai crazy. Oh yeah, the music is great, too.

The two standout tracks for me, though, are two ballads, "For the Love of God" and "Blue Powder". Wow. It's hard for me to put into words how great these two songs are. Even if the other 12 tracks were horrible, these two would more than make up for it. Everything is perfect, the tempo, the guitar tone, the main melody, the solos, just perfect. If ever anyone accuses Vai of being a "shredder" - someone who plays fast just for the sake of playing fast with no emotion - just point him/her to these two songs.

I've always seen Vai as someone who has always embraced new effects as ways to express the emotions in his head. He is a musical genius (check out his theory teachings on his web site), and is able to communicate his emotions with his guitar. This is (so far) the pinnacle of his communication.

There is alot of that 80's thrash rock. I can't like that too much. But I have to give a 4 for the playing ability and the awesome bass work. Also there are good points that make this a loveable album. Ballerina was fun and The audience is listening was funny. The little vocal sound bytes- also fun. Sisters was the sentimental piece. The poetry on the inlay cards was interesting- you could tell that lyrics would lead this guys guitar in the right way if he had used them. For the Love of God was clearly the substance in the middle of the hardrocking thrash and the funny goodnatured stuff. Blue Powder is also a quality piece and very mood swinging. If you like that 80's style thrashing no melody stuff- there's alot of that. And if you buy the album because you'd like to here the funny stuff there's that. There's a little political stuff in some of the words hanging around this instrumental album and in the case of For the Love of God- I might even have bought it just for that looking back on it. It ranks among the best guitar instrumentals and Playing I've heard. I'm reminded of SRV'S version of Little Wing and Everyone from Hendrix to Tim Reynolds of guitar working. That one track I guess is worth the whole album. Listen to it twice if you decide to buy the album, and if you don't like it- you don't get it. I hope this was helpful to you. Vai really is great when he focuses and restrains his urge to move into a needless beating rythm guitar part that strays from the purpose of making the songs individual.

Well, this is my favorite instrumental rock recording and I recommend it to everybody. Steve Vai is one of the most representative and creative rock guitar players of all times. He's not only a guitar player, he's a musician. His technique is almost perfect, his musicianship and uncommon melodic sense are superb but, the most important of it all: Vai is also a very spiritual man and his music is a clear mirror of it. "Passion And Warfare" is the most representative piece of his fine and original style. Songs as "The Riddle","Answers","Blue Powder" and "For The Love of God" are a good example of the Vai's mastery. If you use to listen to Joe Satriani,Eddie Van Halen or Jimmy Hendrix, you will enjoy this album; if you're a rock guitarist, "Passion And Warfare" will bring a lot of inspiration for you!.Enjoy it!

You know what MTV ROCKS?...Steve Vai and everyone else from back in the day whos not on MTV are not "posers" they made music and without music you wouldnt have your bands you do today now would you?..I dont think you would?..so why dont you just stop leaving comments on older bands who made MUSIC!!..and ur the "poser".

First at all ... sorry for my english... ok...When i looked Mtv Rocks review... I was impressed.... I don't know how old he is.... But i wonder he's 12 or 13 years old... i don't like people who believes Avril and Good Charlotte are Punk!!!... and rating 50 cent and lindsay lohan's albums with 5 stars!!!!C'mon!!!... just grow up my friend.... and don't tell us about music here.... this is a masterpiece... all of the songs are amazing... this album is one of the best guitar albums ever....

Once upon a time, I taped a song from a university radio station that I thought was amazing. Then, 5 or 6 years later, I bought "Alien Love Secrets" by Steve Vai and I noticed that one brief burst of speed on the song "Juice" sounded just like that song I taped so long ago. I thought "whatever." At any rate, I was blown away by A.L.S. and decided to buy another Steve Vai album. That was "Passion and Warfare" and, lo and behold, "Erotic Nightmares" was the song I had taped many years before. I was ecstatic! The rest of the album blew me away, even more so than A.L.S. "Erotic Nightmares" is one of the coolest, most impressive guitar songs anyone will ever hear! "Answers" has many cool sounds and effects in it that sets it apart from many Vai songs. "Ballerina 12/24" is a prime example of how crisp all of Steve's recordings are and how great a producer he is. "For the Love of God" is a nice, thoughtful number that ranks up there with some of Steve's friend Joe Satriani's ballads. "The Audience is Listening" is an uber-guitar number that should be used as the blueprints on how to become a guitar-god. "Sisters" is another softer number and...I could go on about this album, but believe me when I say, this is an amazing album that deserves a prominent place in any guitar fan's collection.

If you are buying your first Vai CD, and you had to choose only one to start with, this IS the one.

This release features a very wide range of Steve's styles, from ballads like "Sisters" to dirty grooves like "The Animal" to epic guitar masterpieces like "For the Love of God".

But perhaps the most interesting track is "The Riddle". This song explores an endless terrain of guitar emotions and the composition is extremely full. The closer you listen to it, the more tracks and guitar sounds you start hearing, a definite headphone must!

Some material on here, like The Riddle is conjured up from Steve's imagination and "dreams" of out-of-body experiences with aliens, pixies, and more.

Another interesting note is that Steve actually fasted (went without food) for several days before recording the track For The Love of God, as an expression of dedication to his spiritual devotion through music itself, one could say.

This is not just technical guitar prowess - this is a very deep exploration of all the possibilities on a guitar, and it pushes the envelope of instrumental imagination. It is this particular release that made me realize that Steve Vai is not a guitar player, he is a living breathing extentsion of the instrument itself. You will not be disappointed!

I've owned this masterpiece for many years, and just "rediscovered" it over the weekend, after letting it gather dust for awhile. I used to listen to it almost daily. My boyfriend had never heard it before and he fell in love with it instantly. This instrumental album says more than anything with lyrics, as Vai's guitar picks you up and takes you on an evocative journey from one emotion to another, in every corner of the spectrum. "For the Love of God" makes me want to weep, as I've always envisioned a movie about betrayal and loss playing through my head when I hear it. "Greasy Kid Stuff" is another stand-out piece, evoking images of a chase from land, to sea, to air. These are just two small samples of the treasure to be found on this disc, where the maestro makes his guitar giggle, talk, and wail with the depths of human emotion. I just plain FEEL everything in full technicolor when this album is playing. This is not an album one hears; it is one that is experienced. The only flaw I've ever been able to find with it is that it's not 80 hours long.