Customer Reviews

Planet X

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The influences of UK (and specifically Eddie Jobson) shine throughout this album and the players do their inspirations proud. It's always difficult to maintain a level of interest in an instrumental 'rock' album, but they manage to do it very well. Virgil Donati proves that he's not just an amazing clinician and soloist; he can REALLY play for the band and the song (as well as under, around, over, and through them when he needs to.) Spectacular playing at all 4 corners, and great songwriting. If there was any justice in the world, these guys would be flying on private jets and the Backstreet Boys would be serving hamburgers. But it doesn't work that way. The only way to encourage record companies to invest in bands like this and thereby widen the musical horizon (especially for those of us who LOVE experimental and progressive music) is to support these bands. Buy the CD. Tell your friends to buy it, too. If you only listen to it a couple of times, you'll be the better for it.

Brett Garsed is my favorite guitarist that Sherinian has worked with. He has so much passion,creativity and such a inique tone and style. Wish he had done more prog like this. This 1st Sherinian cd is my favorite because of the 1st 3 tracks. The suite is very interesting. Modern day elp. Listen to the middle, slow, melodic guitar solo section. Beautiful.

Sherinian explores the freedom he receives after leaving Dream Theater. Perhaps he went a bit overboard, but all in all, this is a good instrumental album with some excellent shiners like Day in the Sun.

Planet X was the first solo album for Derek Sherinian following a killer stint in Dream Theater and what a way to start your solo career! This is definitely one of the best instrumental albums of all time and also set the stage for the formation of Planet X as an actual band that focused on extremely complex music that was memorable and heavy. Sherinian assembled an amazing group of virtuoso musicians including Virgil Donati on drums (who also co-wrote the songs), Brett Garsed on guitar, and Tony Franklin on bass - what a lineup. The songs are intense with odd timing, memorable melodies, original riffs, amazing solos, and Sherinian's insane keyboard sounds. The whole album is mind blowing but highlights include the three part epic "Atlantis", the brilliant grooves of "Crab Nebulae", the amazing performance of "Box", the stunning melody of "Day In The Sun", and the great closing track "Brunei Babylon". This is definitely essential listening for musicians and is easily one of the best albums in this style of music. Derek Sherinian formed this group to make music that would frighten other musicians and I think he achieved that goal.

The first three tracks could have been taken from 'Danger Money' outtakes; it's so UK! BUT since UK is gone, why not? Those tracks and a few others definitely merit repeat listenings. It's just that not much new ground has been tread. Solid, though.

I'm a big fan of Sherinian's work from Dream Theater and Platypus, and his virtuosity precedes him once again with his solo album. Planet X sits among the best in the genre, offering intense instrumental flavor to the already spicy world of progressive rock. Whether you're a fan of Shrinian's earlier work or you just like to listen to music that you can't tap your foot to, I definitely recommend this album as a MUST for your collection.

Spaceman Sherinian created some strange tunes on this solo album. I expected the album to have a heavier keyboard influence, but the guitars have a strong presence. This album blows away certain other ex-Dream Theater keyboardists albums.

OK,I'm starting backwards, but...Planet X is without a doubt the
finest-heaviest power quartet ever assembled! I have to admit that before I Bought this great cd, I had already purchased the now unavailable Planet X "Raw 3 Pack" Featuring 3 live recordings
of 3 seperate performances(2 at The Baked Potato Hollywood 2000)
& the other recorded at Hollywood's Musicians Institute 2001. They
were a limited edition, autographed, numbered set, that features
the current line-up of DS Keybrds-Virgil Donati(alien)Drums Tony MacAlphine(firebreathing)Guitar & Dave LaRue Bass. BTW Virgil also writes much of the super material. This cd features Derek &
Virgil, but the wonderful Bret Garsed on Guitar! This is an a**kicking debut cd, no doubt about it, & each cd gets better and
better! The 3 Pack is so intense & powerful you simply can't believe humans can play that well in the oddest of time signatures! Virgil Donati folks, is hands down the greatest drum-
mer playing today(& drumgod Simon Phillips who produced "Moonbabies" Planet X's newest cd released later this month, say's as much in the Modern Drummer magazine March 02. Simon did the drumming on Derek's solo cd "Inertia")and all the current drum greats agree!(Read MD 02/2002)This man has faster
feet than most drummers hands! He does seemless dbl stroke bass
rolls quicker than countable! While every player in Planet X is a
VIRTOUSO, Donati is the glue that holds this amazing quartet of
supertalent, together! Tony Mac simply burns on geetar! If you go
& work forward the next cd "Live from OZ" in Donati's home of Aus
tralia; that INCREDIBLE cd has all the tunes on the 1 "3 Pack"cd
and more. I would suggest you buy OZ 1st as once you hear them be
able to play what they do "live" then you'll know what you hear on the studio cd's was actually played & not overdubbed or done
w/computer programs such as "Pro Tools"!! The playing by Planet X
is that excellent, & Derek certainly made the right decision in
leaving "Dream Theatre" behind!(Wish you could play like that Mr
Portnoy?) I know this drummer does. X's songs are so tight-heavy &
mind blowing there is NO band to compare them to! Planet X is
simply uncategorizable! I love Terry Bozzio's drumming, this is
something like UK on steroids w/o vocals! A friend in England was
able to see Steve Vai tour late last year w/Billy Sheehan on bass
& Donati on drums & could not believe what he heard/saw & all of
that was filmed for an upcomming DVD!! Jeez I can't wait for that
& I Just pray Planet X will do a dvd because unless you see them
it truly almost sounds too astounding to be played by humans! All
the Planet X cd's are great,& i'd have to give this 1(the 1st)4 &
1/2 stars, only because the others are all 5 stars because of the
brilliant additions of Donati & MacAlphine! Go buy a Modern Drummer so that you can order the March issue to hear what others
have said. Then do not hesitate, immediately buy "Live from OZ"or
"Moonbabies" later this month, or order "Universe" or this incred
ible cd. You'll have spent approx 20 cents a minute, and for this
SUPERGROUP that's nothing! If you play an instrument, don't stay
discouraged, you may not ever get to this level([heck] 4 out of mil
lions only attain this level)but you have to keep trying! Also, check out [URL] for Virgil's amazing solo cd's as
I don't think any drummer(who can also write songs like Donati does)will ever come close to Donati. Also pray that Planet X come
within driving distance of where you live, you must see them LIVE
or buy the Steve Vai dvd when it is released, because you know Vai has always hired the greatest drummers(Bozzio-Mike Mangini)&
he now has the finest available, hired from another planet, PLANET X!! I wish I had Steve Fosset's $! I'd buy everyone a Planet X cd. STEVEN MUNARI(Blackzoner)

This album by ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian is chock full of speedy chops, arryhthmic progressions, and oodles of musical talent. But there's only one problem: It is imminently unenjoyable because there is simply no melody. For me, a good prog rock album must be built on both speed AND melody. The speed keeps you in awe, and the melody keeps you coming back for more. So when I loaded this album into my CD player, I was thoroughly impressed by Derek's musical ability. But I had to force myself to listen to it a second time because there was nothing that drew me back in. Even on the second listen, nothing jumped out as being memorable.

Don't get me wrong, if you like to really listen and analyze a player's ability, you might enjoy this CD. But, for me, it is nothing more than background music - and that's just not enough.

If you want a good example of a musician who successfully combines speed and melody, give Jordan Rudess a try. His album "Feeding The Wheel" is superb on both accounts.

Derek Sherinian is very talented and so are his mates on what sounds to be a bit of a show-off display of musical exercises meant to say "hey look what I can do". Granted, the playing is truely phenominal but it lacks a good melody to gets your hooks into a song. I can't say I ever became invested in any of these tunes as much as I have tried. The more I listen the more I here other things going on I had missed which just shows how truely complicated the music is and for that I must tip my hat. Astounding musicianship by everyone involved, but still a bit raw sounding. I would recommend the later albums under the Planet X name as these guys begin to reel it in a little and provide much smoother rides for the listener. Nice job fellas. I here ya, but I don't feel ya. - Ciao