Customer Reviews

Sound Theories I & II (Bril)

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

 

 

It wouldn't be accurate to call this a live album. It's really more like an album that was recorded (mostly) in front of a live audience and HEAVILY edited. It sounds like a live album, though. Basically, Steve Vai has taken seven complete performances and, for each section, phrase, or sometimes even single note of all seventeen songs, chosen the most perfect of the seven. He then pasted all of these most favorable parts together to make one perfect whole. This is especially remarkable considering that Steve had to deal with the different sound ambiences of different venues.

In the liner notes, Steve writes that the two-part piece "Frangelica" has hundreds of edits, while other tracks (he doesn't specify which ones) have very few. It's fascinating reading how he carefully listened to each note of each instrument and replaced any less-desirable notes with notes from other performances or even from other sections of music. In some cases, when no "right notes" (defined by Steve as notes that were played with the correct pitch, phrase, confidence, and attitude) were available, he would try to "re-fabricate" the notes in the studio or take them out altogether. Only perfection is heard on this album!

I know it's an overused word, but Vol. I (entitled "The Aching Hunger") is brilliant! Each track on this disc showcases Steve's exceptional guitar work in completely refreshing ways. The old songs, with the backing of the Holland Metropole Orkest, often seem entirely new. There's a lot of newly composed material on this disc, too... all of it beautiful. The highlight here, in my opinion, is the perfectly arranged "Salamanders in the Sun," originally from the album Flex-Able.

Steve, as a guitarist, gives the impression that he has the ability to translate through his guitar absolutely anything that enters his head. It's always been amazing to hear Steve perform his most complex passages note-for-note, accurately and exactly as intended. With these new versions of the songs, we hear other instruments keep up with him note-for-note, as well. Even knowing that these performances have been highly edited, it's evident that Steve and the orchestra played amazingly tight together!

Personally, Vol. II (entitled "Shadows and Sparks") isn't nearly as accessible for me. It's without Steve's true expressive voice, his guitar, and frankly the compositions here aren't quite as brilliant (they are still very good, though). It's interesting and different and incredibly complex.

In addition to traditional orchestral instruments, there is often more eccentric instrumentation used. Saxophone, Moog synthesizer, electric guitar (not played by Steve), bass guitar, what sounds like at least one drum set, and even a referee-type whistle are commonly heard. This makes the Holland Metropole Orkest able to have a chameleon-like sound. It often resembles a traditional symphony orchestra, but sometimes it sounds more like a marching band or big band or, quite often, a jazz fusion group. Rarely does it sound like any one thing for too long, which keeps it interesting.

A few of the melodies on disc two are familiar ("Shadows and..." contains allusions to "Whispering a Prayer" and an excerpt from "Bangkok," for example) and some of the melodies are subtle and inspired, but some of the melodies don't make sense for me, musically. Some individual sections of compositions seem too different from one another or seem to exist without real purpose or are never really given a chance to develop. Many of the odd time and key signatures are overwhelming. I don't possess the musical understanding that is needed to appreciate exactly what Steve is doing.

Even if there are perhaps some shortcomings, I find disc two to still be a true wonder to listen to. Although it doesn't contain his guitar playing, it still contains Steve's magic. The standout track for me is "Frangelica Pt. II," one of the more accessible tracks on Vol. II.

There is an undeniable attraction to the music on both of these discs that has made me want to listen to them over and over. The title of this review is a phrase Steve used in the liner notes to describe the ability of a composer to "capture, and make real, the audio vision of their mind's eye." There's no doubt that Steve has captured something intangible and made it quite real. It's the ethereal magnetism of his music. Very few artists today are capable of this. It would probably be fair to say that not even all of Steve's releases have it, but Sound Theories most certainly does. It contains music with so many layers, so much depth, and Steve has so much passion for what he plays and creates, that undoubtedly both discs in this set will be spinning in cd players... and spinning heads... for years to come.

I'm a pretty big Vai fan, having purchased pretty much everything he has released, including all of his studio work plus several DVD's. I do think he's one of the most creative and talented guitarists out there, and on top of that is a brilliant composer to boot. Unfortunately he often goes off on weird tangents that, for him and others who tire of music that is musical, probably is a joy and wonder to listen to despite its non-musicality. That's pretty much what we have here.

The first CD is a bunch of familiar songs arranged for orchestra and then apparently Vai added some guitar in the studio or some such... in all cases (except maybe The Attitude Song) the original studio versions are not only better, but these versions simply didn't really need to happen... it's cool to bring an orchestra in and really flesh things out, but it's a bit over the top here. For the Love of God has a great start until, believe it or not, the guitar kicks in: ruins the mood he spent the first three or four minutes creating. So unfortunately: good idea, but poor execution.

Disc 2 is also a good idea: I was interested in hearing Vai flex his compositional muscles, but again it's basically that over-the-top Vai weirdness arranged for an orchestra. I found myself thinking that it would be better if he had just created ordinary songs out of these (e.g. Lucky Charms: brilliant little tune that's "just right" on The Ultra World... doesn't need an orchestra and, having heard this, I don't want to hear it with an orchestra).

I prefer Vai the eccentric, maniacal guitarist... and I appreciate the sonic exploration he does, but I've come to expect the occasional bit of madness that simply doesn't connect. Unfortunately this two-disc set is just that.

This is AWFUL!! I love Vai's music, and as usual his guitar is the greatest. But where the idea came for this arranged marriage... Like, "oh yah, let's join screaming metal guitar with kettle drums and oboes and lots of brass, I don't why nobody thought of this yet" I'll tell you why: because it is awful. I listened to it every day for ten days and still the only enjoyable part was the guitar. Guess what? I already have the guitar music on the original CDs, although the recording of the crowd is great, as if I'm in a Roman Coliseum, lots of roaring. This album has a lot of five star reviews, but the fact that it costs new more than $20 before shipping fees, but second-hand goes for $8 (for a double album)may suggest that a lot of other people wonder about its value. If you liked Robert Plant singing "All of My Love" you'll like this.

Absolutely amazing! Vai's compositions sound so full and lush with the orchestra. Steve's attention to detail in the audio editing, is a lesson worth aspiring to also. The guitar playing is faultless - as you'd expect from any Vai release.

Go buy it know you knuckleheads! Or I'll hunt you down...

Usually when you see a guitarist put out an album recorded with an orchestra, you can roll your eyes and laugh at the sheer arrogance of the whole thing. When you boil it all down, those albums are just overbearing wankery, used only to show off how cool the guy thinks he is.

Not this time. There is GENUINE MUSIC on these two CD's. This set really shows off Steve Vai as what he is - A COMPOSER. His music translates remarkably well to the orchestra. The pieces were very obviously lovingly, painstakingly arranged. If you've never heard Steve's music before and heard these versions, you'd think they were always meant to be played that way. "Salamanders In The Sun" is a perfect example. WOW.

I've seen some people whine about CD #2 not having Steve playing on it. They need a wake up call. Even though Steve is not on the stage, you can still hear him loud and clear. He is, after all, a composer.

When I first heard of this concept album earlier in the year I became very excited.

Frank Zappa is my favorite artist of all time and once again his influence is heard on another Vai album. As much as you can pick up on the Zappa influence, this album has it's own fresh sound! The Holland Metropole Orkest is awesome. An equal balance between Steve's guitar and the orchestra. I am very happy that Steve decided to put this out as a live album (similar to Live in an Ultra World). The song selection is also great. I wish they would have done "Blood & Glory" & "Tender Surrender" with the orchestra, but the disc 1 selections are awesome with my favorites "Liberty" & "For The Love Of God". This is just the 1st disc.

Now to the 2nd disc. Truly amazing. Even without Steve playing, this is still incredible. The 2nd disc reminds me so much of Zappa's "Yellow Shark".... a bunch of excellent musicians playing the works of an awesome modern day composer.

5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WIll not say much other than if one really likes the quality and overall energy inducing mode of Vai's other works, this one might be a bit disappointing...that is, if that's what one is looking for. I've listened to it a few times..but nothing about it is particularly catchy right off the bat or even after a few tries. Will keep listening though, since it's in the rotating multi-CD changer ...from time to time. So far, I rated a miss.

A virtuoso, & I'm a big fan, but this is very challenging listening. His ideas transcend those of mere mortals, & I hope he achieved his goals with this project, but for most people who are interested in hearing him shred on more accessible material, this will be a disappointment.

I rate the CD 4 out of 5 ONLY because the video version is better. The CD tracks were edited from several live performances, which is fine. However, I prefer the live spontaneity. Vai has long been a favorite of mine, and has had a lasting impact on the guitar world. Every serious guitar player, regardless of their personal tastes and style should be familiar with him.