Story of Light

Steve Vai | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 14, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B008ANFRGQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,376 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Story Of Light

2. Velorum

3. John The Revelator

4. Book of the Seven Seals

5. Creamsicle Sunset

6. Gravity Storm

7. Mullach a'tSi

8. The Moon and I

9. Weeping China Doll

10. Racing the World

11. No More Amsterdam

12. Sunshine Electric Raindrops

Editorial Reviews

'The Story of Light', a new solo album of original material by virtuoso guitarist and visionary composer Steve Vai. The title comes out on Favored Nations Entertainment, the label Vai founded in 1999. Its sprawling and expressive 12-song set continues a conceptual and cosmic narrative arc begun on the artist's acclaimed 2005 album 'Real Illusions: Reflections'.

Throughout, three-time Grammy winner Vai's lead guitar is as lyrically resonant as it is technically masterful, his licks and solos bending sounds and in listeners' minds in equal measure. 'The Story of Light' follows the journey of a man driven mad by grief, intertwining tragedy, revelation, enlightenment, and redemption.

'I m always pursuing knowledge. I'm a seeker of spiritual equilibrium and music is a big part of that,' says Vai. 'I've been obsessed with these kinds of ideas for years.'

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Accessible Vai in Years August 14, 2012

By Owen Leahy

Format:Audio CD

As usual, Steve covers a lot of ground here....everything from big gospel-choir Blues, Broadway showtunes, Irish traditional music as well as a huge dose of his own incomparable style.

I get the same 'return to form' feeling as I did with Satriani's 'Black Holes and Wormhole Wizards'. I hadn't been really wowed by Joe's previous few releases until Wizards took up all my listening time for a month or two. Similarly, I didn't find a great deal on Real Illusions that I kept returning to, but 'Story of Light' is fantastic.
I've listened to it about a half dozen times all the way through so far, so I'll add my early impressions. I'm giving this 5 stars no problem for the overall consistency and the many WOW moments. Overall, very melodic and creative but it'll take many more listens to hear all the rest of the stuff Steve has crammed into each track.

The Story of Light: Opens up big and euphoric, has a great melody and solo.

Velorum: Massive opening riff, but settles into a gorgeous melody. Lots of light and dark passages. Steve's blazing on this.

John the Revelator: First surprise of the disc, starts off with scratchy old vinyl blues track, enter huge riff...then Beverly McClennan (??) just kills on the vocal, awesome. Reminds me of the choir before the Cutting Heads duel from 'Crossroads'.

Book of the Seven Seals: I've read many interviews where Steve is raving about West Side Story and Leonard Bernstein, so I guess this is what comes out when he writes a Broadway tune. Perfectly sequenced after Revelator, and I'm surprised how much I like it, not being a fan of showtunes.

Creamsicle Sunset: Little bit of 'Call It Sleep' and a little bit of 'Tender Surrender', beautiful melody....

Gravity Storm: Huge and sludgey, does feel like gravity is out of control and pulling heavier than normal.

Mullach a' tSi: Traditional Irish tune, given the Seventh Song treatment. Similar to 'Whspering a Prayer', which is probably no coincidence. The Seventh Songs never disappoint, nobody does the ballad better.

The Moon and I: First heard this on Vai Tunes, and thought it was great then. Nice moody melody and Steve's soloing is extraordinary on this one.

Weeping China Doll: Another huge opening riff, some soaring melodies and great leads.

Racing the World: My favorite track, total knockout. Races along, brilliant melody and Steve is just out of this world here. I'll have this on infinite repeat.

No More Amsterdam: Duet with Aimee Man, great song.

Sunshine Electric Raindrops. Bright, sunny closing track...perfect end to a great album.

This is a more focused effort than some of his recent work. It's similar to 'Alien Love Secrets' in that there's a lot of relatively straightforward songs, over which he plays some absolutely stunning guitar. His playing is top class all the way through, exhilarating stuff. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Virtuosity! August 14, 2012

By Michael

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Steve Vai is one of the most amazing guitar players and composers of all time and The Story Of Light is his new album that unleashes his intense skills for our musical enjoyment. Like most albums from Steve Vai, The Story Of Light is an artwork from a musician aiming to achieve the best he is capable of both in creativity and performance. Steve Vai surrounds himself with awesome musicians that bring life to his musical creations rather than trying to take the glory all himself. On this album he has got amazing drumming from Jeremy Colson who also nailed the previous Steve Vai album, groove master and technician Philip Bynoe on bass, and long time collaborator Dave Weiner also helping on guitar. The performances are stunning, the sound and production is huge, but most importantly the music is unique and although it hits you immediately there are lots of layers to discover with repeat listening. Picking highlights is pointless in an album of this quality so all I can say is listen to this album if you are a fan of guitar virtuosity that focuses on creating memorable music. Steve Vai you are going to be remembered for what you have achieved in this life...

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid! August 14, 2012

By Hayden

Format:Audio CD

I'm writing this on the North American release day. I bought it at my local record shop and I've listened to it twice already. This album immediately made me think "Passion and Warfare", only more matured and more Vai-ish. I was particularly surprised by John the Revelator/ The Book of Seven Seals. Check it out!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rachmaninoff of Rock September 23, 2012

By Brian Shell

Format:Audio CD

In my honest opinion, this is Steve's most mature work to date. When I told him that, he said, "I'm glad. I'm 52." Yet to me, that's utilizing all 52 cards in the deck... and using all 52 white keys on a piano... operating on all eight octaves.

In this 2nd installment of his Real Illusions concept trilogy, I was much more impressed than the 1st one... which I didn't quite care for (except of the song "Building the Church")... as it seemed like he was trying to do too much outside his wheelhouse of excellence. In other words, the first one tried too many new toys. This second one resonates just right though, and I highly recommend it. It hits on all eight cylinders of a finely tuned touring machine.

Interesting to me is that its liner notes tell of this being a multi-layered melange based upon the amplified exaggerations of a truth-seeking madman who sees the world through his own distorted perceptions. What I find fascinating about that is that 13 years ago, 2 months after I spent 9 homeless months in LA trying to get an agent for my screenplay titled "Distortions," I met Steve Vai here near Detroit and told him about this screenplay of mine that puts a supernatural presence in mirrors that can show us our inner truth in the mirror's reflection when we need a sign to change towards our destiny. I then asked him if I could play percussion in his band someday and had him sign the only CD I didn't/wouldn't sell during those desperate days - "Passion and Warfare."

So with that screenplay now published as an Amazon eBook for the Kindle, and having met Steve 3 days ago on the last day of summer 2012 with his EVO Experience here near Detroit, I'm honored to have told him face-to-face how grateful I am that his music kept me alive during those dark days...... now with 22 eBooks published... and that I consider him to be "The Rachmaninoff of Rock (Guitar)."

He smiled and said, "I'll have to remember that one."
He should... simply because it's true.
The Story of Light simply rules!

Warm regards,
Brian Shell
Distortions Read more ›

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Give it time and it will reveal itself.....hopefully. Old Vai new Packaging August 14, 2012

By Phagun Oswal

Format:Audio CD

I am not one to go into a song by song review of an album because different songs and audio aesthetics mean different things to different people. One thing is for certain with this album that Steve Vai is definitely seeming more in touch with his true inner self than has been the case in some of his previous releases. Honestly for me personally I was beginning to lose hope by the time True Reflections was released. It had started to seem that the quintessential VAI era was getting lost in time after Fire Garden...well OK maybe after Ultra Zone... Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that this album feels a lot like a true reflection (no pun intended) of his musical personality. There are elements in the album that remind me of good ol' Flexable...but remove the rawness of that early effort and add the slickness of Passion and Warfare coupled with the dramatic song-writing structures of Fire Garden and the outcome is Story of Light.

After a few listens it is clear that the sonic fabric of the songs overall has a more atmospheric and surrounding feel to them. Talk about Weeping China Doll or Racing the World--> lots of delay on the lead guitar along with semi-80s poly synths make for a very "open" sound. The beautiful thing here is though that Vai is leaving no stone unturned in showing off his chops. Which is always a guitarists wet dream come true to hear new phrases and licks from this man that totally blow your mind. He does things unlike any other guitar player on this planet (sorry Petrucci, Greg Howe, Mr. Morse, Mr. Henderson you all are great too). I am not drawing a comparison but simply stating that there is only one Mr. Vai. And his playing all throughout this album beautifully shines through.

One of my personal favorites on this album is Mullach A'tsi......a very reflective, sad yet oddly uplifting song replete in its strange life-giving energy that stems from something that sounds like a weeping sound of sorts (quite ironic). Exceptional use of volume control, wah and honey-nectar like tone that only a million dollar Vai rig can generate. Anyway, I digress....

This album is a must buy for hardcore Vai fans. It has enough layers in it that you will peal off with each new listen. The only reason I give this album 4 stars and not 5 is because as much as it is "return to form"....and as much as the chops are incredible...and song-writing dynamic and dramatic, it is also a very much like a scene from a memory (:-P) making for a very predictable Vai. A Vai that I have already heard in huge, original doses all over Passion, Sex, Flexable and Ultra Zone. Its almost like I am craving for Vai to blow my mind just as in he did when he came out with Passion for the first time or even Fire Garden. Or how Dream Theater blew our minds when they came up with Train of Thought or Scenes from a Memory...or how Messhuggah destroyed the math metal prog world by releasing Obzen....or how Opeth mesmerized the prog metal world with Watershed and Heritage. I guess you folks get the point. Again, the point I am trying to make is that this is good Vai...this album is excellent Vai...but this is an all too familiar Vai that I have heard and experienced a number of times before.

Am I happy with the familiarity? Of course yes...after all it is Vai. And only he can play and write songs like Vai. But was I hopeful for an album to be in someways ground breaking, different yet game changing? A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y Yes!!!!! And I feel that the latter just did not happen with this album. I don't feel disappointed...just a little unfulfilled because for Vai heavy lies the crown since only he is one of the miniscule group of virtuosos who have set expectations and standards so high that an audience has no option but to expect to be blown away every time he so much as even farts a note out of his guitar (don't know how one does that but I hope you see what I am getting at). And once again I feel that the album sounded very familiar and return-to-formish...but it also didn't make me feel that I explored or discovered new horizons of Vai's capabilities. It was revisiting a new version of old stuff.

That is my take on this album my friends. In spite of all that I still have given it 4 stars and think that it is a GREAT album. For true Vai fans I ask you to please listen to it and think about all the places where you hear uncannily close elements of Rescue me or Bury Me, or Liberty or Sisters or Crying Game.... you will find that that indeed is the case. Not that its a bad thing.... it's just...a little un-fulfilling. Read more ›