Customer Reviews

Stressfest

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is absolutely incredible. Mixed with some funk and shuffle, Steve's playing is absolutely mind-boggling. 64th notes! StressFest is by far the best record that Morse and his band (with magnificent bassist Dave LaRue and chopster Van Romaine on drums) have made yet. It's sort of a departure from his stuff with the Dregs, and is more agressive and grungy. This adds a new edge to Steve's music, but he's still playing meticulous as ever and is still perfect in every note. Even though the album is mostly heavy-hittin' rockers, it is tinged with a few low-key balladeering numbers, such as "4 Minutes to Live," where Steve plays guitar synth, making his guitar sound like a piano, and "Delicate Balance," a beautiful classical guitar duet between Morse and LaRue. No matter how odd the music is, Steve can still make it more emotional than any other fusion or progressive rock guitarist I've heard. Even if you're not a Morse fan, you'll love this album. It has something for everybody.

Stressfest is must own for any Morse fan as well as any fan of progressive rock music. The songs are performed with exceptional skill and the music is obvioulsly a culmination of all three of the players. The basslines are up front and punchy, and the drumming is so tasty you hang on every beat. Some will argue that this is the same old Morse, but this is not so. This album has a "fun" feeling about it, and lacks the over the top perfection of Stuctural Damage and Coast to Coast. Do not think this album lacks incredible playing, because all that the Steve Morse Band is famous for is clearly present. The mix is very good, the music very powerful, and the execution flawless. This album overshadows most of his other works in that every song is appealing and catchy, even if you are not a guitar nut. Stressfest is a fantastic album for those that already love the Steve Morse Band, or those that are looking for something fresh.

Mind-blowing picking. Guitar pyrotechnics. 64th-note shred-fests. Sound familiar? Of course; superhumanly fast guitarists are a dime a dozen lately. There's a fair amount of it here, too, but here's the kicker: all this work is based on a solid compositional foundation. Steve Morse can work miracles with his playing, but it's the writing skills and melodic sensibility, more than anything else, that have made him one of the world's most respected guitarists. Stressfest falls somewhere between the Dregs and Deep Purple: there's a mix of rock, blues, soul and funk blended with a leaner, crunchier guitar sound and a hard-edged attitude stemming from his time with DP. Not just a display of shredding for fellow guitarists to drool over, this is a collection of SONGS for anyone to enjoy. Eat your heart out, Yngwie...

Being a Steve Morse fan since the late 70's, I have not heard a heavier sound from him since "Blood Sucking Leeches." This recording was made just after Steve burned it up with Deep Purple and it is obvious that the grinding rock sound displayed while touring with this classic band found its way onto "Stess Fest." If you are a fan of awesome guitar chops, this is a must!

WOW, I couldn't belive my ears when I first heard this. This is like hearing Steve Morse on steriods. His guitar playing is just crunchier, meatier, and heavier than before. I guess joining Deep Purple has not only turned this man into a heavier sounding monster, this man can be credited for giving Deep Purple their best album in over 20 years(see my Deep Purple Purpendicular review). He wails away on this CD, better than Coast to Coast and High Tension, the only other 2 solo ones I have. Steve Morse is my favorite guitar player in the 90's, and this CD cemented that even further. If you aren't into all out instrumental albums, because i'm not either, just give this one a try. It's fast paced, high speed shred that's better than anything Vai or Satch can release

The first time I listened to this , I thought "that was pretty cool!" The second time, I thought "why didn't I notice that before?" The third time, I thought "how much have I missed?" The problem was that I wasn't giving full attention to this excellent work. I put it on and listened to it with headphones and really listened to it, not just hearing it in the background. This one really grew on me. I am very impressed with Steve's technique and the different tones he uses. He also uses many different styles, and whether it be hard rock, country sounds or funky numbers, it's all good! Van Romaine is also very solid on drums as is Dave LaRue on bass. Every song is a winner on this one and I can't really push one song above another because they are all good in their own way. If I did have to pick favorites, I would say the first and last songs, "Stressfest" and "Live to Ride," respectfully. If you are a fan of fun, fast, furious guitar music, you can't go wrong with this one!

I love everything this guy does. Jazz cats can dig him...Rock cats can dig him....Country cats can dig him....He's the archetypal American guitarist.

There's nothing to say here. This guy is a genius. No wonder Deeep Purple hired him to replace Blackmore. THis CD rocks from beginning to end, It is perfect.

Steve Morse, while being a great guitar player, does not fall into the trap many other instrumental guitarists have succumbed to: bad songwriting. Many Instrumental Rock pieces tend to wander around without a central theme. This album contains songs that seem to simply replace the vocal part of the piece with electric guitar, creating a more appreciable sound. The guitar and bass' tone throughout the album is smooth and funky, as opposed to the more metal sound used by artists such as Yngwie Malmsteen. Overall, a great album.

I picked up this disc after hearing a couple of cuts off of Yahoo Lauchcast. Steve's guitar work is impressive! You've got to listen to this one!