Customer Reviews

Where the Wild Things Are

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This sterling live Steve Vai CD is utterly amazing. Vai is literally a dynamic freak of nature with his large, muscular hands and fingers being in paramount control of his array of guitars. Vai is arguably the most innately talented guitarist in history. His fretboard prowess and use of effects enable him to create a galaxy of spellbinding tones and sounds ranging from bombastic to tearful. "Where The Wild Things Are" is replete with eclectic Steve Vai classics including the emotive "Tender Surrender", "Angel Food", "Treasure Island" and riveting versions of "Freak Show Excess", "Firewall" and "Building The Church". The astounding "Now We Run" is an instrumental marvel that has been nominated for a Grammy Award. In person, Steve Vai has a mystical aura. He's a beekeeper, a strict vegetarian and a very spiritual man. It's not surprising because the Creator bestowed him with an exorbitant amount of talent evidenced by his magical guitar virtuosity and sheer energy. Buy this live CD if you like guitar mastery. Vai's also joined by an array of brilliant musicians who wonderfuly enhance the optimal quality and grandeur of his exquisite riffs and songs.

I stumbled upon this CD via the live concert cut shown on TV.The first time I saw Vai he was a member of the then new David Lee Roth outfit.I did not follow him as much as Satriani but was intrigued by the musical set up and instrumentation choice for the rest of his band ie Violin etc.It reminded me more of progressive Rock then the straightforward riff rock I thought he was playing.I highly recommend this CD to everyone looking for something different,inspired and fun to listen to;one can tell these guys definitely had fun making the music.Also get the second part,it's worth your time.

More manic Vai. Nice band. Nice reprisal of past riffs. Definitely worth the purchase.

Steve Vai's last tour included a band with both keyboards and violins and was very enjoyable live. This CD captures some of the highlights.
Like Jeff Beck before him, Vai is a guitar virtuoso AND a musician. The band is really good and so is most of the music. He has grown and
expanded his body of work beyond just heavy rock riffs and shredding. I was going to give the CD only 4 stars, but felt compelled to give
5 after reading another review with only 2. Because as Steve's first boss Frank Zappa liked to say, "most people wouldn't know good music
if it came up and bit them in the ass".

Having just watched Steve Vai's live in Minneapolis "Where The Wild things Are" DVD, exerpts from which comprise the CD now made available, I have to say that a new fusion-muse appears to have crept into his work. My previous impressions of Vai's work were always tainted by what I viewed as over-the-top guitar-gimmicry, offering little or nothing new of redeeming musical value, hopelessly confined to the same old boring, four-four rock pantheon. I have to say that, carefully studying his most recent release and work, I am duly impressed. I have always purchased his past work, hoping that he would change his evil ways and move away from his over-the-top Zappa-imitations - there was, truly, only ONE Frank Zappa. Here he blends his outstanding musicianship with all the familiar elements of that dreaded word FUSION, namely polyrhythms, -chording and -tonality. With duel-violinist accompaniment, an electric sitar player and a very accomplished drummer (despite the outlandish tatoos!), one could swear one was watching John McGlaughlin's original Mahavishnu Orchestra tearing it up and pushing the popular sonic envelope forty years ago! Hopefully this most pleasant change and metamorphosis will continue. If only Joe Satriani would follow a similar muse, of which he is totally, perhaps moreso than Vai, capable. Alas, I guess the ridiculous Pop band Chickenfoot, which he currently axes for, is paying the light bills all too well! Long live "The Bells of Lal, Parts 1 & 2", Joe!

Good music to dance to .Very Contageous. We are not young but still we enjoyed the music.I use the cd when I am in the Kitchen cooking. It keeps me going.

VIm

After the wretched Real Illusions, I have to say I listened to this CD with a degree of trepidation. That trepidation was borne out....

Unfortunately, Steve Vai has forgotten how to write riffs, forgotten how to write tunes and has lost track of what ROCK music is about .... visceral rhythm that drills to your very core, and makes your body move like a harmonic to the notes .....

I accept that Vai has written some fantastic music, but it is not until "Die to live" on this album, track 9, that we get anything approaching a piece of music on this album .. the first 8 tracks are nothing but fretboard masturbation; constant noodling, whammy bar sonic effects and annoying guitar "sound effects".

This CD is completely devoid of soul, and pretty much devoid of anything approaching rock music.

I will not be revisiting someone who, in the good old days, produced classic rock tracks like Hina (DLR), and albums like Passion and Warfare