i'll put it this way...i love his guitar playing...so more vocals mean less guitars. hence sadness prevails.

Firewall's my fav. song in that album. So much energy and that RAW RAW Vai guitar tone AND that awesome jazzy feel. The trumpets were cool as hell ;D

I don't mind his singing really. Honestly it's not that bad. If you heard him as just another singer and not Vai, I think you'd apprecaite it more.

Definately not a contender for best Vai album, but it's something new for sure. To me he has jus begun experimenting with these new ideas. For me it's not a usual Vai CD, it's different.

I just listened to it twice.
There are some cool parts in it, some other worse... I don't like the "Lotus Feet" but I already didn't like it when he played it Live in Paris 3 weeks ago...
Not my favorite album but not my least favorite...

I got it yesterday...I have to say I was surprised in a couple of songs. Some neat stuff there...He did sing a bit too much for my tastes though. Firewall was very Fire Garden wich was nice, and Freak Show Exccess is really awsome Lotus Feet was good too, and Midway Creatures was cool. Under It all had a really epic feel about it. It would be nice to see Steve Performing that live, but I dunno how it'd be done with all the voices in it. The rest was you average Steve Vai stuff Overall a really nice CD, but I still like Alien Love Secrets the best...It's a CD I can listen to all songs repeatedely without skipping...

Oh, and Yai Yai was funny The "Whookam" of this CD

Every new CD is an oportunity to make another PAW. Im not expecting PAW, Im expecting something as inspired and with the amount of love and care that PAW had. PAW was groundbreaking, it was more than people could take at the time. It had everything. As good as Images and Words was when it was released, it pales against PAW.

Unfortunately, evey new CD I hear fails to do this.

If you play Firegarden from the 7 track to the 9 track, you get what Im expecting. Those 3 songs are on par with the best PAW has to offer. I guess its just asking too much.

Sex and Religion is very good record (I love the vocals for moments, but y just hate when thousend starts to scream like an insane bonoboo). Its completely different, but its very good. But it is among the most inspired work Steve made.

I thought this album would be closer to some of his best work, but it is not. Its not bad, but its just not as good or inspired as the work listed before.

Im not sure i like it much :\ Nothing that grabs me.

Have you ever tried to play Whookam backwards?

Regards

André

Well, I got it today. From the moment I heard Building The Church I was impressed, and I think that one is my favorite off the CD. And yes, Firewall is just great. I think we all pretty much have the same opinion on this CD, holy crap, we're all agreeing on something! Who woulda guessed? But I'll also agree that this is one of Steve's most inspired CD's and is very close to his heart. I don't know...it may score but then again it may flop. It's one of those things that the public will determine. But...Church & Firewall are still awesome! Lol.

I'm still waiting for mine and the CD version of Live in Astoria. I ordered them from the bootlegshop.com of Sony. Anybody ever dealt with that place before? I e-mailed them because my order hasn't been shipped yet and I ordered it on the 1st of March.

Regards

André

I think Lotus Feet is incredible. Best song on the album. "For the Love of God" style quality.It's just excellent. I actually like hearing Steve sing.

#9 Midway Creatures

Yes it is. There are some other good ones, but that is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard

anything special ? how do i play it backwards ?

If you ask me, i LOVE this cd. I love how hes going for a different sound and actually based alot on another genre of music (bolgarian wedding music!). Every song stuns me. Even Yai Yai has this catchy melody to it which the "yai" effect (which usually seemed to me an unusable weird effect) and actually utilized it quite well. P'm kwee do (forgive me if im not good with the titles) Sounds pure heavenly and Track 2 sounds so sinister i cant help but LOVE it. Not to mention Freak Show which everyone seems to admire. Lotus Feet was also heavenly. I'v always liked songs that use exotic sounding scales or strange phrasing and alot of the content on this CD fulfills that. Of course Firewall is a pure "wall" of sound and energy which who cant love that and for his singing, just another great quality in vai that i admire and wish i had (cant sing for crap x.x).I'v never bought any of his other CD's but i'v heard most all his songs and the songs on this CD rank among my favorites.