Favorite Steve Vai tracks???

[Papa Josh]

I'm sitting here listening to "Dyin' Day" from Fire Garden. What beautiful melodies! I don't give a fuck about what anybody says about Vai using tons of effects, so what, sounds great!!

What are some of your favorite tracks that vai has appeared on?

 

[NAD]

Probably a Zappa song that I don't realize Vai was a part of, but other than that you can't go wrong with the first Vai song I heard, YOU GOTTA GO DEEP DOWN DEEP INTO THE PAIN!!! That's also my only knowledge of Devin Townsend btw.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Pig

 

[General Zod]

"Passion & Warfare" would be among my Top 5 CDs of all-time. So, anything thing from that CD would be a great selection. Two of my favorites are "For the Love of God" and "Blue Powder".

Unfortunately, Vai's work, has become overly self-indulgent for my tastes. Though I still believe Vai is without question the greatest guitar player of all-time, both "Ultrazone" and "Alive in an Ultra World" were just over the top, in terms of musical masturbation. Someone should tell the guy, "Just plug your guitar into your amp, and play."

Zod

 

[Dev]

Pig

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Pig rules. The whole album (Sex & Religion) is his best IMO.

 

[Nate The Great]

I spent countless hours trying to learn to play like Vai many a year ago. His style is so much more than just effects.

I kind of like "Bad Horsie" or whatever it was called, but "Blue Powder" is a Vai trademark song and probably my favorite.

 

[JayKeeley]

I think his best work is from the DLR and Whitesnake days. Granted, I haven't heard any of his Alcatrazz stuff once he took over from Malmsteen (or did he replace...?). And I certainly haven't heard his Zappa stuff, for shame.

Sex and Religion - bah. If I can't stand Devin Townsend, is this still worth it? Haven't had the stomach to check it out...

Anyway, band faves are:

Ladies Night in Buffalo (most guitarists think this is his best piece...Nuno Bettencourt ripped this off countless times with all the string hopping)
Hot Dog & A Shake - my fave solo
Skyscraper - I love this whole song
Sailing Ships - the EMOTION!!! Coverdale screams his balls off and Vai complements!
Judgement Day - heaviest shit from Whitesnake ever - what a riff (thanks to Vandenburg)
Cheap n' Nasty - my second fave solo

Solo stuff is anything from Passion and Warfare, but mostly "For the Love of God", "The Audience is Listening", and the majestic "Liberty"!!

I lost some interest after that with his solo work, although there is one track on "Fire Garden" which is just glorious - filled with trading solos. Like Friedman and other guitarists, I think they need a solid strongwriter to bring out their best work.

Oh and don't forget the movie Crossroads. "Eugene's Trick Bag" is just an awesome piece of work. If you can play that at the right speed, it sounds incredible! The ending of that film was almost as good as the ending to The Karate Kid!

 

[Dev]

You need S&R because it's very different from the rest , he wrote 'normal' songs and remember that Townsend only sings , he didn't compose anything (did he?)

 

[Demonspell]

That's also my only knowledge of Devin Townsend btw.

Seriously? If so, get Terria because many fans including myself consider it to be a masterpiece, but knowing your tastes you might end up liking either Infinity (for pure weirdness) or the SYL shit (seems natural after your Meshuggah kick) in the gay way.
Jay: If you want to hear Vai's work with Zappa try out You Are What You Is or Them Or Us, the latter even has a song named for him.

 

[NAD]

Yeah I've never heard any SYL or his solo stuff. I'll get there eventually.

What was that one Vai song that was pretty much just one crazy solo then at the end someone yells "SHUT UP, WE KNOW YOU CAN PLAY!!!" is that Pig?

EDIT: Nope, Juice. That song is pretty fun.

 

[General Zod]

I think his best work is from the DLR and Whitesnake days.

Excellent work. But his early solo stuff is phenomental.

Sex and Religion - bah. If I can't stand Devin Townsend, is this still worth it? Haven't had the stomach to check it out...

Yes. I'll hook you up. Look for it tonight or tomorrow.

Ladies Night in Buffalo (most guitarists think this is his best piece...Nuno Bettencourt ripped this off countless times with all the string hopping)

Great song. Saw them live on both tours. The first tour, which was amazing, Dave, Steve and Billy all sat down, on the edge of stage, and just kicked back and jammed to "Ladies Night". Vai once said, had the band stayed together, and evolved the way it could have, the only place big enough to hold their concerts would have been the Sahara.

Skyscraper - I love this whole song

Great song.

Judgement Day - heaviest shit from Whitesnake ever - what a riff

Best song on that disc, hands down. Gonna have to crank this tonight.

Zod

 

[JayKeeley]

Zod approves my post.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

I saw crossroads the other day on t.v. I remember the first time I saw that I was like "holy fuck who the hell is that and how the hell did he do that?"

 

[Papa Josh]

Fire Garden Suite is perhaps one of the greatest compositions ever heard, JayKeeley, I will be posting it up later for you to download and enjoy!

And Sex & Religion is one of the most criminally underrated releases ever. And I heard that Devin did have a hand in composing, he was young at the time and Vai was blown away by his musical abilities. I believe he did some guitars live, if I'm not mistaken....