Steve Vai

[Mayberry's Finest]

Vai overindulges. Johnson, Timmons, & Morse are much better rock players. Vai also is for some reason considered THE technical god of the guitar. Why, I don't know. He's no Holdsworth/McLaughlin/Metheny, etc.

That being said, Vai has a handful of songs that are brilliant.

Agreed. Vai is too fruity. Those gay stage antics of his ruin the few good songs he has when he performs them. If I were to make a suggestion get Sex and Religion as it features Devin Townsend on the vocals and the album is more song oriented than just mindless self-indulgence. I also happen to like Alive in an Ulta World. Features a lot of his more 'tasteful' songs. Alien Love Secrets isn't a bad little EP either. However, I suggest you listen to someone else other than Vai as I feel that Vai is a weak song writer and fruit.

 

[Kenneth R.]

He sucks at songwriting imo. What makes him so revered is his drive to push the limits of expressive sound that a guitar can make. the guy can really make his guitar cry, scream, laugh... he's an innovator in that respect

 

[N-MAYH]

Steve Vai is an awesome guitarist and everything, just some of his stuff is a bit tooo wierd for me...(ie: "ya yo gak" "km pee du wee" and that song on his new album where he makes his guitar sound like a cat meowing...[dnno bout spelling on songs]) anyway.. hes really good but sometimes really weird with his experimental stuff.

 

[reidie]

Vai is probably my favourite guitarist of all time. Passion and warfare, firegarden, alien love secretc and RI: R are all masterpieces. Also it is recomended that you by flex-able just so you can hear the attitude song

 

[Mayberry's Finest]

Vai is probably my favourite guitarist of all time. Passion and warfare, firegarden, alien love secretc and RI: R are all masterpieces. Also it is recomended that you by flex-able just so you can hear the attitude song

I bought the elephant turd that is Flex-able a few years back. I should've known from the excessively homoerotic cover art to steer clear from this POS but being the glutton for pain that I was at the time I decided to buy it...just because I thought the novelty of owning such a flamming album was amusing. I also held out the slim hope that this might actually be a good album and needless to say it was far from it. The version of the Attitude Song on that album is pretty weak. It sounds better on G3, IMO. The rest of the album was just...well...with a song like 'Little Green Men' I'll let you make your own inferences. This album was so fruity and just plain bad that it would make Zappa cry. Passion and Warfare was astronomically better but Steve has abandoned the art of crafting a song and seems to be more focused on indulging himself which I can respect but I certainly have no interest in it. When he starts releasing music that is on par with Tender Surrender, Blue Powder, Bad Horsie, and a handful of his other great songs then I might be interested in listening to his work again. Until that happens I stress that anyone interested in Via should at LEAST look up Andy Timmons. Hell, I suggest you buy That Was Then, This is Now by Timmons. The album is realeased on Vai's Favored Nation's label so it shouldn't be hard to track down. Oh, and props to Vai for giving muisicans of a top caliber an outlet to release their music through. Oh, and to reiterate...steer clear of Flex-able!!

 

[N-MAYH]

Vai is probably my favourite guitarist of all time. Passion and warfare, firegarden, alien love secretc and RI: R are all masterpieces. Also it is recomended that you by flex-able just so you can hear the attitude song

the attitude song sure has a lot of attitude in it, i must say.

 

[chef0069]

Vai rules, he's one of the great guitarists alive. And he's also a great songwriter, sorry that he dosen't just spit out threats and murder, that he usually sings of positiveness. Most people just aren't used to that, being genetrally the whiny bunch of fags they are. If you doubt me, just read the reviews here of some of the opeth NYC show. It disgusts me and leaves most people here with no credibility at all. Vai Rules. Get over it.

 

[Forest of Åsatrú]

vai is a musically inept wanker

 

[Stimuli]

ignorance at its finest ^

 

[Tubbs]

ignorance at its finest ^

This is QFT.

 

[Kenneth R.]

Vai rules, he's one of the great guitarists alive. And he's also a great songwriter, sorry that he dosen't just spit out threats and murder, that he usually sings of positiveness. Most people just aren't used to that, being genetrally the whiny bunch of fags they are. If you doubt me, just read the reviews here of some of the opeth NYC show. It disgusts me and leaves most people here with no credibility at all. Vai Rules. Get over it.

i have no problems with his positive lyrics, in fact i think they're cool. but as for composing a "song", he isn't that great at it (or chooses not to be). His genius lies in experimentation.

 

[Forest of Åsatrú]

ignorance at its finest ^

Are you saying that Steve Vai writes good songs? Never mind that he sounds like the same ol generic guitar filled rock. Sure, I could stand a song or two by him, but when the whole album sounds like the same song? Yeah, he can play the hell out of his instrument, but he's ran out of creativity. So there for....A musically inept wanker

 

[thelordofcheesecake]

Are you saying that Steve Vai writes good songs? Never mind that he sounds like the same ol generic guitar filled rock. Sure, I could stand a song or two by him, but when the whole album sounds like the same song? Yeah, he can play the hell out of his instrument, but he's ran out of creativity. So there for....A musically inept wanker

You'd like to share what you're smoking with the rest of the forum?

 

[Thelema60]

I saw him in the early 80s with Zappa; then he played "stunt guitar", incredible guitar work, but when Zappa took over for his solo, all that Vai had played vanished at once. It didn't mean anything, it had been just fingerwork. A freakshow. I hope his playing is more meaningful today.

 

[murlam]

I've had "The Ultra Zone" CD lying around for a long time, never giving it a real listen... the other day I ripped it, put it on my iPod, and I haven't been listening to anything else.(even Opeth) I like every song on this album quite a bit, except for "I'll Be Around", which is just lame...

So, could someone recommend other albums by him? I've heard that "Passion And Warfare" is excellent.

Does anyone else here think that Vai is one of the greatest guitarists out there?

nice album cover but vai aint that good.He maybe fast but when it comes to theory and actual song making hes shit!
his songs are virtually one big solo with little singing!

 

[:Wreath:]

He annoys me because his funny facial expressions keep distracting me from what he does on the fretboard...

 

[reidie]

I cant believe that people are questioning Vai's song writing ability ???

For the love of god, Blue powder, Boy from seattle, Bad horsie, The crying machine, Dyin'day, There's a fire in the house, hand on heart, building the church etc. etc.

All master pieces - all great SONGS ... not just great guitar work

 

[affinityband]

 

[Stimuli]

when it comes to theory and actual song making hes shit!

wow...just....wow...

these are the type of things that make me wonder why im on this board.

and as a previous poster mentioned, Vai will be appreciated in 2250...

and anyone who judges Vai's music by the way his hair blows on stage or the weird little faces he makes is retarded...

 

[affinityband]

wow...just....wow...

these are the type of things that make me wonder why im on this board.

and as a previous poster mentioned, Vai will be appreciated in 2250...

and anyone who judges Vai's music by the way his hair blows on stage or the weird little faces he makes is retarded...

1. You are on here to Talk about Opeth. assuming why you signed up other wise you couldve gone to any other muscian forum.

2. People will laugh as much as i do when i see or hear about steve vai.

3. That is one of the best reasons i have ever heard not to like steve vai. You like manowar by anychance?