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"If you're new to Steve Vai's career, don't overlook "Alien Love Secrets", as it's an integral part of the fabulous edifice built by this guitar genius."
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4/5
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Right in the middle of preparing his "Fire Garden" album, Steve Vai wrote and recorded the "Alien Love Secrets" EP in the record time of six weeks. Dedicated entirely to the guitar, it pays homage to Steve Vai's influences and, above all, glorifies his instrument like no other Vai album. The means are simple: a rhythm section, a light keyboard and a guitar plugged into an amp.
The first track, 'Bad Horsies', is arguably the most metal of the American's career. It contains all the power of the horse that Steve Vai's guitar brings to life. The staging of this song in concert accentuates its industrial feel, with its emphasis on the seven-string guitar.
The upbeat, fast-paced 'Juice' takes a backseat to 'Bad Horsies', with an airy shuffle and a rather crunchy sound. Steve Vai really takes pleasure in this foot-stomping track. A slower track, bordering on a ballad, 'Die To Live' features the dry drumming of Deen Castronovo (Journey). Steve Vai's touch is evident in this alternation of rhythm and chorus. A more atmospheric part, which can be used as a solo, gives the track a beautiful added value in the middle. The influence of Jimi Hendrix on Steve Vai is more than evident, and 'The Boy From Seattle' is the best tribute ever paid to this guitar genius. Steve uses a clear, slightly saturated sound, with many arpeggios and chords played almost Jimi style.
The penultimate track on this short album, which happens to be divided into two quite distinct parts, 'Kill The Guy With The Ball' is a crazy experiment with bizarre vocals and a huge drums, while 'The God Eaters' takes the opposite tack to this difficult piece with a very atmospheric part that has no other purpose than contemplation.
Finally we come to the seventh and final track on the album, and even for an EP, Steve wouldn't sacrifice tradition. 'Tender Surrender' is thus the classic track number seven, the one with the most melody, which starts out as a ballad and metamorphoses into an orgy of notes. The beginning is played in clear sound with two-note chords, the rhythm accelerates slowly and when the listener is mature enough for it, Steve Vai presses the saturation switch. The wah-wah-accompanied solo is tear-jerkingly beautiful, and Vai's touch is once again divine.
"Alien Love Secrets" is the logical transition between "Sex & Religion" and the monumental "Fire Garden". Listening to the latter will help you understand why it took this step for its progenitor. If you are new to Steve Vai's career, don't skip "Alien Love Secrets", as it is an integral part of the fabulous edifice built by this guitar genius, and its omission would jeopardize the whole work. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Bad Horsies - 05:51
02. Juice - 03:44
03. Die To Live - 03:52
04. The Boy From Seattle - 05:04
05. Ya-Yo Gakk - 02:52
06. Kill The Guy With The Ball/The God Eaters - 07:02
07. Tender Surrender - 05:09
LINEUP:
Deen Castronovo: Batterie
Julian Vai (5): Chant
Steve Vai: Chant / Guitares / Basse / Claviers / Batterie
Tommy Mars (7): Claviers
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READERS
3/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.3/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH STEVE VAI
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT STEVE VAI
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