Vai, Steve - The Elusive Light And Sound Vol. 1


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Favored Nations
Catalog Number: FN2220-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:08:00

What makes Steve Vai one of the best guitarists in the world? First and foremost, he is constantly at work and continues to have a consistent steady flow of releases to satisfy his vociferous fans. Secondly, the key to Vai's enormous success is his ability to step outside the box and take his talents to new territories that others wouldn't even consider. The Elusive Light And Sound Vol.1 is the first in a series of releases that are part of the highly anticipated Secret Jewel Box which will be comprised ofa broad scope of movie soundtrack work, unreleased albums, and outakes by Vai over the last several years. Vol. 1 includes his work from Encino Man, Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey, Crossroads, and Dudes. You will hear all facets of Vai's diverse artistry on the CD. The coveted box set can only be purchased on Vai s website.

The CD cover is a knockout! It's a stunning three dimensional image that looks as though Steve is moving his head back and forth as you move the CD case. It's not anything new in design; it's just the way the artwork pops out at you that serves as a striking reminder of the artist and his prolific position as one of the world's premier rock guitarists. Another point that is becoming increasingly important to me as music lover is artist-contributed liner notes. Vai takes you through his experiences while creating some of this music, it's fascinating and insightful and it really helps you complete the entire musical circle.

You know Vai could easily be a top forty-oriented rock star if he decided to and still maintain his guitar god rocker characterization, but thankfully he hasn't. You may ask why I say that; well, if you listen to his loving version of The Kinks "Celluloid Heroes" and the intense rocking of "Love Blood," his song aimed for the movie Interview With A Vampire, which foolishly was not used, the guitar playing and vocals makes you wonder why either song didn't make it to the charts with a bullet right to the top. I am sure Steve could care less about that kind of success. He doesn't need it, he is the personification of success in the music biz, and I mean the entire realm, including owning his own record label, recording soundtracks for movies, and production of other artists, not to mention countless gigs around the world with entire symphonies and other renowned artists. He is one of the busiest sought after six-string virtuosos in the universe because of his advanced technical virtuosity and knowledge. His innate sense of his instruments' abilities to adapt and change with any musical genre that he happens to be a part of at the time is his most powerful tool. And believe me, that scenario is ever changing and evolving for him.

Vai cleverly uses voice parts of the films as part of his musical compositions. I especially like the sound clips from the film Crossroads where a character says "Take the music someplace else, take it past where you found it" -- man, if that doesn't sum up what Steve Vai is all about I don't know what does. Vai also played the role of Jack Butler, the guitar slinger in the film.

Count em' all; there are 40 tracks, you're not seeing things. That's a lot of music and movie sound snippets to take in, and you will love every second of it. So plug yer ass in to this awe-inspiring tribute to celluloid and rock and roll. It's the dawning of a new age for the followers of Steve Vai, and this is just a taste of what is to come.


Tracklisting:
Celluloid Heroes (6:20) / Love Blood (4:48) / Fried Chicken (2:29) / Butler's Bag (1:07) / Head-Cuttin' Duel (4:43) / Eugene's Trick Bag (2:27) / Amazing Grace (1:52) / Louisiana Swamp Swank (3:15) / Air Guitar Hell (0:40) / The Reaper (3:25) / Introducing the Wylde Stallions (0:45) / Girls Mature Faster Than Guys (0:14) / The Battle (2:24) / Meet the Reaper (0:40) / Final Guitar Solo (1:35) / The Reaper Rap (5:46) / Drive the Hell Out of Here (1:28) / Get the Hell Out of Here (3:53) / Welcome Pre-Frosh (0:48) / The Dark Hallway (1:07) / The Dead Band Ends (0:56) / The Cause Heads (1:18) / Find the Meat (0:26) / The Ax Will Fall (0:39) / Now We Run (0:44) / Hey Jack (0:21) / What! (0:08) / Still Running (0:28) / Dead Heads (3:12) / Blow Me Where the Pampers Is (0:55) / Pins and Needles (0:24) / Plug My Ass In (0:44) / Loose Keg Sightings (0:21) / Don't Sweat It (0:37) / How Hidge (0:44) / Beer Beer (0:19) / We're Not Gonna Protest (1:53) / Initiation (0:15) / See Ya Next Year (0:51) / Now We Run (3:47)

Musicians:
Ry Cooder - slide guitar
Steve Vai - guitar, vocals, multi instruments
Shuggie Otis - guitar
Jorge Calderon - bass
Joss Ackland - vocals
Peter Bayliss - vocals
Bryan Beller - bass
Gregg Bissonette - drums
Chris Frazier - drums
Mike Keneally - keyboards
Sonny Terry - harmonica
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston - keyboards
C.C. White - background vocals
Roy Brocksmith - vocals
Robin Dimaggio - drums
Alex Winter - vocals
Kimberly Evans - background vocals
Keanu Reeves - vocals

Discography:
Frank Zappa - Tinseltown Rebellion (1981/1990)
Frank Zappa - You Are What You Is (1981/1990)
Frank Zappa - Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (1981/1986)
Frank Zappa - Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch (1982)
Lisa Popeil - Lisa Popeil (1983)
Frank Zappa - The Man From Utopia (1983)
Frank Zappa - Them Or Us (1984)
Flex-able (1984)
Flex-Able Leftovers (ep) (1984/1998*)
Frank Zappa - Thing Fish (1984/1986)
Heresy - At The Door (1985)
Alcatrazz - Disturbing The Peace (1985/2002)
Public Imagine Limited - Album/Cassette/Compact Disc (1985)
Frank Zappa - Meets The Mothers Of Prevention (1985)
Bob Harris - The Great Nostalgia (1986)
Shankar/Caroline - The Epidemics
David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em And Smile (1986)
David Lee Roth - Sonrisa Salvaje (1986)
Randy Coven - Funk Me Tender (1986)
Western Vacation - Western Vacation (1986)
Frank Zappa - Jazz From Hell (1986)
Dudes OST (1987)
Frank Zappa - Guitar (1988)
David Lee Roth - Skyscraper (1988)
Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 1. (1988)
Various - Guitar's Practicing Musicians (1989)
Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 (1989)
Whitesnake - Slip Of The Tongue (1989)
Rebecca - The Best Of Dreams (1990)
Passion & Warfare (1990)
Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid (1991)
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey OST (1991)
Frank Zappa - As An Am (1991)
Encino Man OST (1991)
Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 (1992)
Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 (1992)
Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (1992)
Various - Zappa's Universe (1993)
Sex And Religion (1993)
PCU OST (1993)
Whitesnake - Greatest Hits (1995)
Alien Love Secrets (1995)
Various - In From The Storm (1995)
Frank Zappa - Strictly Commercial (1995)
Various - The Songs OF West Side Story (1996)
Fire Garden (1996)
Wild Style - Cryin' (1996)
G3 Live In Concert (1997)
Various - Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas (1997)
Munetaka Higuchi w/Dream Castle - Free World (1997)
Frank Zappa - Have I Offended Someone? (1997)
Various - Angelica (1997)
David Lee Roth - The Best (1997)
Gregg Bissonette - Gregg Bissonette (1998)
Frank Zappa - Cheep Thrills (1998)
Al Di Meola - The Infinite Desire (1998)
Various - Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas (1998)
The Seventh Song - Steve Vai Archives Vol. 1 (1999)
Various - Radio Disney Kid Jams (1999)
Thana Harris - Thanatopsis (1999)
Frank Zappa - Son Of Cheep Thrills (1999)
The Ultra Zone (1999)
Joe Jackson - Symphony No. 1 (1999)
Gregg Bissonette - Submarine (2000)
Alive In An Ultra World (2001)
Billy Sheehan - Compression (2001)
Ghosts Of Mars OST (2001)
The Secret Jewel Box (2001)
Various - Roland Guitar Masters (2002)
The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1 (2002)
Various - Guitars For Freedom (2002)
Mystery Tracks Archives, Vol 3. (2003)
The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology (2003)
Archives: Vol 4 (2005)
Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
Live Album (2007)
Sound Theories: Vols. 1-2 (2007)
Original Album Classics (2008)
Naked Tracks Vol 1-5 (Guitar Center) (2009)
Where The Wild Things Are (2009)
Playlist: The Very Best Of Steve Vai (2010)
Where The Other Wild Things Are: Live In Minneapolis (2010)
Western Vacation (2010)

Alien Love Secrets (VID) (1997)
Live At The Astoria In London (2003) (DVD)
Visual Sound Theories (DVD) (2007)
Where The Wild Things Are (DVD/BR) (2009)

* reissue w/bonus

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: June 26th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.vai.com
Hits: 2385
Language: english

  

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