THE STORY OF LIGHT

I must admit, after seeing Steve Vai playing in Frank Zappa's band thirty years ago or so, I bacame a huge fan. When I heard "The Attitude Song" when it was releases as a flexi-single in Guitar Player magazine I had to get the "Flex-Able" album, and it's companion leftovers album. But after the next two albums "Passion & Warfare" and "Sex & Religion" showed the great Vai retreating into hard rock and metal cliches, I gave up on him.

Then, a few years ago I saw the video of his "Where The Wild Things Are" concert on TV, and saw that Vai had returned to his inventive roots, and was playing like only he could, that is as the most outstanding guitarist on the planet. Coupled with a mind blowing solo he added to "Zomby Woof" on the first ZPZ album, it gave me a reason to re-investigate Mr. Vai.

And this album does not disappoint. Opening with The Story Of Light, Vai returns to his Zappa beginnings. The song has a feel like the warm up numbers Frank would use to open his concerts (and had spoken Russian lyrics read by Julia Rainy May Vai - must be a relative). The song builds while Vai does his guitar acrobatics. Another Zappa-influenced track is Creamsicle Sunset, which sound like it was influence by Zoot Allures.

Highlights include John The Revelator and Book Of The Seven Seals, a pair of songs that begin as old time blues, and work their way into a prog-metal/blues/gospel frenzy. I can't describe it and better than that. You have to hear it.

Another astounding piece is Gravity Storm where Vai bends his rhythm and lead guitar lines in impossible ways, yet his band manages to stay right with him. And Mullach a' tSi, a duet with harpist Deborah Henson-Conant is delicate and beautiful.

This album is supposedly the second in a trilogy with his previous studio album (which I don't yet own). It doesn't matter, it stands completely on it's own. And it is brilliant from start to finish.

4.5 stars. Very close to perfect.

I have mixed feelings about Steve Vai. Some of his material is the most technically amazing stuff I've ever heard; I consider him to be the greatest guitarist on the electric guitar of all time. That being said, much of his material (like his critically acclaimed Passion and Warfare) left me unsatisfied. Despite the high level of technical proficiency, in the past he has had a tendency to compose some straight-forward and (in my opinion) boring music. That's not to say all of his material before this album falls into this category; each album I've listened to by him has some great and some incredible tracks, but he has not been consistent.

Anyways, I put on The Story of Light and it blew me away. It's a continuation of Vai's previous album Real Illusions: Reflections (and it's the sequel to it as part of a planned trilogy) but musically it perfects what was only sometimes reached on that album. The focus is not on shredding guitars but on moving music. The Story of Light is a beautiful, layered, textural, and eclectic collection of tracks that show Steve at his best compositionally. It's also (perhaps not coincidentally) his most progressive album that I've heard. I highly recommend The Story of Light, and it may just be the most skilled guitarist of all time's best album to date.

Rating: 9/10

Finally, a Steve Vai album I can love

For the longest time I have tried to "force" myself to like Steve Vai's albums, until one day I just said screw it and pretty much just abandoned the prospect of ever really enjoying vai. So much of what he does is very "out there" and I have never really been able to get into him fully besides a few songs here and there. Well, I am happy to say that the day has come where he has created an album just for me in the Story of Light.

This album feels so inspired and accessible. A perfect combination. Each song is diversified and engaging to the point where I pretty much enjoy the entire album from beginning to end. To anyone who has ever struggled to get into Vai's music, I would recommend starting here.

"I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees."

Well, Vai may have made a pact with the Devil that in turn gave him exceptional skills on the guitar, but he got seriously shortchanged - as it may happen when you deal with an entity of the kind. He forgot to bargain for skills for composing tunes that would befit his virtuostic abilities on his chosen instrument. I find it somewhat bizarre that he named this album "The Story Of Light".

Now, I have long given up on Vai's solo releases after his first few albums. Some good solos encased in poor and sometimes even immature tracks. There are moment when he gets it right - as if by mistake - only to ruin a potentially great piece half-way through. Yes I am referring to "For The Love Of God" from the album "Passion And Warfare" as an example here.

Reading some encouraging comment on this album, I decided to proceed with another - and perhaps final - try before my remaining Vai albums are permanently retired via EBay. At first listen "The Story Of Light" appears only marginally - if at all - better than earlier works. It's the same old approach to some nice licks on the guitar "supported" by rather ordinary compositions that are closer to average Hard Rock/Metal than thoughtful and well designed tunes.

As usual, there is the odd glimpse towards something that could have been developed into a pleasing number. That however is not sufficient to captivate my attention. Boredom sets in with me early in the piece and honestly, I could hardly wait for the closing note on the album. I very much doubt that it would grow on me in future, so it's another album that won't gather much dust at my place.

Under rated guitar virtuoso and solo artist Steve Vai offers us an exceptional listening experience with the diverse, thoughtful, and exciting Story of Light. It's ambitious without feeling bloated, artistic without pretense, and enthusiastic without instrumental excess. While Vai is perhaps best known to readers here at the Archives as a supporting player during Zappa's final era, he's earned is place as a solo artist to our attention thanks to a collection of consistently fine - to outstanding - solo releases, and this one may be his best to date.

Story of Light opens in grand, dramatic fashion with the highly layered and impeccably produced title track. While I can't find a translation to the Russian narration that drifts in and out of the foreground, we can assume that they're dealing with the album's concept of enlightenment and truth (per interviews with Vai). What's more interesting to me is the stellar guitar and synth playing. Vai's soloing is complex, crisp, snappy, and highly polished. For many, this kind of playing is the reason for listening, and Vai doesn't disappoint.

We get more balls to the wall guitar showcases during the heavy chugging and thoughtful tempo breaks in "Velorum," and in the heavy, sassy, "Gravity Storm." Vai will crush you with walls of sound that are complex and engaging and thoughtful all at once. Some of the best playing on the album and pure guitar bad-assery.

The boogie-woogie-metal-rock-gospel combination of "John the Revelator" and "Book of the Seven Seals" is an unexpected surprise, and is just plain a blast to listen to. It's an eclectic diversion that is just perfect; it makes you say, "what the heck is this... holy cow, what's happening... holy cow this is amazing!" It lasts just long enough to leave you wanting more, which, when combined with a handful of lush, down-tempo jams that round out the album, is exactly how I feel about Vai's music in general.

Story of Light is a ton of fun and shouldn't be missed by any guitar fan interested in some artistic razzle-dazzle the spice up their hard rock!

Songwriting: 4 - Instrumental Performances: 5 - Lyrics/Vocals: 3 - Style/Emotion/Replay: 4