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.

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