Steve Vai added to bands list !!!

MikeEnRegalia wrote: It's unreal - I have no idea why you guys are so sure that you're right. Preferring Malmsteen to Vai when it comes to Symphonic music ... that's one of the sickest statements I've ever read. But we don't have to agree - I know that I'm right and you're wrong (IMHO of course). So excuse me while I'm listening to some fascinating music - have a look at Steve who makes a facial expression similiar to mine at this moment:

^^EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!

with his stupid sunglasses tucked neatly into his frilly shirt.  and that damn ugly guitar.  I dont think he got enough attention as a child.

much.  thanks.

GoldenSpiral wrote: ^^EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!! with his stupid sunglasses tucked neatly into his frilly shirt.  and that damn ugly guitar.  I dont think he got enough attention as a child.

So that is your argument against Vai? Having a Frilly shirt and ugly guitar (?) doesn`t mean his music is not prog.
 

M. B. Zapelini wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: It's unreal - I have no idea why you guys are so sure that you're right. Preferring Malmsteen to Vai when it comes to Symphonic music ... that's one of the sickest statements I've ever read. But we don't have to agree - I know that I'm right and you're wrong (IMHO of course). Great picture, MikeEnRegalia - but let me make something clear: I said that "at least Malmsteen wrote symphonic rock", but I didn't say that he wrote good symphonic rock! BTW, I think that Vai is a better guitarist and composer than Malmsteen (and singer too, but happily Malmsteen doesn't sings very often) - and I have more Vai CDs in my collection than Malmsteen. I must assume that you are a Zappa fan; if I'm right, could you recommend me a good Zappa CD featuring Vai (never listed to any, and I'm curious).

I'd recommend You Are What You Is and Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch. But you'll have a hard time recognizing Vai on those recordings, because he really just played what Zappa told him to. I'd recommend his album Flex-Able, it's very much influenced by his time as Zappa's guitarist. It features some songs that he often plays on tour even now, more than 20 years later: Call it Sleep and The Attitude Song.

BTW: If you want to get to know Zappa, I'd strongly recommend buying live recordings or even better: Live DVDs. There's a nice Zappa DVD available on Ebay, it's called "The Torture Never Stops". It's an entire concert (about 2 hours) from 1981 featuring - among others - Steve Vai.

GoldenSpiral wrote: yea, I dont really mean hes not progressive, he probably is, and I like many metal-fusion guitarists.  I just have a personal problem with Steve.  he just annoys me.  hes a great musician and all, his image problem just rubs me the wrong way I guess.  Im not saying he shouldnt be included.  Im just venting my frustrations. it also could be that I'm jealous. but probably not.

I thought you were a bass player - if any, you might be jealous of Billy Sheehan (he has been touring with Steve for years).

eh, I prefer stu hamm to sheehan, though he is really good.

I just think maybe there are some people more deserving than Vai.  Satriani is better than Vai IMO, and Buckethead is more progressive and original.  I think a recent headline in The Onion summed Vai up nicely "STEVE VAI IMPRESSES THE HELL OUT OF NEIGHBORHOOD 12 YEAR OLDS"

 (I can't find a link sadly, they make you pay for it these days )

Joe Satriani never wrote music as complex, innovative and well-composed as Vai's Fire Garden suite, Lucky Charms, Bledsoe Blvd, etc. And his recent collaborations with orchestras (Fire Strings in Tokyo, Metropole Orkest) are entirely out of reach for Satriani. I like his music also, but IMO he lacks any progressive attitude. He is a perfect icon for the label "Shred".

Snow Dog wrote: Chris88 wrote: All I was saying is that from my experience only people who play guitar find his music apealing. Whats not to understand about it? Thats what I don't understasnd, it simply isn't true!

He has a point. I'd say that the basic (prog) music fan either likes virtuosity, or he doesn't. If he doesn't like it, it may cloud his judgement of what else the artist has to offer. The other way round, people who love virtuosity are influenced by that also - they might overrate the artist because his virtuosity might distract them from other qualities that are more important.

I think that originality, emotionality and artistical integrity are the most important qualities of artists. Vai has all that AND the virtuosity, and that's why he's my favorite guitarist.

Edited by MikeEnRegalia

MikeEnRegalia wrote: Joe Satriani never wrote music as complex, innovative and well-composed as Vai's Fire Garden suite, Lucky Charms, Bledsoe Blvd, etc. And his recent collaborations with orchestras (Fire Strings in Tokyo, Metropole Orkest) are entirely out of reach for Satriani. I like his music also, but IMO he lacks any progressive attitude. He is a perfect icon for the label "Shred".

vais fire garden suite is based on the phrygian dominant scale and so is satrianis oriental melody then it moves to the phrygian scale then minor pentatonic. Not complex? I think satriani could play with an orchestra but he just chooses not to. And I can see how you call him shred which he is but if you disect his music it is so much more, some examples Flying in a blue dream song, Rubina, and my favorite starry night. He puts so much feeling into his music maybe emo shred fits him.

Chris88 wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: Joe Satriani never wrote music as complex, innovative and well-composed as Vai's Fire Garden suite, Lucky Charms, Bledsoe Blvd, etc. And his recent collaborations with orchestras (Fire Strings in Tokyo, Metropole Orkest) are entirely out of reach for Satriani. I like his music also, but IMO he lacks any progressive attitude. He is a perfect icon for the label "Shred". vais fire garden suite is based on the phrygian dominant scale and so is satrianis oriental melody then it moves to the phrygian scale then minor pentatonic. Not complex? I think satriani could play with an orchestra but he just chooses not to. And I can see how you call him shred which he is but if you disect his music it is so much more, some examples Flying in a blue dream song, Rubina, and my favorite starry night. He puts so much feeling into his music maybe emo shred fits him.

emo shred?  I think not, but other than that you hit the nail on the head .  Satch's music to me comes across as much more honest and meaningful and well-composed.  Vai's "hey, look at me I'm a badass" antics make Satriani look humble in comparison.  let me clarify that i'm not crying "unprog" at vai, just stating my preferences.