Passion And Warfare

Great guitarist, some songs are great but some are meh.

Steve Vai's 3rd album Passion & Warfare is a gem. That being said, I feel this album along with Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien", pushed the bar for guitarists so high that technique and aesthetics have become hard to achieve. Guitarist like Trevor Rabin (formerly of Yes) have abandoned the "Space guitar" technique of 5 finger tappings for long melodic stretches with less shredding. In Vai's War & Passion, we see Vai inserting less popular finger tapping and the over-usage of his sustainer & tremolo bar for (again) long melodic stretches. Liberty is truly an "Anthem" song. I almost expect to hear it at the beginning of an NHL game. Animal is one of the tastiest shredding songs because Vai uses a very tasty "Back beat". My last two favorite Vai tunes also appear on this fine album "For the love of God" again, like "Liberty" Vai uses melodic sustaining riffs versus mind boggling shreds. The other tune that is worth the price of admission alone is "Blue Powder". This song was given away in Guitar Player as a "Sound Page" on paper thin vinyl. The song combines the most melodic riffs that define Steve Vai along with the smoothest 100 mph riffs that would make Eddie Van Halen envious. "Blue Powder" also features an amazing mind blowing bass solo by Billy Shehan also formerly of David Lee Roth's band. Like Vai, Shehan actually does finger tapping on his Bass solo. This solo puts him in a class with Chris Squire and Les Claypool. I paid $4.99 for my CD. It's worth $17.99. Unfortunately, the players of G3 (Vai, Satriani and Malmsteen) have changed how we define a great guitarist. The 3 guitarists of G3 are excellent at what they do. But to quote the late Stevie Ray Vaughan: "Man I was playing 1000 notes a minute then B.B. King hit that 1 note and held it". SRV was making the point that often, less is more. If you are a fan of guitar virtuosos; you will love Vai's War and Passion. This album was produced to make Steve's lightening fast riffs, palatable (commercial) to the common man. Job well done.

Buy this ASAP. Incredible sound quality. I did a blind a to b comparison to the lossless file and there was a clear difference. Whoever mastered it for Vinyl did excellent work.

This is a very good example of Steve Vai's range and talent.

So we have a very interesting situation here. Amazingly written, amazingly executed songs, without "vocals", played by a guitar virtuoso. Now, before you decide not to buy this cd, because you're thinking, "nevermind...it's a shred guitar record", STOP. think again. Yes, there are moments of shred, and yes, there are guitars coming from every possible corner of the mix, but this is not your customary guitar record...it is simply, everything you could want a guitar record to be, only WAY MORE. These songs are imagination come to life. Even his experiments with sound are melodic, and every bit musical. I can't even use a word like "experiment", because it has a slightly negative connotation! If you are a fan of music itself, and you want something truly "good" to become addicted and preoccupied with, this is it. Everything people say sgt. Pepper was, this record really is...and without one single verse! really. it is that good. period.

I remember buying this CD when it first came out (Compact Disc was a fairly new technology then) and being blown away. Now, 23 years later, it still blows me away. Vai is proves on this recording that he is one of the most musical guitarists - scratch that, one of the most musical people on this here planet. Steve combines wonderfully crafted and beautiful arrangements and out of this world fretboard wizardry to make one of the most listenable albums I've ever heard. As luck would have it, Steve is playing in my hometown of Chattanooga, TN in a few months. I didn't have to brush this CD off when I was reminded by the upcoming concert - this CD has been in my rotation since it came out and it's still one I listen to quite frequently...

I mentioned on a review of Steve Vai's The Ultra Zone that I only discovered Vai last year. I'm not really in a position to give a good technical review of his work but I do love this album. I feel like this can be listened to from start to finish without the need to skip tracks. I love music of all sorts and Buckethead is my favorite guitarist but from what I've heard from Steve Vai in the couple of albums I've listened to, he's a great guitarist who does experiment with different sounds and techniques. I respect musicians who try new things and Steve Vai isn't afraid to switch it up on every song and album. Much respect to Steve for this excellent piece of musical composition and I will be buying his other albums.

Steve Vai is a tremendous guitarist. This is his best work, released in the 80's. Highly recommended!

Registrazione su supporto CD buona e album favoloso per gli amanti di Steve Vai. Album assolutamente da avere perché ha fatto storia nella musica e storia dell'artista stesso.

A écouter absolument ! Quel artiste. 🎸

sacré steeve

La caja llegó con varias roturas tanto al frente como atrás (Ver imágenes). Además, en la descripción dice ser importado y no lo es (Made in Mexico). A pesar de eso, tanto el CD como el booklet llegaron en buenas condiciones. Es un disco que me encanta. Le pongo 5 estrellas por que el álbum es maravilloso.

Super!