Audio CD review:
Steve Vai - Mystery Tracks Archives, Vol. 3

Steve Vai - Mystery Tracks Archives, Vol. 3

Band: Steve Vai Title: Mystery Tracks Archives, Vol. 3 Rating: Release Date: 2003-09-23 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Speed 2: Just Cartilage 3: San-San-Nana-Byoushi 4: Sofa 5: Essence 6: Wipe Out 2000 7: Feathers 8: Opposites Attract Part 1 9: Misfits 10: Selfless Love 11: Maple Leafs 12: The Murder 13: Opposites Attract Part 2

Whoa... I've been looking forward to a great guitar CD. . this is by far the best i've seen ! Vai is simply wonderfull. . . only word that comes to my mouth is "whoa" !!! Buy it, you won't regret it !. Awesome Archive of Bonus Tracks..... This album is an exception to the rule. Now in my experiences, most artists who release a collection of their material that wasn't included on their other albums, are simply using the album as filler to occupy the fans and the record company while they work on their latest offering. Mystery Tracks holds it's own against any other Vai album in my opinion and is my favorite release by him to date. I hadn't heard any of these tunes before I purchased this collection and typically, Steve's material takes a little time to grow on me. Not the case with this one. From the very beginning, I have liked each of these tunes. The production is, as usual, impeccable. The playing is exceptional and kind of less "way out there" than most of his material. It has a great flow to it and is arranged in such a way that it can be played from beginning to end without the listener getting so overloaded with audio acrobatics, that they lose interest. The so called ballads are tastefully and soulfully played and the faster songs have a nice edge and enough layers to the music to keep you intently listening. I have all of Steve's other releases and this is my favorite one, even more so that Passion and Warfare. That said. . . I recommend this to anyone who has already been a fan of his music. Without it, you're missing some of his finest work. Treasures from the vault! This CD is full of awesome unreleased tracks, songs from imports, demos, etc. I've been a Vai fan since 1989, and I am always thrilled to find songs I haven't heard. . It's amazing to me that so much music can come from one guy - I really dig every track on this disc. My favorites, however, are Speed and The Murder. Speed is what Vai is all about - guitar virtuosity, but saying something with it all. Thank you again, Steve. I gave 5 stars not only because I am a huge Steve Vai's fan, but because this is a really nice cd, full of emotion and incredible musicianship on it. I would like to thank Steve for having put out another awsome disc like this. Steve could have realeased those little songs as officially realeased albums instead of realeasing them as Archives cds. . . but we know that Steve is a real artist and wanted not to make only commercially based realeases. If you think that this cd must be like the last single released box instalment The Elusive Lighe & Sound, then you are wrong, because while TEL&S was a cd with non-musically but logically organized little pieces of music, THIS ONE is a CD WITH REAL SONGS on it. Anyway I don't agree with the guy who has posted before me, who said Maple Leafs could be the worst song on the cd! Hey listen more carefully to it!!! If you sit down and pay more attention to this piece, then you'll agree with me on the fact that Vai is one of the best mood-creator musicians out there. . . c'mon can't you feel the beauty of the fall, the light winds caressing those flame-like red maple leafs, which are falling slowly down to the ground? Oh god. . . I must say this one is almost equally as beautiful as Whispering a Prayer is. As a Whole an Excellent Album Not only is he a great guitarist and songwriter, but if you have never seen him live you are missing out. I'd first like to say that I am a huge fan of Steve Vai and have been for 17 years. No one has stage presence like him. I'd have to say that of the 4 cd's in the Archives series that have been released at this time (Vol 1. The 7th Song, Vol. 2 FZ Original Recordings, & Vol. 4 Various Artists), Vol. 3 Mystery Tracks is the best one due to the difficulty of finding these previously released tracks in the U. S. Here is a break down of the songs with my ratings: 5/5 SPEED - As the title implies, this is one of Steve's fastest songs. Lots of finger- tapping soloing on this one. This was originally the first half of "Kill the Guy with the Ball" off the Alien Love Secrets album. 2/5 JUST CARTILAGE - This was a bonus track for Japan recorded during the Sex & Religion sessions. It features the vocals of Devin Townsend and some heavy bass from TM Stevens. I can't say I care for this song too much, but if you liked what Vai was doing in 1993 you'd probably like this. 5/5 SAN-SAN-NANA-BYOUSKI - My Japanese is a little rusty, but I believe the translation of the title is Three-Three-Seven-Beat (Just kidding. I actually got the translation from the liner notes). This was another bonus track recorded in 1995. A very up-beat song. Tell me you don't to clap along when you hear it. 5/5 SOFA - Recorded at a Frank Zappa tribute in 1991, this is the song Steve won the Grammy for in the "Best Rock Instrumental" category. This is a very catchy mid-tempo song. 2/5 ESSENCE - Recorded as a demo for the Roland VG88 and GR33 guitar synths in 2002. If you heard this on the radio you would never know this was Steve. Don't look for any virtuoso playing to shine through on this one. 4/5 WIPEOUT 2000 - Supposedly this was a hit on Disney Radio. It's a cover of the old surfer instrumental from the sixties, now complete with vocals. Just a fun song to listen to. Checkout how Steve breaks into Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee". 5/5 FEATHERS - Here is Steve's 7th song balled, and it's a good one. Very sweet melody and full of emotion. This is one of the better tracks on the album. 2/5 OPPOSITES ATTRACT PART 1 - This was recorded in 1998 to promote the Morley Bad Horsie wah pedal. A soulful tune with very low vocals by Steve and lyrics about the creation of woman. 5/5 MISFITS - Another demonstration track for the Roland guitar synths. Unlike the first one, this is a very Steve like ballad. 3/5 SELFLESS LOVE - Written for Steve's mom and recorded during the 1999 Ultra Zone sessions. This one is just acoustic guitar with some nice vocals by Steve. 2/5 MAPLE LEAFS (SONG FOR CANADA) - This was a song written on tour and was meant to have been recorded live for the Alive in the Ultra World album. This is a very simple song which features "clean" guitars by Steve and Mike Keneally. Could this be the worst song on the album? 3/5 THE MURDER - A strange song recorded during the 1996 Fire Garden sessions and spawned by a dream. I'm guessing Steve had a nightmare!! 4/5 OPPOSITES ATTRACT PART 2 - An all-instrumental version of track #8 improved with some awesome soloing and 5 addition minutes of music. I have to say I like this version much better. In conclusion, I'd have to say that if you are a fan of Steve Vai you will appreciate the music on this album. And if you are not too familiar with Vai, although this is a good album, I'd recommend you get the Passion and Warfare album first. You can see a complete list of all Steve Vai discography, or go back to the Steve Vai tabs