1999: Alive In An Ultra World [Import]

_Alive in an Ultra World_ is a live album, but these aren't familiar Vai songs. These songs are all new, and all of them are based on a different country. Vai covers everything from Germany ("The Black Forest") to Slovenia (the title track). Expectedly, songs like "Blood and Glory" (Britain's song) and "Principessa" (for Italy) rely on common motifs ascribed to the appropriate nations. However, other songs are quite inventive. Portugal's song, "Brandos Costumes", is a beautiful little piece, amiable, sparkly, with a quiet, free-flowing energy. The song for Bulgaria, "Incantation", is an aggressively groovy rock piece with the requisite gypsy flavor -- not to mention a mad drum solo and guitar playing! "The Black Forest" is quaking and darkly celestial. The pop-flavored guitar rock with vocals (the title track and "Light of the Moon") are excellent, simple but loaded with hooks and more tasty musicianship. Japan's song, "Burning Rain", is intense at first, then renascent after a hazy slowdown.

"Devil's Food" is a delight, electrified with Vai's presence as a frontman and the band's spontaneous coolness. During a duet with acoustic guitar and piano, Vai breaks a string. While his assistant replaces it, Vai has the band perform all sorts of crazy things to pass the time. It has to be heard to be believed. The bass player's demonstration is just eerie! "Babushka" has a similar spirit. While trying to kick off into an energetic gypsy song, Vai finds that he is out of tune. As he corrects the problem, his band gets anxious and moves into a jazzy jam.

The variety is also amazing. Since Vai draws on so many different cultural influences (sometimes even ideas that don't seem to have much to do with the country), there's a great assortment of styles here. It's an album that will never get boring. It's like Amazing Guitar Songs World Tour.

Mike Mangini is a monster drummer. Of course, I knew this already but now I have an entirely new respect for the man, especially with his interplay with bassist Philip Bynoe. The rhythm section here is mighty!

The little things are nice too, like where Vai candidly points out all the edits to the live cuts in the liner notes, and his introduction to the album: "This is an indulgent compilation of music with many little guitar notes!" I like that kind of attitude.

Any fan of amazing musicianship with a good dose of plain ol' fun needs this disc.