I honestly can't understand why more people don't love Vinnie Moore. His technical skill is amazing, but he's also got the soul that some others lack. This isn't just a shredfest, this is a showcase of great songwriting too. The songs, if you've never heard Vinnie Moore before, are like video game music (he actually did the music for a Japanese game a while ago), especially The Maze. The neo-classical influences are preety strong, yet they're blended pretty well with rock that remiunds me of some futuristic nightscape or something poetic like that.
Anyway, you should get this even if you don't like Joe Stumps or whoever (Joe Stumps is too sonically boring anyway, he never changes volume and never stops soloing), because the songwriting and contrast is really excellent.
I play jazz bass actually, and I had never heard of him until I saw him at a Berklee clinic, and that same day I ran out and bought this album because it had the best of the Maze album with some other great stuff. If you only buy one neoclassical shred guitar album in your life, make it this one, you won't be disappointed.
