You are about to enter .... The Ultra Zone.

If you have ever heard Steve Vai play guitar, you know that he is one amazing guitar player. He has released over a dozen solo albums, this is a review of his 1999 album The Ultra Zone

I really enjoyed Ultra Zone, because it is so different. So much music out there seems begging for radio play. Vai's album here is 13 experimental guitar tracks, some with vocals some pure instrumentals. Vai really takes us on a musical journey on The Ultra Zone

The album begins with a woman with a far eastern accent introducing The Blood and the Tears. She chants in some mideastern tongue and occasionally recites poetry like dialogue amidst Vai's considerable guitar skills. If guitar afficionados determined the TOP 40, this would surely have been a hit. Vai's guitar just churns out these incredibly melodic riffs.

The title track, The Ultra Zone, is pure instrumental with Steve on "everything". Despite a lack of lyrics there is occasional chanting and some pretty intense percussion going on against Vai's guitar soloing. Everytime I listen to this guy, I am amazed by the smooth fluid sounds he gets out of his guitar. One good instrumental deserves another, and OOOO delivers just that. In parts this song sounds like several different guitar solos blended together.

Although four is another instrumental, it was particularly moving because it is a dedication to Steve Vai's mentor and inspiration, the late Frank Zappa. The song is simply entitled Frank and pays tribute to a man that Vai called the greatest composer who ever graced God's beautiful blue earth.

just go for it! a woman shouts to start Jiboom another instrumental for Steve to shred on. A quick read of the liner notes shows that his wife, Pia, was credited with the only spoken line in this song.

These first five songs just invite you to mellow out and LISTEN as Vai jams on his guitar. The songs are fluid and melodic. Although Vai soloes at a very fast speed, this is not heavy metal or hard rock. Vai's music is instrumental, and almost classical in its sound. I think of these tracks more as compositions for guitar rather than songs.

However, for those who want to hear Steve SING, Voodoo Acid lets us not only hear Steve but also check out his lyric writing. The lyrics were a bit ummm odd, but I guess they were okay. Throat is like a fireplace, tongue is like a razor blade, illuminated before me, looks to me like little honey bees. The honey bees then start talking in high pitched chirpy voices. Vai more speaks the words to the song than sing them. Despite Vai's less than total genius in writing lyrics, the song is fun to listen to.

Windows to the Soul goes back to a dreamy instrumental. I almost felt like I was listening to a yoga or other meditation tape. The only words are spoken in a dream like fashion In Your Eyes I find Comfort and Peace, the treasure of an endless ocean of love lies in your soul, behind the windows that are your eyes Downward Dog Pose anyone? This song would fit right in on any new age meditation disc.

Another all Steve Vai composition is next The Silent Within. It is also another song that Steve sings on. The lyrics are spiritual God only knows what we're feeling, when the lights grow dim, is there really a voice inside, in the silent within. Actually I rather liked the lyrics on this song, it shows Vai's reflective side. I'll be Around is another all Vai song with him singing. Vai's voice is servicable on his songs, but he would hardly make a list of my favorite vocalists. On both these songs, although the guitar is still there, it takes a bit of a backseat to the lyrics.

Two more instrumentals Lucky Charms and Fever Dream are full of more musical mayhem. Lucky Charms has trumpet and trombone in them. I wasn't entirely sure what I thought of that. Some strange voice overs that sound like Oompah Loompahs chant on the song. It wasn't one of my favorites. On Fever Dream Steve plays a triple neck Ibanez, but that is something that you need to see to appreciate.

Here I Am is another decent if not entirely memorable Vai composition that he wrote and sings. Can you see my mind, can you feel how I use it? And if I let you in, will you try not to abuse it?.

The final track sounded like it could be a pop hit in Japan anyway if not here. Asian Sky features lyrics by Koshi Inabi and an infetious chorus alive in an asian sky, so high to forever fly.

My thoughts/Summary

Overall, I really found myself enjoying the instrumentals, they are definitely Vai's strong suite. When he sings with the guitar he says a lot more than he does when he actually pens lyrics and sings. Nevertheless, there isn't a bad song on the album, only tracks that I enjoyed more than others. Vai's skills on guitar are not just his amazing playing skills, they are his equally amazing composition skills. Vai is able to take you to places with his guitar. Overall, I just enjoy listening and relaxing to this album, its a trippy kind of album that is fun to listen to.

I don't think its one of his best albums, but its definitely four stars.

Check out more Steve Vai

Steve Vai - Sound Theories Vol.I & II
Steve Vai - Flexable

For concert DVD's by Steve Vai and G3 check out my complete list of DVD concert reviews. You'll find concert DVD reviews of other guitar heroes like Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more.

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