Rating: Summary: Shredders heaven !!! Review: superb quality, a real masterpiece. Mr Vai at his very best, worth every dime
Rating: Summary: What hath MTV wrought? Review: There is no mistaking that Vai is the best guitarist out there - hands down. There is also no mistaking MTV has ruined any video presentation of today's music. Vai could have easily plugged in and played it live, instead of playing along with the playback. Believe me - he could do it. I find it fustrating when capable artists coast; when a magnificent visual production could've been a reality. And what a marketing concept; buy the CD and hear it polished & perfect, buy the video and see it live, raw and playable - as opposed to merely a studio product.
Rating: Summary: Instructional Review: This DVD was originaly designed so transcribers could see what he was actually doing with his fingers on certain parts. So it just sort-of evolved into a DVD. If you are interested in 'live' type of video, get the G-3 concert video. If however you want to see what his fingers are doing on very complicated solo's, well this DVD should do the trick. If you were going to buy the CD then this is a 'no brainer', since DVD's play as normal CD's as well.
Rating: Summary: Flawless Review: This is essentially the "Alien Love Secrets" album, which was recorded around 1994, with Steve Vai and his group lip/finger synching along with the music. Mr. Vai accurately and quite interestingly synchs along, as precisely as you'd expect from someone of his perfectionist qualities. Needless to say, while it's not an authentic performance of the songs, but rather a recording of the guys synching along with a prior recording, it's the next best thing. Not much else to comment on, as far as the performance is concerned. It takes place on one set, with Steve changing suits/skin colors (!!) between several of the tracks. His children even show up on "Ya Yo Gakk" and do silly things for the camera. The video transfer is pristine, and I have absolutely no qualms with it. Now, the extras. The commentary track with Mr. Steve Vai is quite entertaining, although there are dead points here and there where he gets caught up in the movie and doesn't say much. His stories and description of things are always good....you get the feeling that he's sitting there, talking to you specifically about the songs. There are also alternate angles for a couple of tracks, which is nice, but probably won't be accessed more than once or twice. A featurette made as a promotion for his 1996 Epic Records recording, "Fire Garden", lasts about roughly 7-8 minutes, and is fun to watch. A discography, pictures, and other small things round it all up. Although released pretty early on in the life of DVD technology, it remains one of the more fascinating and worth-while purchases of the musically-related DVD's that have been released up to this point in time. Steve Vai fans, guitar fans....I can't imagine you turning this one away.
Rating: Summary: Flawless Review: This is essentially the "Alien Love Secrets" album, which was recorded around 1994, with Steve Vai and his group lip/finger synching along with the music. Mr. Vai accurately and quite interestingly synchs along, as precisely as you'd expect from someone of his perfectionist qualities. Needless to say, while it's not an authentic performance of the songs, but rather a recording of the guys synching along with a prior recording, it's the next best thing. Not much else to comment on, as far as the performance is concerned. It takes place on one set, with Steve changing suits/skin colors (!!) between several of the tracks. His children even show up on "Ya Yo Gakk" and do silly things for the camera. The video transfer is pristine, and I have absolutely no qualms with it. Now, the extras. The commentary track with Mr. Steve Vai is quite entertaining, although there are dead points here and there where he gets caught up in the movie and doesn't say much. His stories and description of things are always good....you get the feeling that he's sitting there, talking to you specifically about the songs. There are also alternate angles for a couple of tracks, which is nice, but probably won't be accessed more than once or twice. A featurette made as a promotion for his 1996 Epic Records recording, "Fire Garden", lasts about roughly 7-8 minutes, and is fun to watch. A discography, pictures, and other small things round it all up. Although released pretty early on in the life of DVD technology, it remains one of the more fascinating and worth-while purchases of the musically-related DVD's that have been released up to this point in time. Steve Vai fans, guitar fans....I can't imagine you turning this one away.
Rating: Summary: Guitar LEGEND Review: Vai is wicked. I have always loved him because he never ceases to be original. The man can do some serious fingerwork. He gave me his autograph at the Rose Bowl when I was around twelve years old and visiting California. I will NEVER forget that. That was extremely cool of him. The silver getup is strange, and the song with his little boy is endearing. The DVD was clean and crisp visually, and the sound was great. There are extra features, such as the ability to program the song order, a mini-interview, short but concise biography, a complete discography, and different angles for four songs. In other words, this DVD should have costed well over the price I paid for it. His undulating sexy body wrapped around that guitar sure was worth my $15!SONGS INCLUDE: Bad Horsie/ Juice/ Die to Live/ The Boy From Seattle/ Ya-Yo Gak/ Kill the Guy With the Ball/ Tender Surrender
Rating: Summary: Live but not nearly alive enough Review: Very 2 dimensional work Steve. It looks cheap and and nasty but the music rocks. I was expecting more video composition and instead saw Steve playing air guitar. But you've got to give him credit, he's the master.
Rating: Summary: Steve Vai dotted in bits Review: Well, Die to Live is something that gives you the shivers! Not to mention all that silver stuff on his skin. I had never tought I would love to see his videos, but I loved it immidiately. Life is a strange thing to tell you the truth...
Rating: Summary: Good Sound, Great guitar riffs better off just buying the cd Review: When I ordered this dvd I was expecting more than just 3 guys mimicing all the songs. It looked to me it was done in some local bar minus the audience. The video angle was nothing great, but another boring shot of steve. No doubt steve vai is a awesome guitar player but you won't miss anything but just buying the CD.
Rating: Summary: watch a master perform Review: Yes it is synching, but vai is a master and he is in complete sync. As a guiar player it is great to be able to ape his fluid style and really see how it can be done. It really helps to watch him play and visualize some of his other riffs. The DVD is also very well done: there is an audio track with his comments and a litle insight into the artist. Also some alternate angles, etc. Well worth buying for a fan.
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