It’s hard for me to deny that Vai’s virtuousity and outlandish guitar playing are what drew me to his music.

Now though, I find I am intrigued by the composition and artistry of his work. It can be easy to dismiss this kind of album as just a showy and almost gimmicky display of musicianship. But, I think that is a mistake. If a good folk album is like a lovely classic painting then this is like staring at on of those abstract pieces covering a whole wall in noise and colour. Both very fine pieces of art indeed. Words are not always present in his songs, but not always necessary. The wail of a guitar and the phrasing of a tune speak volumes. Where there is singing the lyrics are quality, but I especially like some of the more primitive chanting and vocalizations that feel appropriate to the album's title. What's more to me is that despite being quite heavy rock and crossing into metal genres it doesn't feel loud. There is an aggression, primal feeling, and an overwhelming forward motion.

I'll be real. This album gets weird, but I love the absurdity of this album. Opening with Bop! never fails to put a silly grin on my face. There are funky bits like the bass on Mighty Messengers, Rocky bits in No Pockets, and don't forget to top it off with a three part composition with just about every style Vai has ever touched on. I imagine seeing this live is a lot less like a rock concert and a whole lot more like going to the symphony. I love just getting lost in the strange transitions and constant stream of sound. Nailing down top tracks is hard because some of these flow into each other in ways that almost make them hard to separate. I chose my top tracks out of some that I come back to individually. However, I almost always listen to the album in its entirety every time I put it on. I would encourage you to try that even though it is a pretty long album.

Music like Vai's can be a little eclectic for some tastes, but I think there is something here for everyone. Explore the depths of sound that Vai paints vibrantly.