VAI: SEX & RELIGION

After Passion & Warfare (1990) my excpectation about the next work of Steve Vai was high... Sadly, at first moment Sex & Religion dissapointed me at the same level. But the years pass and you have to listen some albums from a differente perspective.

So that's happen to me with S&R a very underrated album into Vai's discography and one of the little jewels that I have in my "prog related" colection. Maybe this is one of the most melodic works that he done (specially on the first part) and for the first time in his career using a vocalist in almost every song: In My Dreams With You (an erotic and wild platonic love heavy ballad), Still My Bleeding Heart (a kind of life statement), the rude Dirty Black Hole (IMO the most "metal song of the album along with the first part of Down Deep Into The Pain) and Pig, a song that have some drops of experimentation with twisted guitars and a very hard drum base.

The last 3 songs of the album are the most close to the Vai style that his fans love. The Road To Mt. Calvary is a short and dark instrumental as an intro to the powerful Down Deep Into the Pain a mini epic with awsome lyrics and a few minutes of the classic divine observation of Steve. And for close, the sad and darkly poetic Rescue Me Or Bury Me with a guitar solo "a la" Flex-Able.

Not a bad album but no good. If you are a Vai fan maybe you will be dissapointed at first look but there are some great moments. Sounds a little strange to be a Vai album 'cos the most important parts not depends on guitar: Devin Townsend voice (brilliant on this album BTW) carries the rhythm and the worth of the album.

Anyway, a regular album with some remarkable moments. 3* just for the great work of Devin Townsend...