MYTHOLOGY

This is my first Derek Sherinian disc. I'm not a Dream Theater fan, so I don't have too many references to use as a backdrop. I do have an extensive collection of instrumental rock, jazz-rock, fusion and prog-jazz recordings.

Over all, this album has some great moments, like the Jeff Beck inspired A View from the Sky and Alpha Burst. Quirkiness in El Flamingo Suave (rather fun, in my opinion). Steve Stevens and Steve Lukather play some inspired and entertaining solos throughout. True masters of the craft. Tony Franklin lays down some tasty bass, too. I would have liked to hear him more out front in the mix.

We have Mahavishnu Redux with Jerry Goodman reprising his role as the perfect foil to Holdsworth, filling in for John McLaughlin. Rufus Philpot and Simon Phillips fill Laird and Cobham shoes admirably, but... Sherinian does Jan Hammer proud. Based on the way the solos come off, I assume this wasn't played live in the studio, solos are punched in. Too bad, the inter-play would have been grand in a live setting.

There are some horribly out of place moments, such as the River Song, a Zakk Wlyde tune that would have been better suited to his own release. I would have to say the same for God of War, a heavy handed spank-fest. It seems out of place among the more sophisticated and musical offering on the majority of tracks. A lot of squeals and superfast noodling that doesn't say anything that hasn't already been said on every Ozzy CD since 1985. Trojan Horse is another heavy for heavy-sake tune that runs in circles without saying anything, featuring guitarist Brain Tichy.

The most unrealistic moment occurs when mismatched guitar-slingers Zakk Wylde and his over the top, grind your teeth to nubs power-chording supports Allan Holdsworth's creative string work. The first solo arrives at around 3:40 as the music slows and a smooth undercurrent allows for a beautiful string skipping dance that swells and slithers for over a minute for the highlight of the tune, then it's back to bone jarring power- chords. Holdsworth skips along over the rough terrain before Wylde begins an onslaught of neck wrangled. Thankfully, Holdsworth gets to solo through the final minute like a beautiful bird trapped in hurricane.

A 5 to 4 split. Five good tunes that rate 3 to 3.5. Four tunes that would be better left to an Alice Cooper revival. I rated this album 2 stars, but in reality it should be 2.5. If you are a Sherinian, Stevens, Holdsworth or Lukather collector, get it. If not, buy your mother some flowers and give her a kiss on the cheek. She will appreciate that more than you would like this disc.

Reading the other 2 reviews available for this album, I am compelled to balance the palate. In my opinion, the two lower rated reviews seem to come from an awkward approach and expectancy, and therefore are not fully helpful in depicting this release. (Not that I'm any prime authority... but here goes...)

Two points before I begin; In my version of the album there is a different first track titled "Day Of The Dead". The rest of the album continues in the same order as listed above, but without the bonus track. Secondly, unlike my peers here, I am all at once a huge Dream Theater fan, as well as a traditional jazz-fusion and prog fan who grew up listening to "heavy handed spank-fest" metal.

Having been familiar with and owning his 3 prior albums, I was perhaps somewhat prepared for what he brings on Mythology. It is quite plainly a follow-up and natural progression of Black Utopia. While not as stark and surprising as BU, it is still a solid and well conceived effort. Beginning with a sinister key-riff straight from a George A. Romero nightmare, Derek embarks on another roller-coaster of memorable licks and diverse settings. While dissapointed at the absence of Malmsteen, and DeMiola, I was appeased by the appearance of Holdsworth and the return of Lukather and Wylde. Zack Wylde is beyond doubt the most talented mteal-blues whaler with a southern hangover, and Derek seems to inspire a hidden facet in the man. God of War is pure nosebleed metal, that doesn't try to impress any prog snobs or fusion dweebs (both of which I consider myself) and just rocks. Goin to Church conveys the precise feel of it's title. I can envision Zack hungover in a back pew, repenting... yeah right. River Song is probably my least favorite track. No big surprise that it's stashed away at the end.

My two favorite tracks are both with Holdsworth. Day of the Dead is just a catchy driving song, until Allan drops the tempo and the mood, shading all the rough edges with his otherworldly style. Trojan Horse makes a single and very clear statement: THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH VIOLINS IN HEAVY MUSIC. Goodman and his violin always outshone McLaughlin IMHO. It's like the refreshing splash of diversity you get when you hear Ian Anderson's flute. All in all the disc is peppered with some great moments... and strung along with very standard Sherinian moments. I would place this disc only second to Black Utopia in it's quality and importance in Derek's legacy.

I think Sherinian is among the most driven and spirited musicians on the scene today (this from a guy who prefers Rudess in Dream Theater). Mythology along with Black Utopia stand as monuments to what can be done with music in the 21st century. Seeing as he is able to bring out the best in some of my favorite guitarists, I would be thrilled to see him team up with the likes of Chris Poland... or Buckethead... perhaps in an interstellar time warp cut a few tracks with Stevie Ray Vaughan... well a guy can dream anyway...

When a download Mytholgy (I don`t buy it yet, but I'm going t do it) to know how is Sherinian by himself, I has expecting something like DT (not the same thing, not a bad copy like Dalis Dilemma), but i was disappointed in one way, but in other, not. The album is good, Derek doesn't want to be the only one who plays in this album, he want to do a god music, and he do it. The album isn't a masterpiece, is one of this albums which you heard only to pass a good, and make the environment pleasent.

I thought Sherinian's previous album Black Utopia was good but this one's even better. The reason for this is that it has a greater variety of music that the previous album. Yngwie Malmsteen is not on this album but there's still plenty of heavy guitars courtesy of Zakk Wylde and Steve Stevens.

The version of the album that I have starts with 3 heavy guitar-based tracks (Alpha Burst, God of War and Day of the Dead). Then the real variety starts. El Flamingo Suave is a latin-based track and Goin' To Church is like instrumental gospel music. One Way Or The Other is where Jerry Goodman shows his skills on the violin in a way that he wasn't allowed to on Black Utopia. His violin is really at the front of the music here. After this, we're back on the heavy guitar music with Trojan Horse. Then, A View From The Sky is a lovely laidback guitar piece. The final track on the album (my version anyway) is The River Song. This is the first track that Derek Sherinian has done with vocals. The vocals are done by Zakk Wylde and sound a lot like Ozzy Osbourne singing War Pigs with Black Sabbath. All those years playing with Ozzy obviously had an effect on Zakk Wylde. This song is not a bad one but it's not really progressive either as it's in a similar mould to what you'd get with Ozzy Osbourne or Black Sabbath.

So on the whole, a diverse album with excellently-played music. Derek Sherinian's next solo album is due in May 2006.

The prerequisites were quite good. Derek Sherinian invited many world-class- musicians, among them Simon Phillips, Steve Stevens and Zakk Wylde. Now the only remaining problem was the song-writing. First, it is great, fantastic melodies, nice ideas and very varied. But on the other hand it really, really less complex than the other Derek Sherinian albums or the Planet X discs. The album is still great but when I compare it to "Moonbabies" by Planet X, what I'm listening to over and over again and still there are new things to discover and only some pieces of melodic structures, which I can remember, "Mythology" can stay in the same class. The problem is, when I'm listening to "Mythology", it's a great experience but afterwards or before listening to it, I'm not really looking forward to it, there's simply no incentive, because I don't have the feeling that I would discover anything new. There are great solos, e.g. "Day of the Dead" or "God of War" (the first solo, the second one is kind of mindless in my opinion), nice riffs, e.g. Alpha Burst (although the few riffs are repeated very often it never drags, what I really like). While heavier this time, there are still the typical Derek Sherinian / Planet X signatures, but less jazzier this time. Songs like "El Flamingo Suave", "Goin' to Church" or "The River Song" are quite original for Derek Sherinian. "El Flamingo Suave", this great flamenco with the nice acoustic guitar and "Goin' to Church", the Gospel inspired song. Both songs have a main riff, which is copied and further melodies are added. But although those Flamenco and Gospel origin, there are still some Planet X and Derek Sherinian motives, might be due to the synthesizer. "The River Song" is also a nice track and the only track in Sherinian's discography with vocals, although they are totally odd! If you like the earlier Derek Sherinian work (keep in mind that it is a bit heavier) or Planet X, this might please you and I made the experience that people who like Dream Theater, also liked this album.

Nobody is in easy position who wants to rate this very eclectic album. If you love metal you can find some really remarkable songs on this CD, like "Day of The Dead" (Black Label Society, Ozzy) and "God of War" with Zakk Wylde + John Sykes and Marco Mendoza (from the legendary metal band Blue Murder), or "Trojan Horse" with Marco Mendoza. And there is fine flamenco music in peace with metal, played by Steve Stevens (Billy Idol's musician). After that follows my favouite song, "Alpha Burst". It's a very dynamic, very clear instrumental piece for solo guitar, and Steve Stevens plays it excellently. And I like the others song too, and all of them have some special value, like Jerry Goodman's violin play ("One Way Or The Other") and so on... But my friends in prog rock, this album is not a prog rock one. Finally a question: who could discover Derek Sherinian's play on this album? Personally I can't. My opinion, that Derek wanted to give opportunity to his old friends, and he served them almost invisibly. I originally bought the CD for enjoying Derek's virtuosity, but instead of it I've got some very good guitar oriented pieces. Summary: the album is not convergent, the (mainly) instrumental songs are good, and interesting. My real rating is 3.8.

With this fourth work in solitaire, Derek SHERINIAN shows its trajectory to us with this CD that in varied truth this as far as music talks about, this work gives a very ample reference us of which this tecladista prolífico has done in the course of its race, this it is almost an instrumental work in his totality, are of those CD's which they please so that its music is that only music, this is the sample also of whereupon musical it has participated and it has been influenced, KISS, DREAM THEATER, Yngwie MALMSTEEN, PLATIPUS, Stakes out COOPER and PLANET X, it is without you doubt a good compilation of influences, in this they participate variety of musicians between these of TOTO. It is without you doubt a good CD is one hurts that track does not last more serious a better work, but to the result of this I am satisfied very recommendable, the mythology of a musician.

Much like "Black Utopia" there is a lot of variety on this one, but certainly the heavier tracks are in the majority. A lot of the guests who were on "Black Utopia" are back including Zakk Wilde, Steve Lukather, Jerry Goodman,Tony Franklin, Simon Phillips and others. Some of the new guys are Steve Stevens who I knew as Billy Idol's lead guitarist in the eighties, but gained a whole new respect for him with his work on the Bozzio, Levin, Stevens cd I have. John Sykes is another guitarist I was very familiar with, having a BLUE MURDER cd from the eighties and knowing he also played lead guitar with WHITE SNAKE. Allan Holdsworth who needs no introduction also guests on this record.

"Day Of The Dead" contrasts Holdsworth fluid, fusion style with Wilde's heavy riffs. As Sherinian mentions in the liner notes Holdsworth has never been involved in something so heavy before. Check out Holdsworth after 3 minutes. Goodman adds some violin on this one as well. This is heavy and uptempo out of the gate, and it closes even heavier. "Alpha Bust" is a Stevens composition and it has such an amazing beat to it as synths and guitar(Stevens) rip it up. Stevens is clearly influenced by Beck on this one, he's incredible. "God Of War" features Sykes and Wilde on lead guitars. This one has a thunderous soundscape with outstanding guitar solos. "El Flamenco Suave" again features Steve Stevens this time on his nylon string guitar. This one is very latin sounding with these beautiful intricate sounds that are so impressive. "Goin' To Church" has Lukather on guitar. Before he comes in with his soaring melodies we get some organ to give it a gospel flavour. My least favourite tune.

"One Way Or The Other" is the Jerry Goodman show. He plays almost in a country style at first before he settles into a fusion style 2 minutes in and even gives a nod to MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA 3 1/2 minutes in. Holdsworth is on lead guitar. I have to mention the drumming of Simon Phillips which is a real highlight of this song. "Trojan Horse" is a tribute to Eddie Van Halen. It is very heavy early but lightens somewhat after 2 minutes but then it only becomes more furious. Brian Tichy does his best Van Halen impression. "A View From The Sky" is another Stevens composition and again a tribute of sorts to Jeff Beck. This song is mellow but it does get fuller to the point of passionate. Beautiful song. "The River Song" is the first vocal song on a Sherinian album. The vocals come courtesy of Zakk who brought along a vest that was worn in the past by Randy Rhodes, he also used his whammy bar that he very rarely touches. Sherinian put up a collage of his of Rhodes and Eddie Van Halen pictures and they just let Zakk play and sing. This was the result, a very BLACK SABBATH / ALICE IN CHAINS doom-like track. It's freaking amazing !

So yes i'm once again I am impressed with what Sherinian has come up with, although I prefer "Black Utopia" more.

Mythology from 2004 is an improvement over previous one to my ears, the jazz fusion elements are more present, living to a more polished sound, little more complex then before. This was my first Sherinian album that I bought when was released, and to me is among his best if not the best he ever released. The variety of arrangements are more choesive, the passages are well developed and with some fantastic jazz fusion elements melted with some more rockier ones. Again a real solid line up, again Zakk Wild is preset, I guess that Sherinian loves the prestation of this musician and invited again to take part to his solo work, nice job again. Pieces like Alpha Burst , The River Song with vocals this time, first piece on his solo album where appears vocal arrangements and smooth Going to church are good ex of how Sherinian understands and compose pieces these days. Excellent album, better then Black utopia, not perfect but a fairly good jazz fusion album with a touch , this time less prog metal elements. 3.5 rounded to 4.

2004, Derek Sherinian is here to offer another solo album to the fans of his personal productions.''Mythology'' was released on the InsideOut and Avalon labels in Europe/USA and Japan respectively, line-up/list of participants remains pretty much the same as on the previous album, still Sherinian had sent an invitation to Jazz-Fusion legend Allan Holdsworth to offer his guitar work on a couple of pieces.

Now, another great member of the all-time Fusion Hall of Fame has entered the gates of Sherinian, so expectations were really high for this one.I am pretty dissapointed to say that the result has taken the opposite direction.Sherinian seems to have forgotten about the sense of melody and for what this album will be remembered about will be the endless and tiresome keyboard noodling, extreme technical exhibitions and loose soloing.It's pretty weird to listen to some Hard Rock-in' guitars trying to get on track with Sherinian's fists of keyboard masturbation, the execution by all instrumentalists are reckless, virtuosic and even flawless, but you've to come up also with some decent composing to satisfy your fans.This is not the case.''Mythology'' relies too much on self-indulgent performances, the balance between virtuosity, melody, technique and composition has pretty much faded in my ears and the numerous solo exhibitions are hard to follow, not to say they're not particularly memorable after repeated listenings.The rise of Metal and Hard Rock elements in the place of more Fusion-oriented lines are sounding rather annoying, there are still pieces with interesting moments, like the monumental guitar work of Steve Stevens on ''Alpha burst'', the impressive atmospheric passages on ''God of war'' Sykes' solo and Sherinian's orchestral keys creating a few enganging minutes of well-constructed music or the Latin vibes of ''El flamingo suave'', but the majority in here is about virtuosity and technique, fast solos, egoistic exhibitions and nonsense Metal/Fusion pomposity.

Not meeting my expectations.Flawless in terms of talent and execution, but very low in what you'll recall after the listening.Little to remember actually, so be sure to like furious, bombastic music if you ever lay your hands on this...2.5 stars.