arcane-beautiful Now when it comes to guitar players, I really think that Steve is the best in the world. Now, some people are tearing their hair out, screaming out names like Hendrix, Clapton, Satriani (who are very over rated in my opinion), but when I see a good guitar player, it is someone who can pour their heart and soul into their instrument, without the use of fiddling with notes and how many you can play a second.

Now, Vai has alot of dexterity, but he has a great sense of melody, and using his instrument to move away from the norm, being experimental, because if you stick with the same old routine, you'll never achieve anything. The evolution of man didn't happen over night.

The first time I came into contact with this album was on tape (I'm a dinosaur, haha) out of my local library. I wasn't too fussy on the first side, but I did play the second side over and over again, and I have nothing against the first side, but I am going to say this, and hopefully I won't get syphillus by saying it...but...

I think Steve is a better singer than a guitar player.

Now, I'm not dissing him as a guitar player, but I just love his voice,I think he is one of the greatest singers I have ever heard. He just has an amazing timbre and his voice is so passionate.

Yes, I also love the first side as well,but the second side does topple over the first.

1. There's A Fire In The House - A frantic display of Steve's skill. Amazing composition and great sound effects. 9/10

2. The Crying Machine - This has some incredibly beautifull guitar work. Fantastically put together. Amazing instrumental. 9/10

3. Dyin' Day - Apparently this was co written by Ozzy Osbourne. Nontheless another great song. 8/10

4. Whookam - Yea, Devin! I love Devin Townsend. Anything he makes is amazing, even if it is just werid noises.His vocals are great on this song. 10/10

5. Blowfish - A bit too Joe Satriani for me. Too structured in my opinion. Although it's better than anything that that bald hypocrite puts out. 7/10

6. The Mysterious Murder Of Christian Tiera's Lover - A bit random, but meh, pretty cool, nontheless. 9/10

7. Hand On Heart - Nice and beautifull. What more would you want. 9/10

8. Bangkok - This was written by the 2 weirdos from Abba? Actually, I do love Abba, and this piece is amazing (I think it's from Chess). Amazing instrumental work and some nice middle eastern like vibes. The fly noises at the start creep me out. 10/10

9. Fire Garden Suite - Ok, wow. The greatest instrumental ever. Yes, even though this song is near 10 minutes, it doesn't bore me one bit. This song also has Mike Manginni playing drums on it (the fastest hands in the world, must be great in the bedroom). This song not only shows off Steve as a guitarist, but as an amazing key player as well. I thought it was Jordan Rudess, but I was wrong. This song is also amazingly produced. It is a whole bag of emotions and one of the greatest things this man has ever made. 10/10

10. Deepness - Basically an intro to Phase 2. 9/10

11. Little Alligator - A wee bit cheesy, but pulled off very well. The lyrics don't make one bit of sense either. 7/10

12. All About Eve - One of the greatest songs ever made, in my opinion. This song is just so beautiful and Steve sounds like a God in this song, his voice and his fretwork. Could the studio version be bettered. Yes, in his new DVD, Where The Wild Things Are, he plays this song acoustically, and the guitar solo, which was originally amazing on guitar, was replaced with violin, and never have I thought that a violin could beat a guitar. It has to be checked out. You Tube it now! 10/10

13. Aching Hunger - Prince! Yes, this song is obviosuly influenced by Prince, but it is amazing. Guitar work is excelletnt, Steve's vocals are orgasmic and the lyircs are fandabbydoisy. Very catchy. 10/10

14. Brother - Very chessy and very emotional. Great song. 9/10

15. Damn You - Pretty damn catchy. Also great vocals from Steve. 8/10

16. When I Was A Little Boy - This things always makes me laugh. A story about masterbation basically. 10/10

17. Genocide - I don't really get it. It's ok, I guess. 6/10

18. Warm Regards - Nice mellow way to end the album. 9/10

CONCLUSION: The cracks are easily cemented by it's greatness. This has to be his best album.