The Ultra Zone
The Ultra Zone | ||||
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Studio album by Steve Vai | ||||
Released | September 7, 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1998–1999 | |||
Studio | The Mothership (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | Instrumental rock, progressive rock | |||
Length | 68:45 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Producer | Steve Vai | |||
Steve Vai chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic link | [1] |
The Ultra Zone is the sixth studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on September 7, 1999, through Epic Records.
The Ultra Zone is structurally similar to Vai's previous album, Fire Garden, in that the first half of the album consists mainly of instrumentals, and the second half mainly of vocal songs; however, unlike Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone is not formally divided into two "phases".
Background
The Ultra Zone is notable for its tributes to two legendary guitarists: Frank Zappa (on the track "Frank"), and Stevie Ray Vaughan (on the track "Jibboom").
Also notable is the fact that this was Vai's last studio album of original material until 2005's Real Illusions: Reflections; in the years in between, he released several compilations of his material, as well as a live album.
This album includes the participations of Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto from the Japanese band B'z on "Asian Sky".
Track listing
All songs written by Steve Vai.
- "The Blood & Tears" – 4:26
- "The Ultra Zone" – 4:52 (instrumental)
- "Oooo" – 5:12 (instrumental)
- "Frank" – 5:09 (instrumental) (homage to Frank Zappa)
- "Jibboom" – 3:46 (instrumental) (homage to Stevie Ray Vaughan)
- "Voodoo Acid" – 6:25
- "Windows to the Soul" – 6:25 (instrumental, with some small spoken parts)
- "The Silent Within" – 5:00
- "I'll Be Around" – 4:57
- "Lucky Charms" – 6:44 (instrumental)
- "Fever Dream" – 6:03 (instrumental)
- "Here I Am" – 4:12
- "Asian Sky" – 5:34
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Selfless Love" | 3:27 |
Personnel
- Steve Vai – everything (tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 & 9), everything else (track 7, 10, 11 & 13), guitars (tracks 4, 5 & 12), vocals (track 12)
- Koshi Inaba - vocals (track 13)
- Tak Matsumoto - guitar (track 13)
- Mike Keneally - keyboards (track 7)
- John Sergio – bass (track 4)
- Philip Bynoe – bass (tracks 5,7 & 12)
- Bryan Beller – bass (tracks 10 & 11)
- Gregg Bissonette - drums (track 4)
- Mike Mangini - drums (tracks 5, 7 & 12)
- Robin DiMaggio - drums (track 10)
- Andy Cleaves - trumpet (track 10)
- Duane Benjamin - trombone (track 10)
- Niels Bye Nielsen - orchestration (track 10)
References
External links
- The Ultra Zone at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- Flex-Able
- Flex-Able Leftovers (EP)
- Passion and Warfare
- Sex & Religion
- Alien Love Secrets (EP)
- Fire Garden
- Flex-Able Leftovers (album)
- The Ultra Zone
- Real Illusions: Reflections
- The Story of Light
- Modern Primitive
- Inviolate
- Vai/Gash
orchestral
- G3: Live in Concert
- Alive in an Ultra World
- G3: Rockin' in the Free World
- Live in London
- G3: Live in Tokyo
- Sound Theories, Vols. 1–2
- Stillness in Motion: Vai Live in L.A.
- Live at the Astoria, London
- Live in Denver (DVD)
- Visual Sound Theories
- Tinsel Town Rebellion
- Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
- You Are What You Is
- Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
- The Man from Utopia
- Them or Us
- Thing-Fish
- Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
- Jazz from Hell
- Guitar
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
- As An Am
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
- Strictly Commercial
- Have I Offended Someone?
- Cheap Thrills
- Son of Cheep Thrills
- FZ Original Recordings; Steve Vai Archives, Vol. 2
- Disturbing the Peace
- Eat 'Em and Smile
- Skyscraper
- Album
- Evo