Real Illusions: Reflections
| Real Illusions: Reflections | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by | |
| Released | February 22, 2005 (2005年2月22日) |
| Studio | The Mothership Studio in Hollywood Hills; The Harmony Hut in Encino, Los Angeles; De Oosterpoort in Groningen; Paradiso in Amsterdam |
| Genre | Instrumental rock, progressive metal, heavy metal, hard rock |
| Length | 55:10 |
| Label | Epic |
| Producer | Steve Vai |
| Steve Vai chronology | |
Real Illusions: Reflections is the seventh studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on February 22, 2005, through Epic Records.[1] The album reached No. 147 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[2] as well as No. 88 on the Dutch albums chart and No. 110 on the French albums chart.[3]
Described by Vai as "rock fable",[1] Real Illusions: Reflections is the first part of a three-part concept album about a town visited by the godsent Pamposh and his construction of the Church.[4] "Lotus Feet", purposely designated as track seven (see The Seventh Song ) and recorded live during three separate concerts in the Netherlands during Vai's 2004 "Aching Hunger Tour", was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2006 Grammy Awards.[5] Vai cites Bulgarian wedding music as having inspired "Freak Show Excess".[6]
Critical reception
[edit ]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [1] |
Sean Westergaard at AllMusic gave Real Illusions: Reflections a positive review, listing "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee", "Firewall", "Yai Yai", "Freak Show Excess" and "Lotus Feet" as highlights. He also remarked favorably about Vai's singing: "As a vocalist, he's gotten way more confident, and while it's doubtful his singing will ever be the primary attraction, he does a fine job here."[1]
Track listing
[edit ]All tracks are written by Steve Vai
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Building the Church" | 4:58 |
| 2. | "Dying for Your Love" | 4:50 |
| 3. | "Glorious" | 4:35 |
| 4. | "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee" | 4:00 |
| 5. | "Firewall" | 4:19 |
| 6. | "Freak Show Excess" | 6:51 |
| 7. | "Lotus Feet" (live) | 6:45 |
| 8. | "Yai Yai" | 2:37 |
| 9. | "Midway Creatures" | 3:42 |
| 10. | "I'm Your Secrets" | 4:26 |
| 11. | "Under it All" | 8:07 |
| Total length: | 55:10 | |
Personnel
[edit ]- Steve Vai – lead vocals, guitar, all instrumentation (except where noted), engineering, mixing, production
- Jeremy Colson – drums, percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
- Gregg Bissonette – percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
- Billy Sheehan – bass
- Bryan Beller – bass (track 7)
- Jerry Hey – trumpet (track 5)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (track 5)
- Dan Higgins – saxophone (track 5)
- Larry Williams – saxophone (track 5)
- Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (track 5)
- Charlie Loper – trombone (track 5)
- Stacy Ellis – background vocals (track 5)
- Metropole Orkest – orchestra (track 7)
- Chris Opperman – piano (track 7)
- Pia Vai – harp (track 11)
- Fire Vai – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Laurel Fishman – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Ruby Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Len Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Jeff Mallard – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Michael Mesker – spoken vocals (track 11)
- Thomas Nordegg – spoken vocals (track 11)
- David Kole – orchestration (track 7)
- Dick Bakker – conducting (track 7)
- Neil Citron – engineering assistance
- Paul Bliven – engineering assistance
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
Chart performance
[edit ]| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Billboard Independent Albums | 15[2] |
| Dutch albums chart | 88[3] | |
| French albums chart | 110[3] | |
| Billboard 200 | 147[2] | |
| Billboard Top Internet Albums | 147[2] | |
| Greek Albums | 25[7] |
Awards
[edit ]| Event | Title | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Grammys | "Lotus Feet" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | Nominated[5] |
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d Westergaard, Sean. "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai". AllMusic . Retrieved 2014年12月12日.
- ^ a b c d "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014年12月12日.
- ^ a b c "Steve Vai - Real Illusions: Reflections (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014年01月10日.
- ^ Vai, Steve (2005). "Inside Real Illusions: Reflections". vai.com. Retrieved 2014年12月12日.
- ^ a b "48th Grammy Awards - 2006". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014年12月12日.
- ^ rkkrah (2008年03月03日). "Steve Vai demonstration - Freak Show Excess". YouTube. Retrieved 2014年12月12日. [dead link ]
- ^ Ελληνικό Chart
External links
[edit ]- In Review: Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections" at Guitar Nine Records