Search - Various Artists :: Guitar Battle

Raef N. (Budgie) from GAITHERSBURG, MD
Reviewed on 2/20/2008...

Eight of the best rock guitarists (Al Pitrelli, George Lynch, Michael Lee Firkins, Reb Beach, Steve Morse, Brad Gillis, John Petrucci and Andy Timmons) get together to record 5 covers (Train Kept A Rollin', Something, Memphis, Purple Rain, Birdland) and 1 composition by Al Pitrelli.
Even if there were sub-gradings within the 5 stars, this album would rate at the very top.
The guitarists take turns soloing and one of the best part of it all, if you have the Japanese import, is that it tells you by the exact second who plays when.
A fantastic album of fantastic songs played by fantastic musicians. A must.

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Incredible !

Tim Lee | Orange County, CA | 03/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK forget these south american reviewers who have never heard of the most of the guitarists on this album. At the same time, forget the American people who have NEVER heard of these guitarists because they are too busy listening to poppy girl grabbing bands like KORN and Limp Bizkit. This album was released in Japan for a reason and this reason is that the Japanese appreciate a good ass rocking guitar session. Their pop music is indicative of this as most Japanese pop songs have an average of 4 guitar solos per every 7 songs as compared to America where it is one guitar solo per seven pop songs. George Lynch and John Petrucci come out as the most technical guitarists on this albums. Everyone else is stand by on rock and blues scales. Of course that would have been Lynch as well if it were not for his recent (1994) lessons at Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. For once we also get to hear John Petrucci go improv as most of the Dream Theater series guitars have been mainly real hard studio work and composing. You can tell the difference in each guitarist as each uses his own unique sound on the album. This is a must have both in session creativity and unique guitar theory for the avid guitar listener/fan. No, Greg Howe does not make a special appearance (though in my opinion, Greg and his star pupil, Prashant Aswani, excel above these sessioneers) in this album, but there is plenty to listen to otherwise like Andy Timmons, Brad Gillis, and Al Pitrelli (virtual unknowns in modern guitar). Never before has there been such a collection of incredible guitarists on one album."

Worth Getting

T. Harris | APO, AE United States | 01/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Short and sweet if you love Guitar you will love this Album. This album will make you want to go grab your axe and play. The album is costly but worth the money."