Search - Various Artists :: The Guitars That Rule The World, Vol. 1

Raef N. (Budgie) from GAITHERSBURG, MD
Reviewed on 4/21/2009...

Some very interesting tunes (Beach, Gilbert, Wylde, Kotzen) and others extremely messy (Sambora, Skolnick, Gabrels).
These guitarists were told to play whatever they wanted, however they wanted. Some did well and others need to stick to what they usually do, although this is not an experimental album.
Not a very good one.

Amazing Guitar Album

kingofrock379 | New York | 08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album rules. There are so many great guitar players on it. It's also cool because whoever was on it had total creative freedom, so they could play however they wanted to. This album really has everything from metal to funk to blues. Former Winger, current Dokken guitar player Reb Beach opens the album with Black Magic. This song is pure metal, and Reb's smokin'. This is my favorite song on the album. Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi is next performing Mr. Sambo. It also features Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres and bass player Hugh McDonald. It is another metal song. It really shows Richie's talent. Next up is Yngwie Malmsteen. Every serious guitar player knows he's amazing so there's no need for me to elaborate on this song. Let me just say that you won't be disappointed. Next up is Paul Gilbert of Racer X and Mr. Big. His playing is amazing. The song I Understand Completely is a primarily acoustic but is filled with sound effects and electric overtones. At the end of the song he comes in full electric. Paul Gilbert's great because he plays with amazing speed and precision. Zakk Wylde does something totally unexpected for his song, Farm Fiddlin'. Being Ozzy's former guitar player and fromntman for the ultra heavy Black Label Society you expect a country intro for his song on this album but that's exactly what you get. He starts off with a lightning speed country piece before kicking into the metal style that he's known for. He like pretty much everyone else on the album plays with amazing speed. This song is also great because it shows all of his influences. In the middle of the song it goes into this whole blues piece before kicking back into metal which ends the song. Next up is Nuno Bettancourt former Extreme guitar player. His song Bumble Bee (Crash Landing) is excellent. He is an amazing guitar player. His playing on this song is no exception. It is however very short. Alex Skolnick is up next. He is the former guitar player in Testament and Savatage. He is also a very underrated guitar player. On Filet of Soul he serves up a very funky type song. It also features Les Claypool of Primus on bass. He is amazing as usual. The middle of the song slows down to display Alex's style. It also shows what a great guitarist he really is. Next up is former Poison current Mr. Big guitarist Richie Kotzen. His song Chype Fluxx shows his talent as a musician because he played all of the instruments on it. The song is successful in showing his guitar playing skill as well as his bass playing which sounds pretty decent. Next up is bluesman Albert Collins. His song "Blues for Stevie" is a tribute to the late master Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features amazing blues playing in the style of Stevie. Next up is former Allman Brothers Band guitar player current Gov't Mule frontman Warren Haynes and Allman Brothers guitar player Dickey Betts. The song Willie and Poor Bob is very different, if I had to describe it I'd say it was country blues. It features impressive slide and harmonica work. Next up is David Bowie's sidekick Reeves Gabrels. His song "Why Do I Feel Like I'm Bleeding" is an excellent song. It shows that he can play fast as well as slow. The song is very hard to describe. There is a drum machine that starts it off then some slow guitar. It doesn't kick in to the fast playing until about the midlle of the song. This album is great, but I only recommend this to guitar players or serious fans of guitar playing. If you like this album I also have a few suggestions such as Joe Satriani-Crystal Planet, Dokken-Erase the Slate, Back for the Attack, Extreme-Pornograffiti, Yngwie Malmsteen-Rising Force,Trilogy, Ozzy-No Rest for the Wicked, Racer X-Street Lethal, and Steve Vai-Passion and Warfare, Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone, Alien Love Secrets."

Top-notch guitar playing.

menmann | Mexico City | 12/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, everyone is correct by saying this album is AMAZING, but I just wanted to make a little side comment. I saw the release date here at Amazon, and it says 1998... well, that's the "commercial" release date, because this album was recorded and "released" actually in 1993 or 1994, and it was sent as a gift to suscribers of a guitar magazine, I forgot which one. I first heard this album in 1994 and was blown away by it. By the way, on the first song, Reb Beach plays all instruments if I'm not mistaken."