Search - Vinnie Moore :: The Maze

This Maze is a pleasure to get lost in.

Blue Wolf | Laguna Niguel, CA, USA | 04/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once upon a time I was a young guitarist and all around music lover. I spent all my time listening to every hot player and style I could get my hands on from the way-ahead-of-its-time swing of Django Reinhardt to the extraordinary classical riffs of Manuel Barrueco to the unbelievable jazz-rock fusion and acoustic soul music of John McLaughlin. 20 years later, after dedicating my life to the cold hard reality of earning a living, my appetite for music has welled up again and I so I had to get back into the game. My somewhat more comtemporary friends gave me the "A" list of guitarists of more recent vintage and Mr. Moore's name came up more than a few times. So I started with the highly touted "Maze" and ... well ... how should I say this ... uh ... how about ... Wow! I really like the sounds coming out of this CD. I'm still working my way through the list (Macalpine, Malmsteen, Imepellitteri, etc) and I like a lot of the sounds I have heard, but this CD really stands out so far. Vinnie Moore has just done a great job of blending the rapid fire technique of the Malmsteen lightning-riff era with some solid composition. This CD is an absolute pleasure to listen to as both a musician and a music lover. I particularly like the interesting transitions and contrasts in style of "The Maze" and the acoustic sweetness of "Never Been to Barcelona". Whether you are an old timer coming back to the fold, a newcomer looking for some guitar skills worth imitating, or simply an aficionado looking for some solid jazz-funk-rock flavored instrumental tunes to keep your spirits up while you are on the freeway or hunkered over your keyboard, I heartily recommend this album."

Vinnie is a Genius player and a Genius composer

Karthik.K | Bangalore, India | 02/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, what can I say?? I have at least 30 CDs only of the instrumental guitar 'shredfest' neo-classical variety. The Maze is definitely Vinnie's best work to date (after Mind's Eye, another masterpiece album). What I found great was that, the guy focusses more on composition than just fast playing. Cool melodies, nice time shifts, fast playing, slow playing, he's got everything on this CD. The great thing about this CD is that u'll never get bored of this stuff. Vinnie doesn't go overboard, unlike Mind's Eye (which is a GREAT album, but sometimes you feel a human shouldn't play SOO fast!). The songs flow smoothly, one into the other, structuring the album very well. In all, a GEM of an album - I recommend this not only to fans of instrumental music, but to all people with a good taste of music and an inherent aversion to MTV!"

A-MAZE-ING

cd-heaven | ROCK CITY | 02/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simple put, an all around, astonishing, amazing instrumental album. I'm not a big listener of all out guitar albums, really Vinnie Moore and Steve Morse are the only one's i can withstand, all others are just show-offs. But Moore has technique, charisma, and a knack for killer songs with out all the faster than lightning fingerwork. Yeah, faster is good, but make some sense of the songs. Vinnie's finest since Mind's Eye, and good support from fellow shredder and labelmate Tony MacAlpine on keyboards. A must own for all rock lovers"