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alexkhan
Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 2783 Location: Chino, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:13 am Post subject: Tony MacAlpine |
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Any MacAlpine fans here? I was a big MacAlpine fan during the heydays of shred when his albums Edge of Insanity and Maximum Security seemed to promise even brighter days ahead. To this day, those two albums remain the benchmarks of neo-classical as far as I'm concerned. And sadly, Tony himself couldn't take the concept any further. With subsequent albums from the likes of Vinnie Moore, Joey Tafolla, Cacophony, Michael Chastain, Michael Fath, etc., I had had enough.
I've always stayed on top of what MacAlpine was doing, but his forays into more mainstream kind of playing (as well as Vinnie Moore's) weren't really happening. It was as if he couldn't really find an identity of his own. I got the CAB albums and they're cool with loads of virtuosity (Bunny Brunel on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums), but I didn't think Tony's playing really fit the context too well. To me, it's still Tony's neo-classical albums that define his sound and style - which is somewhat unfortunate...
I was just over at Amazon to see if I should give Planet X (with Derek Sherinian on keys and Virgil Donati on drums) a try. The clips sound pretty interesting although that kind of style just isn't my thing - you know, being complex and technical for the sake of being complex and technical. I was over at the MacAlpine forum and they're all saying I need to get all of the Planet X albums, but I'm not quite sure yet. Anybody here into Planet X? _________________ Ed Yoon
Certified Guthrie Fan-atic
BOING Music LLC - Managing Partner
.strandberg* Guitars USA
Ed Yoon Consulting & Management
Guitar Center Inc. |
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Carlo
Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 408
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:49 am Post subject: |
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I'm not really familiar with T-Mac's work....just one of those guys I never got around to...for no particular reason I guess. But, yeah, I'd also be interested in any thoughts and comments regarding his Planet X stuff.
I also want to know if anyone could recommend that Ring of Fire DVD. |
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Alun
Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Over Here
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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I've got a few Planet X CDs and they are can be a bit hard going. Incredible playing without question but I sometimes find mysel wishing they'd calm down for 30 seconds. Probably the most accessible album is "Moonbabies" which has some nice writing as well as the technical onslaught.
I've seen Tony live with Vai a couple of times and,as much as I like Vai's playing, MacAlpine has blown him off the stage in terms of playing interesting solos (if you ever see the Vai "Live At The Astoria" DVD, watch Tony's solo in "Deep Down Into The Pain", it's unbelievable ).
Cheers,
Alun _________________ www.alunvaughan.com |
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Mirth
Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 160 Location: USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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I have to disagree, about the Vai dvd. I've always like Tony, but I think he looks like a chump next to Vai on that video.
I don't mean that in a bad way so much as a boost to how well Vai controls the guitar. I just feel like Tony is way out of his league in that video. I miss having Keneally in that band, I think he was a much better match for Vai.
Anyways, that's just how I feel.
Tim
Also, I'm not so sure many guitarist would look very good next to Vai. (Though Guthrie would sure do well) The best time I ever saw Vai was at a clinic thing he did in NYC where Sharon Isbin, Carlos Alomar and some other studio guy were there. And Vai was just improvising all these beautifully melodies over what these other people were making up. He actually made the jazz guy on the far end look silly for thinking he could improvise. I could see pain in all there faces when looking at Vai, even Sharon Isbin, who kept gaping her mouth open watching the guy.
I realize as far as straight jazz improv, I don't you'd ever hear Vai do a bebop solo, but I think he would truly improvise and come up with some epic melodic musical passage, probally not truly defined by any style. _________________ www.timmirth.com
www.myspace.com/redsidevisible
www.myspace.com/mirthfulmusic
www.reverbnation.com/timmirth |
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Carlo
Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 408
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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I was at that clinic at the Bottomline (I sat right next to that really loud and annoying heckler....u know who I'm talkin' about ). To me, Vai didn't anying that special...but I was totally in awe of Sharon Isbin. |
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shredfusion
Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 63
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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I have the first CAB album and I really like it, but Tonys playing does seem a little out of context. Maybe I should buy one of his shred albums! |
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shredrulez Guest
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: |
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shredfusion wrote: | I have the first CAB album and I really like it, but Tonys playing does seem a little out of context. Maybe I should buy one of his shred albums! |
get maximum security. just an awesome shred album but quite musical as well. |
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shredfusion
Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 63
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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shredrulez wrote: | shredfusion wrote: | I have the first CAB album and I really like it, but Tonys playing does seem a little out of context. Maybe I should buy one of his shred albums! |
get maximum security. just an awesome shred album but quite musical as well. |
Will do, thanks for the advice! |
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