Steve Vai Albums Ranked

Steven Siro Vai (/vaɪ/; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa and played in Zappa’s band from 1980 to 1983. He embarked on a solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date. He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, and Ozzy Osbourne. Additionally, Vai has toured with live-only acts G3, Zappa Plays Zappa, and the Experience Hendrix tour, as well as headlining international tours. Vai has been described as a “highly individualistic player” and part of a generation of “heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s”. He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as “the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the ’80s”. He was voted the “10th Greatest Guitarist” by Guitar World magazine and has sold over 15 million records. Here are all of Steve Vai albums ranked.

Don’t miss out the music of Steve Vai. Click below and experience his timeless songs.

10. Stillness In Motion: Vai Live In L.A. (2015)

“The sound, energy and performances are top-notch and are exactly what you would expect from Mr. Vai and his very, very talented band. The emotion in the songs really comes across well in the live format which is something that I was wondering about. I have not had a chance to see him live but I’m hoping to next time he hits the road.”

9.The Story Of Light (2012)

“Like most albums from Steve Vai, The Story Of Light is an artwork from a musician aiming to achieve the best he is capable of both in creativity and performance. Steve Vai surrounds himself with awesome musicians that bring life to his musical creations rather than trying to take the glory all himself. On this album he has got amazing drumming from Jeremy Colson who also nailed the previous Steve Vai album, groove master and technician Philip Bynoe on bass, and long time collaborator Dave Weiner also helping on guitar. The performances are stunning, the sound and production is huge, but most importantly the music is unique and although it hits you immediately there are lots of layers to discover with repeat listening.”

8. Alive In An Ultra World (2001)

“ALIVE IN AN ULTRA WORLD to me, is his most impressive piece of work to date. Why? Because he put 110% of himself into it–HIS HEART, MIND AND SOUL– and it shows! Think of all the weeks (no make that months) of research he spent to learn each country enough for it to inspire him to write a song about it! Think about that! But even if the listener didn’t know all the work Steve and his awesome band put into this, listening reveals it, truly.”

See more: Phil Collins Albums Ranked

7. Alien Love Secrets (1995)

“”Alien Love Secrets” is Vai’s finest moment. Right out of the starting gate, Vai gives us a clue for what we are in for with the opening riff of “Bad Horsie.” It is a blazing riff that could be compared to a tornado put to music. With his Ibanez tuned down a whole step (tuned off the 3rd. fret instead of the 5th.), Vai gives us a down and dirty blues assault that rivals all.”

6. Fire Garden (1996)

“Fire Garden – like every five star album should be – is superior quality music from start to finish, while at the same time providing a lot of music. Vai has a lot to say on this one with his guitar, and if you get it, I don’t think that you have to be some sort of genius to appreciate this one. Like most of his albums, Fire Garden is lengthy and ambitious, but it’s cut into two halves, Phase 1 and Phase 2, which, as Vai himself advises in the liner notes, are meant to be taken in separately.”

5. The 7th Song (2000)

“This disc is a collection of (mostly) all of Steves ballads. The traditional song arrangements start out with a modest tempo and unfold into a unique to each track guitar melody that almost speaks to you, go into a chorus melody, then a perfectly mapped out guitar solo with a dramatic climax, then returning back to the original melody and ending. Every song has a special vibe to it, and when listened to carefully each note has something to say.”

See more: Smashing Pumpkins Albums Ranked

4. The Ultra Zone (1999)

“The entire album is a truly PROGRESSIVE Rock experience & excellence and has an amazing flow from one song to the next! I found myself comparing it to YES and some of Steve Howe’s(lead guitarist for YES) progressive stuff. There’s plenty of Steve’s lightning fast playing and some really good R&B themeage like on the song “Jibboom, a rollicking that will make you laugh with the back ground “laugh track.” “Voodoo Acid” truly fits the meaning of diverse with an amazing almost spell binding rhythm track upon which he builds a tale in song with many sound effects and vocals.”

3. Flex-Able (1984)

“Those of us that were fans back in the day knew that Steve’s tenure with Frank Zappa would be limited. He possessed too much talent to be hamstrung by the rigid taskmaster Zappa for too long. This offering seemed fresh at the time. It does have some Zappa influence with regards to the orchestration, but Vai’s creativity is what carries the disc. It’s easy to look past many of the tunes and just lock onto the two or three most accessible ones, but I recommend an occasional re-visit. The moods of the music are diverse and once you’ve listened while in a variety of mindsets, you’ll hear it more clearly.”

2. Sex & Religion (1993)

“This album is beyond words. This band is beyond words. Vai created here a masterpiece that will last forever. To me this is the best rock band I have ever heard, and I think I’ll never hear another similar in the future. I would not like to speak about the single musician (Vai or Stevens, Townsend or Bozzio) or about a single tune, because the entire album is so complete, so pure, so right, so heavy, so energetic, so intelligent, so acute, so creative that you can only dream to find another rock album near the level of this one. I can’ t add nothing more than this. Vai proved with Sex & religion that he really is a musical genius, a musician with speed of light mind and technique, one of the few men in music with a vision.”

1. Passion And Warfare (1990)

“‘Passion And Warfare’ contains no singing! There are voices and people randomly speaking, but ‘Passion And Warfare’ usually consists of Steve Vai and drummer Chris Frazier. If you are playing or planning to play guitar, ‘Passion And Warfare’ would be a necessity: It sets the high-point for all guitar showmanship; quite simply, you will find no better guitarwork. Vai blends odd time signatures, trippy melodies, and mind-numbing guitarwork to make the album a statement to Vai’s everlasting talent: You will find nothing but guitar here!”