Real Illusions: Reflections
Studio album by
Steve Vai
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2005 (2005-02-22)
StudioThe Mothership Studio in Hollywood Hills; The Harmony Hut in Encino, Los Angeles; De Oosterpoort in Groningen; Paradiso in Amsterdam
GenreInstrumental rock, progressive metal, heavy metal, hard rock
Length55:10
LabelEpic
ProducerSteve Vai
Steve Vai chronology
The Ultra Zone
(1999)		 Real Illusions: Reflections
(2005)		 The Story of Light
(2012)

Real Illusions: Reflections is the seventh studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on February 22, 2005, through Epic Records.[1] The album reached No. 147 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[2] as well as No. 88 on the Dutch albums chart and No. 110 on the French albums chart.[3]

Described by Vai as "rock fable",[1] Real Illusions: Reflections is the first part of a three-part concept album about a town visited by the godsent Pamposh and his construction of the Church.[4] "Lotus Feet", purposely designated as track seven (see The Seventh Song) and recorded live during three separate concerts in the Netherlands during Vai's 2004 "Aching Hunger Tour", was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2006 Grammy Awards.[5] Vai cites Bulgarian wedding music as having inspired "Freak Show Excess".[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Sean Westergaard at AllMusic gave Real Illusions: Reflections four stars out of five, listing "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee", "Firewall", "Yai Yai", "Freak Show Excess" and "Lotus Feet" as highlights. He also remarked favorably about Vai's singing: "As a vocalist, he's gotten way more confident, and while it's doubtful his singing will ever be the primary attraction, he does a fine job here."[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Steve Vai

No.TitleLength
1."Building the Church"4:58
2."Dying for Your Love"4:50
3."Glorious"4:35
4."K'm-Pee-Du-Wee"4:00
5."Firewall"4:19
6."Freak Show Excess"6:51
7."Lotus Feet" (live)6:45
8."Yai Yai"2:37
9."Midway Creatures"3:42
10."I'm Your Secrets"4:26
11."Under it All"8:07
Total length:55:10

Personnel

  • Steve Vai – lead vocals, guitar, all instrumentation (except where noted), engineering, mixing, production
  • Jeremy Colson – drums, percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
  • Gregg Bissonette – percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
  • Billy Sheehan – bass
  • Bryan Beller – bass (track 7)
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet (track 5)
  • Gary Grant – trumpet (track 5)
  • Dan Higgins – saxophone (track 5)
  • Larry Williams – saxophone (track 5)
  • Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (track 5)
  • Charlie Loper – trombone (track 5)
  • Stacy Ellis – background vocals (track 5)
  • Metropole Orkest – orchestra (track 7)
  • Chris Opperman – piano (track 7)
  • Pia Vai – harp (track 11)
  • Fire Vai – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Laurel Fishman – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Ruby Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Len Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Jeff Mallard – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Michael Mesker – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • Thomas Nordegg – spoken vocals (track 11)
  • David Kole – orchestration (track 7)
  • Dick Bakker – conducting (track 7)
  • Neil Citron – engineering assistance
  • Paul Bliven – engineering assistance
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering

Chart performance

YearChartPosition
2005 Billboard Independent Albums 15[2]
Dutch albums chart 88[3]
French albums chart 110[3]
Billboard 200 147[2]
Billboard Top Internet Albums 147[2]
Greek Albums 25[7]

Awards

EventTitleAwardResult
2006 Grammys "Lotus Feet" Best Rock Instrumental Performance Nominated[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Westergaard, Sean. "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  3. 1 2 3 "Steve Vai - Real Illusions: Reflections (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  4. ↑ Vai, Steve (2005). "Inside Real Illusions: Reflections". vai.com. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  5. 1 2 "48th Grammy Awards - 2006". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  6. ↑ rkkrah (2008-03-03). "Steve Vai demonstration - Freak Show Excess". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  7. ↑ Ελληνικό Chart
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