Tony MacAlpine

This was my first Tony Macalpine CD and it is excellent. It is very intense music but is melodic, impacting and rather like being hooked up to a high voltage power line. It knocked me out and I highly recommend it. The intensity is matched by the precision but I was most impressed with the melodic side that is woven into the songs. The musicianship is truly world class, if not otherworldly. The drumming is just as impressive if not even more so and it drives Tony's passion on this CD.I like the fact that Tony expresses himself in a variety of ways both on keys and guitars. I wholeheartedly disagree with those who either have disdain for musical expression through fast playing or feel it is somehow immature or by definition lacking in substance. Just because one matures or just plain ages doesn't mean that you cannot feel the power, passion, anger or whatever emotion that can be expressed through, at times, speed.I am referring to real musical expression not just finger exercises. Tony definitely belongs in the former category and not the latter. If you can't handle it then maybe you're just too old or stuck up. Enjoy some schmaltz instead. If you do however seriously enjoy power, intensity and melody with a feel for epic and grand departure then this one's a keeper.

The virtuosity of Tony Macalpine is back on show for his long-awaited new self titled solo album. After a number of years playing in various groups including Planet X, CAB, Seven The Hard Way, and Steve Vai, T-Mac has again unleashed his ferocious playing for all us guitar heads to enjoy. The album includes a great mix of styles that he has been dabbling in over the past few years and there's no vocals to distract from the killer guitar playing. Highlights include the intense opener "Serpens Cauda", the melodic rush of "Dream Mechanism", the catchy groove of "Blue Maserati", the progressive rock of "Summer Palace", and the melodic anthem "The Dedication". It's great to finally have another solo album from Tony Macalpine and I can easily recommend this to fans of awesome guitar playing such as George Bellas, Bumblefoot, and Steve Vai - 4.5 stars!

For those of you with a weak heart or if you are easily disorientated you may want to aviod this CD. It is very INTENSE! If you are content with the redundant garbage that is fed to you over the radio waves, this CD is not for you. If you seek music that is different, moving, and mind expanding; your search is over. This is IT! Not only is Tony MacAlpine a shredding machine he is an excellent composer. The multi layer, thick and rich melody's will leave your head spinning. It's no wonder this guy is part of the next super group. Lets also mention the awesome unrelenting drums are a force that will leave your CD player and speakers whimpering. If you are pregnant, or are prone to seizures aviod this music.

The image on the front of the CD is a great symbol of the 25 years that he has traveled and played for all his fans. On this release, he is at his best again as a solo artist. With phrasing on both keyboards and guitar that are beyond most, it is another great example of his prowess both as a musician and a composer. Thanks Tony for coming back to what you do best.MacBayne

I'm a big fan of Tony, he's in my top ten greatest guitarists of all time list. This is a great piece of work, while I can't say it's my favorite album of Tony's it is certainly a must have for anyone who appreciates technically intricate guitar virtuosity.

This guy has style, and he's got loads of ability to match. I really like MacAlpine's kind of intelligent playing. He's got imagination to match his chops, and that definitely keeps things interesting.Buy this. You will not regret it.

Tony's talent continues to impress and entertain.

I slipped a terse version of this into Eric Johnson's "Up Close" - my bad. First odd numbered pieces rip like old Rammstein head-bobbers - very saucy rhythms with a lot of bump. Then intermixed with some very haunting melodic cuts. Definitely the best since "Evolution". I'm not a CAB fan - but Tony has always rocked my world.

This album, as I expected it to be, is an outstanding work with lots of surprises and pushing the boundaries of instrumental guitar. Tony's creativity, originality, and technical level of execution is in a league if it's own on this album. The songs on this album are intricate and painstakingly constructed, and the result are amazing original compositions; Tony seems to have the rare mix of outstanding left brain technical ability as well as endless creativity and artistic beauty.There are a considerable mix of styles displayed on this album, although the overwhelming theme is of a heavy and deliberately constructed complicated set of compositions. Tony's solo's are some of the best I have ever heard, and I think he has few peers in terms of creative and technically amazing guitar solos. In my opinion this is the best album Tony has created to date - there is a charm to the compositions on Maximum Security back in the 80s which will never be bettered in it's own style, but this album seems as though Tony has only got better and better over the years and that everything has fallen into place to an even higher level than before. All of Tony's albums are exceptional, and his latest album pushes the boundaries in a significant way.

Tony Macalpine returns with his first solo album for quite some time. By no means an easy or casual listen it does reward repeated plays as the complexity & sheer virtuosity of the tracks comes shining through. Not as neo classical sounding as some of his earlier albums, but more a melting together of all the styles Macalpine has played over the years. He may not be as well known as Satriani, Vai etc... but for my money he is at least their equal in terms of his playing & his compositional skill. By the way long time fans - there is no Chopin piano piece this time round.

Brilliant ablum

Als Heroe des Shrapnel-Labels ist Tony schon lange im Geschäft, vielleicht aber - und das ist schade - Einigen erst so richtig seit seiner Arbeit für Steve Vai bekannt; dort fungiert er als Part für Steve und nicht als eigenständiger Künstler. Dies sollte man bei einer Bewertung immer berücksichtigen. Ich selbst beschäftige mich seit nun beinahe 35 Jahren mit Gitarrenmusik - spiele leider wie so viele auch nicht und nie in dieser Liga. Von Segovia, Kiss, Pat Metheney bis -und hier ist der Gitarrist überhaupt gemeint -Allan Holdsworth reicht mein Spektrum. Obwohl ich Geschredde ala Malmsteen und vieles der Metalszene nicht zu meinen Favoriten zähle, stellt Tony für mich eine wohltuende Ausnahme dar. Sein Aufbau, die Dichte und Komplexität seiner Arrangements verraten natürlich auch seine Bachinspirationen und je öfter ich das Album höre, desto besser wird es. Ich befürchte, Tony geht zwischen Leuten wie Vai, Satriani, Eddie, Jason Becker und dergleichen zu Unrecht unter. ZU UNRECHT. Für mich gehört er vor allem mit der Leistung dieses Albums zu denen, die man nicht mehr ignorieren darf, wenn man selbst den Anspruch erhebt, einem gehobenen und breitem Spektrum der Gitarrenwelt zu frönen.

Fan de Macalpine de la première heure, j'ai été ravi d'acheter cet album, notamment en préparation de son concert au Divan du Monde.Cela fait vraiment plaisir de voir un musicien aussi doué, dans le jeu comme dans la composition, parvenir à durer et à sortir, plus de 20 ans après ses premières armes, un album de cette qualité.La tonalité générale est assez heavy. Les compositions sont fouillées. Les musiciens prodigieux. Le son énorme, en raison notamment du recours à une 8 cordes. Et Macalpine au sommet de son art.Bon, ça n'a pas le charme de ses deux premiers albums, mais ça pourrait difficilement être le cas.Je recommande vivement l'achat d'un disque qui prouve qu'il reste possible de faire de la guitare instrumentale passionnante à écouter (pas seulement pour la performance, mais pour la musique), pourvu qu'on ait le talent d'un Macalpine.