IN OTHER WORDS
Having previously reviewed Mr. Visconti's EP
Take 3, I kind of knew what to expect this disc to sound like.
WRONG!!
From the opening Nuno Bettencourt inspired riffing of 'Detached', Mike clearly is not fooling around with what he wants
to say with his guitar. Simply brimming with impecable tones, great songs, terrific musicianship (provided by monster
drummer, ex-Steve Vai band alumni Mike Mangini and legendary funk/jazz/fusion bassist Baron Browne), this disc
delivers on the promise that Visconti is clearly not affraid to show the world that he has a message to spread...without
saying one single word.
The guitar is his voice, the songs are the message and Visconti is clearly in complete control of what's going on. His
use of melody is similar to earlier JOE SATRIANI, along with the aggression of George Lynch and Nuno Bettencourt while
displaying the slinky-blues-soaked stylings of ex-RATT guitarist Warren DeMartini, yet Visconti is no mere clone of his
influences. Visconti's clear talents lie in his ability to play for the song and never grandstanding to demonstrate his chops
for chops sake. Unlike many of his peres, Visconti's stregnth is his songwriting ability and the power in which each track
creates an imaginary image and feeling. If there was only one minor gripe about this disc, there aren't too many straight
ahead rock tracks, but more mid-tempo groove-oriented songs that keep things a bit more on the introspective side, but
none-the-less, this disc is a winner from start to finish and Mike Visconti's star is indeed rising.
