May 11 & 12 - What Is, What Was, & What Might Have Been

[Extended Play]

I. UK's first album, 'UK' ('78), could easily be overshadowed by the fact that this group was intended to be a reformation of King Crimson. However, Fripp used his better judgment and Alan Holdsworth was brought in to round out this new Prog Rock supergroup. I'd wager it was a better choice for this material. Before their next album, Bill Bruford left and was replaced by Terry "cute littel drummer" Bozzio.[list=1][*]In the Dead of Night (Jobson/Wetton) - 5:38 [*]By the Light of Day (Jobson/Wetton) - 5:32 [*]Presto Vivace and Reprise (UK) - 2:58 [*]Thirty Years (Bruford/Jobson/Wetton) - 8:09 [*]Alaska (Jobson) - 4:45 [*]Time to Kill (Bruford/Jobson/Wetton) - 4:55 [*]Nevermore (Holdsworth/Jobson/Wetton) - 8:09 [*]Mental Medication (Bruford/Holdsworth/Jobson) - 7:31 [/LIST=1]
II. In the three years after Fire Garden, Steve Vai was busy as hell: touring solo and with G3, working on the box set, setting up a new label, and raising bees. Yeah, the bees are a bit much?@! So, it's particularly amazing that Steve could put together such an amazing and defining album as 'The Ultra Zone' ('99) after all that work. Of course, maybe that's what being a musical god is all about. Steve's latest album and box set are currently being completed.[list=1][*]The Blood and Tears (Vai) - 4:26 [*]The Ultra Zone (Vai) - 4:52 [*]Oooo (Vai) - 5:12 [*]Frank (Vai) - 5:09 [*]Jibboom (Vai) - 3:46 [*]Voodoo Acid (Vai) - 6:25 [*]Windows to the Soul (Vai) - 6:25 [*]The Silent Within (Vai) - 5:00 [*]I'll Be Around (Vai) - 4:57 [*]Lucky Charms (Vai) - 6:44 [*]Fever Dream (Vai) - 6:03 [*]Here I Am (Vai) - 4:12 [*]Asian Sky (Vai) - 5:34 [/LIST=1]
III. If you thought UK was one behemoth of a Prog Rock supergroup, take a look at Explorer's Club's first album, 'Age Of Impact' ('98). This exploratory romp through human exploration (good god that's cheesy!) features: Steve Howe, Billy Sheehan, Terry Bozzio, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Derek Sherinian, Trent Gardner, & Matt Guillory (among many many musicians). If you're familiar with Dream Theater's 'Scenes From A Memory: Metropolis Part 2" , you might want to pay extra special attention to John Petrucci's guitar solos for a surprise.[list=1][*]Fate Speaks (Gardner) - 16:00 [*]Fading Fast (Gardner) - 8:45 [*]No Returning (Gardner) - 8:20 [*]Time Enough (Gardner) - 9:15 [*]Last Call (Gardner) - 11:10[/LIST=1]