Planet X - extreme progressive rock - 'Live from Oz'

Awaiting with eager anticipation for the delivery of Sherinian's new album, 'Oceana',  I listened to the Planet X 'Live from Oz' again. This may have been a bad idea as this is such an amazing live rock instrumental album it puts much of Sherinian's studio output in the mediocre camp. What it did was have me revisit a review I did on Amazon a number of years ago, revise and share it here.

This album deserves a listen! If you like progressive rock with a metal twist then hunt this album down. It is an intense exciting roller coaster ride of complicated and stirring compositions. It has an energy and aggressive drive throughout. Much of this is probably because it is live as these same compositions on the studio album are not as convincing. The recording is outstanding for a live recording and credit for this must go to Simon Phillips (producer mixer and drummer extraordinaire) who did the mixing. 


This album is of a super group that is still to be recognised - Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion, ex-Dream Theater), Virgil Donati (monster session musician) on drums, Tony MacAlpine (solo artist and session muso) on guitars and Dave Larue (Steve Morse band) on bass. Everyone of these musicians are at the top of their craft, seasoned and admired and (employed!) by other musicians who know how brilliant they are! Clearly Vai knew who he needed to back his DVD 'Live at the Astoria' as both Tony MacAlpine and Virgil Donati were his number 1 support musicians. 

John Petrucci, Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy and now Derek Sherinian all knew who would best fill the bass role for their respective solo efforts, so although not part of the Planet X band as such, Dave Larue is the special guest bassist for this tour and his note for note runs that follow Tony and Derek are more complicated than your average rock lead guitarist can play!

Okay - so the word "complicated" is used. Yes, this music is complicated and intense. You won't be humming it as you go for an Sunday afternoon stroll. But that's what's so compelling about listening to this album - it is an andrenalin rush of power rock fusion. Admittedly the compositions sound quite dark and live in the world of minor keys but the powerful interplay and angular time signatures that chop and change keep you riveted.

Another reviewer said that the poor drummer had to count throughout this album and couldn't just groove in a straight 4/4 . From what I've heard Virgil thrives on odd time signatures - it seems to come naturally and his bass double pedal seems to be in sprint mode rather than marathon groove. From an interview I've read, the mighty Simon Phillips, who mixed this album and who is still one of the world's great drummers, said he was blown away by Virgil's playing and sometimes couldn't even contemplate playing what Virgil did effortlessly. The drumming is marvelous and gives the ordinary tracks an edge. For drummers out there - forget what the music is like - you can listen to this again and again at Virgil in top form. Listen and marvel at his strength and stamina as this is all from one show on June 13, 2001.

I've listened to Tony since his first solo album and his "Maximum Security" album is still listed by many as a guitar landmark album from the 80s. "Live in Oz" shows all Tony's chops but especially his Holdworthian whammy bar nudges and legato playing. This is what gives this album a more fusion feel than straight-out rock instrumental. I am amazed by Tony's guitaring here, far more varied than what I've heard on the CAB albums. The solos here are quite organic and have space and in places beautiful rather than always speedy. Don't worry there is sufficient shred as well on this to make most other so called great guitarists hop for cover!

Derek is remarkably supportive on this live outing - yes, he has exchanges blistering lead lines with Tony on "Pods of Chance" that sound more like duelling guitars than keyboards - but overall I was relieved to note that the main solo instrument on this album is Tony's guitar. Yes, Derek plays all the time but filling the canvas with waves of sound over which Tony wails rather than trying to outdo the guitar with keyboard antics. He is the Jan Hammer of today without needing to play everything louder or faster than everyone else.

Perhaps the one word that captures this album is "exciting". It is no musical masterpiece but rather a showcase of phenomenal skills that makes one laugh at their audacity! The rest of us mere mortals on planet earth can enjoy and applaud the brilliance of Planet X!