(Number 5 from my Top 5 guitar instrumental albums)
I doubt there is a more misunderstood or controversial guitarist than Sweden's Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Although undeniably the original pioneer of the neoclassical genre, it seems a shame that there has been so much unfavorable stuff written about this guy that avoids the critical question of its context - sure, the music sounds horribly cliched now, but it should be remembered that it was mindblowing at the time. It was cool. It was the thing. This was the 80's!
Written in his 19th year, Rising Force showed exemplary promise from an artist who—in a shade less than 40 minutes—had almost single-handedly invented the entire genre of the guitar instrumental album. Almost all the solos were equally noteworthy (a usual warning sign!), but what is so special is the structure which supports them, both in the backing as well as the various lead-ups, something that is critically lacking in later work. Track 3, Now Your Ships Are Burned is a great example of this - check out the section at 1'51.
Of all the albums I've chosen in my top 5, it has by the far the most significant legacy: It immediately spawned an entire legion of imitators, some of which arguably did not progress musically further than Yngwie (Joe Stump and Vinnie Moore anyone?) but some, such as the venerable Greg Howe and Symphony X's Michael Romeo, used Malmsteen's effort as a baseline for their own progressive neoclassical experimentation. Also note the quasi-symmetrical acoustic lead-in and lead-out to the album which suggests an attempt at a purer and well-rounded art-work.. it does not really succeed in this instance but shows the path to other artists willing to try.
Unfortunately, Malmsteen's future work (with the possible exception of his 1986 Trilogy effort) falls far short of measuring up to his first solo effort. He clearly fails to develop and compounds this drawback by diluting his strengths in bland rock songs which then only seem to serve rather unbalanced and chaotic-sounding solos. In addition, the noticable difference in effort between his first work and of later offerings meant that his continued output quickly became the epitomy of an apparently mechanical and lifeless instrumental guitar genre, and led to much personal derision of Malmsteen himself. Definately worthy of its position here, but a disappointing situation nonetheless.
What a wonderful critic of, for me, a life changing album. I can remember the first time I heard Black Star ripping through my 'speakers; I was 15 (1985) and doing my History homework.
Regarding his future works: although the main part of his output can be described as insipid at best, it would do him an injustice to ignore works like Odyssey or Eclipse. Both feature great playing, great singers and great(ish) songs.
If I could correct you on one point ‘and led to much personal derision of Malmsteen himself.’ Believe me, I was around at the time and Yngwie has always been derided. You can trace the slanders right back to the days of Steeler (with Ron Keel on vocals – truly awful) and Alcatrazz (featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals… who used to play for Rainbow.)
My all time favourite Yngwie slagging is – ‘Ying Yang Malmsteen has always been a long boat short of a Viking invasion.’ Wonderful!
It’s nice to see Greg Howe’s name mentioned also. I had quite forgotten about his name and the time I attended a master class by him. Nice bloke. He used to play the original Fender HM strat that only cost £399.00. Awful guitar, but came in a nice shade of powder pink and powder blue.
Regards
R
rohan
A very worthy guitar instrumental album and most certainly an excellent appraisal. Pieces like Black Star, Far Beyond the Sun and Evil Eye will remain for all time some of the greatest music ever to be written for the guitar.
While it's unfortunate that his later work is of such a lesser caliber, his Odyssey and Marching Out albums certainly deserve credit. While they pale in comparison to Rising Force, they contain plenty of excellent guitar work.
Also, his 1998 Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra is in my opinion a brilliant endeavor and is a welcome respite from his innumerable "bland rock songs", if you have not heard it you must, aside from Rising Force I consider it his greatest album. The live version released in 2002 is quite an improvement on the original I think.
-A musically enthusiastic eighteen year old.
Sam