Alien Love Secrets
This specially priced, seven-track mini-album could have been titled the "Many Moods of Stevie Vai" given its stylistic sweep. "Bad Horsie" is a widescreen, effects-laden monster, "Juice" is a high-speed boogie, "The Boy from Seattle" verges on Metheny territory and "Tender Surrender" oozes with subtlety and taste.  All this, plus a thrashing rocker that football coaches can motivate the troops with: "Kill the Guy with the Ball."--Jeff Bateman