Universe | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 6, 2000 | |||
Studio | The Leopard Room, Hollywood Hills | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 56:16 | |||
Label | Inside Out | |||
Producer | Planet X | |||
Planet X chronology | ||||
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Universe is the first studio album by the instrumental rock/progressive metal band Planet X, released on June 6, 2000 through Inside Out Music. [1] The album is essentially a continuation of keyboardist Derek Sherinian's 1999 debut solo release Planet X , but this time as a full band effort featuring guitarist Tony MacAlpine and drummer Virgil Donati.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
All About Jazz | [2] |
AllMusic | [3] |
Glenn Astarita at All About Jazz gave Universe a positive review, recommending it for both "technically inclined prog-heads" and "those who feel that they've heard it all." He praised each musician for their technical prowess, but remarked that it was sometimes difficult to differentiate between MacAlpine's guitar and Sherinian's keyboard. [2]
Robert Taylor at AllMusic gave Universe four stars out of five, saying that "Some of the selections tend to sound the same, but the inventive soloing of each player more than makes up it" and calling it "A fine effort by a very powerful trio". [3]
All music is composed by Virgil Donati, Tony MacAlpine and Derek Sherinian, except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Clonus" | 4:15 |
2. | "Her Animal" | 4:50 |
3. | "Dog Boots" (Donati) | 3:36 |
4. | "Bitch" (Donati) | 5:20 |
5. | "King of the Universe" (lyrics: Dick Smothers Jr.) | 8:16 |
6. | "Inside Black" | 5:12 |
7. | "Europa" | 4:20 |
8. | "Warfinger" | 5:38 |
9. | "Chocalate" | 5:22 |
10. | "Pods of Trance" | 4:48 |
11. | "2116" | 4:39 |
Total length: | 56:16 |
Tony MacAlpine is an American musician and composer. In a career spanning three decades and thirteen studio albums, he is best known as an instrumental rock solo guitarist, although he has worked with many different bands and musicians in guest appearances and collaborations.
Derek Sherinian is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, and Joe Bonamassa, among others. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion and Sons of Apollo. He has released eight solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Sheehan, Zakk Wylde and Al Di Meola.
Virgil Donati is an Australian drummer, composer and producer. He holds the drum sticks in the traditional style and is also proficient at the keyboard. Donati also performed in Melbourne with Jack Jones in a Van Halen tribute band known as Hans Valen before inviting Jones into Donati's own bands The State and Southern Sons.
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