Out of Nowhere

When the dense and often difficult guitar virtuoso subgenre fell on tough commercial times in the '90s, first-tier artists like Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen began to lose their relevance. As hard as the new musical environment was on the legitimate icons of shred, it was nearly catastrophic for many talented but undefined artists such as Vinnie Moore. A former neo-classical fret-burner, Moore was already leaning toward the upbeat boogie and mainstream rock sound of Joe Satriani in the early '90s. This shift to a more accessible style wasn't enough to maintain Moore's good standing at his major-label home, and the guitarist's fourth offering, Out of Nowhere, was shelved for almost three years before its eventual (independent) release in 1996. Moore plays with more soul and emotion on Out of Nowhere, but his flanged and wah-pedal melodies on cuts like "Losing Faith" and "Thunderball" can't contend with Satriani's more elegant instrumental rock. The "Satch Boogie" knockoff "Vinman's Brew" simply confirms what discerning listeners had known for some time: amazing technique and an ear for decent melodies are no match for a unique instrumental voice and the capacity for conceptual invention.