Wowee-zowee!
Guitar Odyssey, the second album from world-traveling guitarist Milan Polak to be released in 2005, is actually a reworked reissue of his debut record, originally titled Guitar 2001, which first came out in 1995. And it's a non-stop, in-your-face, wall-to-wall workout of guitars, guitars and more guitars. Unlike Dreamscapes, which was released earlier this year, the aptly titled Guitar Odyssey includes absolutely no keyboards — and a considerably less-relevant rhythm section than you might expect. Polak has even gone on record admitting that the album has "a heavy focus on the guitar playing, with some over-the-top stunts." If that's what turns you on, then be my guest.
But with a plethora of instrumental electric-guitar albums already saturating the market — many of them, like this one, released by Finland's Lion Music — a player has to leave a mark on listeners quickly with diverse songwriting, new approaches to the instrument or even just memorable melodies. Otherwise people will find something else to occupy their valuable music-listening time. Guitar Odyssey has a few notable highlights, including what sounds like a Mickey Mouse voiceover and flourishes of Austrian folk music on the wacky 300 beats-per-minute opener "Lights, Camera, Action." But for the most part, this is just a 10-year-old record from a young guitar slinger who thought he could play better and faster than anyone else.
Track Listing:
1) Lights, Camera, Action
2) Where Were You Tomorrow
3) Inner Peace
4) Vinka
5) More Than I've Been
6) Absolutely Positive
7) Could've Been Love (acoustic)
8) Cruisin'
9) Tendonitis
10) Chain Reaction
11) Sylphe
12) Witchdance
13) Sunrise
14) Where Were You Tomorrow (Demo Version) (Bonus Track)
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