The Ultra Zone

Infobox Album
Name = The Ultra Zone
Type = Album
Artist = Steve Vai


Released = September 7, 1999
Recorded = 1998 - 1999
Genre = Instrumental rock
Length = 68:45
Label = Epic
Producer = Steve Vai
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:bq5h8qf9btz4~T1 link]
Last album = ""
(1996)
This album = "The Ultra Zone"
(1999)
Next album = "The Seventh Song"
(2000)

"The Ultra Zone" is a 1999 album from guitarist Steve Vai. This is his fifth full-length album, as "Alien Love Secrets" is an EP.

"The Ultra Zone" is structurally similar to Vai's previous album, "Fire Garden", in that the first half of the album consists mainly of instrumentals, and the second half mainly of vocal songs; however, unlike "Fire Garden", "The Ultra Zone" is not formally divided into two "phases".

"The Ultra Zone" is notable for its tributes to two legendary guitarists: Frank Zappa (on the track "Frank"), and Stevie Ray Vaughan (on the track "Jibboom").

Also notable is the fact that this was Vai's last studio album of original material until 2005's ""; in the years in between, he released several compilations of his material, as well as a live album.

This album includes the participations of Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto from the Japanese band B'z on "Asian Sky".

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Vai.
# "The Blood and Tears" (instrumental) – 4:26
# "The Ultra Zone" (instrumental) – 4:52
# "Oooo" (instrumental) – 5:12
# "Frank" (instrumental) – 5:09
# "Jibboom" (instrumental) – 3:46
# "Voodoo Acid" – 6:25
# "Windows to the Soul" – 6:25
# "The Silent Within" – 5:00
# "I'll Be Around" – 4:57
# "Lucky Charms" (instrumental) – 6:44
# "Fever Dream" (instrumental) – 6:03
# "Here I Am" – 4:12
# "Asian Sky" – 5:34