Vinnie Moore – Double Exposure

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I am not going to start out this review in my customary way, introducing our beloved readers to the band with information, a bio and their discography, because today I’m reviewing the extremely well-known, talented guitarist, and underrated (in my opinion) VINNIE MOORE. With the release of  his tenth solo album “Double Exposure” on November 25, 2022 on MIND’S EYE MUSIC. I realize you all know he recorded one awesome album with the metal band VICIOUS RUMORS in 1985, toured with ALICE COOPER, was on the recording of “Hey Stoopid”, and has been touring and recording with UFO since 2003. Sorry, hard to break old habits. “Double Exposure” is his first album that doesn’t exclusively contain instrumentals, with the addition of four guest vocalists appearing, and adding an interesting twist: The first six songs are with vocals while the remaining six songs, although the same songs, but with different titles are instrumentals exclusively.

Opening up on “Vertical Horizon” with a funky, toe tapping groove as the vocals kick in with a down home blues feel but not overpowering and blending nicely with Vinnie displaying his slide guitar skills. Continuing on with the funk groove on “Rise”  showcases a little more emphasis on guitar with a powerful riff and silky solo. A true, heavy-duty blues, beer drinking song “Paid My Dues” with some genuine, blistering guitar showmanship. We end the vocals part of the album with “Hummingbird”, a sweet, pleasing song that brings back memories of The Allman Brothers, with a melodic, laid-back tempo accompanied by warm, soft guitar work.
On now to the remaining six tracks, doing what Vinnie Moore does best, simply play guitar with nothing getting in his way. Even though these are repeats of what we’ve just heard, each song has its own different spin and twist than with vocals which all presented a real Southern Rock feel and sound, these are most definitely bluesy, funk, a little jazzy with some prog spewed about adding in wah-wah, reverb and slide.

I’m sure Vinnie had his reasons to release an album with this intriguing concept, but with a musical resume like his, don’t ask. Personally, being a big fan of his work, especially with UFO, I would have loved a few heavier, meatier rock songs to add a little diversity to the overall album experience, but Vinnie never sounded better, he proves again, why I said earlier, he is vastly underrated. If you’re looking for headbanging, you may be disappointed, but if you’re looking for some terrific, tasty fretwork assault, you’ve come to the right place.

Songwriting: 9
Musicianship: 9
Memorability: 9
Production: 9