Real Illusions: Reflections

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Real Illusions: Reflections is the seventh studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on February 22, 2005, through Epic Records.<ref name=allmusic>Westergaard, Sean. "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12.</ref> The album reached No. 147 on the U.S. Billboard 200,<ref name=allmusicawards>"Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12.</ref> as well as No. 88 on the Dutch albums chart and No. 110 on the French albums chart.<ref name=finnishcharts>"Steve Vai - Real Illusions: Reflections (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-01-10.</ref>

Described by Vai as "rock fable",<ref name=allmusic/> Real Illusions: Reflections is the first part of a three-part concept album about a town visited by the godsent Pamposh and his construction of the Church.<ref>Vai, Steve (2005). "Inside Real Illusions: Reflections". vai.com. Retrieved 2014-12-12.</ref> "Lotus Feet", purposely designated as track seven (see The Seventh Song) and recorded live during three separate concerts in the Netherlands during Vai's 2004 "Aching Hunger Tour", was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2006 Grammy Awards.<ref name=grammy>"48th Grammy Awards - 2006". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-12-12.</ref> Vai cites Bulgarian wedding music as having inspired "Freak Show Excess".<ref>rkkrah (2008-03-03). "Steve Vai demonstration - Freak Show Excess". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-12. Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Critical reception

Sean Westergaard at AllMusic gave Real Illusions: Reflections a positive review, listing "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee", "Firewall", "Yai Yai", "Freak Show Excess" and "Lotus Feet" as highlights. He also remarked favorably about Vai's singing: "As a vocalist, he's gotten way more confident, and while it's doubtful his singing will ever be the primary attraction, he does a fine job here."<ref name=allmusic/>

Personnel

• Steve Vai – lead vocals, guitar, all instrumentation (except where noted), engineering, mixing, production
• Jeremy Colson – drums, percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
• Gregg Bissonette – percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10)
• Billy Sheehan – bass
• Bryan Beller – bass (track 7)
• Jerry Hey – trumpet (track 5)
• Gary Grant – trumpet (track 5)
• Dan Higgins – saxophone (track 5)
• Larry Williams – saxophone (track 5)
• Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (track 5)
• Charlie Loper – trombone (track 5)
• Stacy Ellis – background vocals (track 5)
• Metropole Orkest – orchestra (track 7)
• Chris Opperman – piano (track 7)
• Pia Vai – harp (track 11)
• Fire Vai – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Laurel Fishman – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Ruby Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Len Birman – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Jeff Mallard – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Michael Mesker – spoken vocals (track 11)
• Thomas Nordegg – spoken vocals (track 11)
• David Kole – orchestration (track 7)
• Dick Bakker – conducting (track 7)
• Neil Citron – engineering assistance
• Paul Bliven – engineering assistance
• Bernie Grundman – mastering

Chart performance

Year	Chart	Position
2005	Billboard Independent Albums	15<ref name=allmusicawards/>
	Dutch albums chart	88<ref name=finnishcharts/>
	French albums chart	110<ref name=finnishcharts/>
	Billboard 200	147<ref name=allmusicawards/>
	Billboard Top Internet Albums	147<ref name=allmusicawards/>
	Greek Albums	25<ref>Ελληνικό Chart</ref>

Awards

Event	Title	Award	Result
2006 Grammys	"Lotus Feet"	Best Rock Instrumental Performance	Nominated<ref name=grammy/>

External links

• In Review: Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections" at Guitar Nine Records