Band:	Uli Jon Roth
Album:	The Best Of Uli Jon Roth
Style:	Neo-classical blues hard rock, Heavy metal
Release date:	2006
A review by:	Jeff

[disc I]
01. Bridge To Heaven
02. Tod Und Zerstorung
03. E Lucevan Le Stelle
04. Starlight
05. Pegasus
06. Ice Wind And Fire
07. Thunder Cadenza
08. Cry Of The Night
09. Heart Of Chopin
10. Triumph Of Spring
11. Rondo Alla Turca
12. Sehnsucht
13. Air De Bach
14. River Of Oblivion
15. Eagle And The Rainbow
16. Aqua Vitae
+ Cry Of The Night [video]

[disc II]
17. Atlantis
18. Voodoo Chile
19. White Room
20. Little Wing
21. King Returns
22. Sky Overture
23. Electric Sun
24. Still So Many Lives Away
25. Winterdays
26. Earthquake
27. Fire Wind
28. Hiroshima Intro
29. Hiroshima
30. Children Of The Sea
31. Why
32. I'm A River
33. I'll Be There

Metalheads know, at least, the name of the famous ex Scorpions' guitarist but I'm not so sure that everybody knows his different releases with Electric Sun or just under his own name. As a matter of fact, Uli Jon Roth is an amazing guitar heroes but his music is also a bit elitist and not so easy of access. This is evidently not a matter of talent, but more a recurrent problem with all the "guitar heroes" who play neo classical music, some of you will love it, some others will hate it? But for sure, this best of will be a perfect way to discover this fantastic musician.

The best of is divided in two CDs with thirty-three songs and one video on the whole compilation. Definitely, the first CD proposes the neo-classical and neo-romantic side of the musician. You'll be able to listen to some of his covers of classical songs like "Sensucht - Mazurka" (Chopin) or "Air De Bach" (Bach) or some of his own compositions which come from albums like "Beyond The Astral Skies" or "Metamorphosis Of The Seasons". A bit like with Malmsteen, this side of Roth is not my favourite one, I mean that it is fantastically played and truly astonishing musically speaking, but can be a bit boring at the end if you're more into classic rock songs (with a singer, chorus etc). On the other hand it's a matter of taste actually, and all the ones who love the guitar will quickly understand that only some few people in the world are able to play this kind of music with such dexterity. For sure, the fans will find what they're looking for through this first CD.

The second CD is a bit more oriented toward the "jamming side" of the maestro. A bit more "progressive" (if I can use this term here) or simply more "rock n roll" with covers (recorded live) like "Voodo Chile" or "Little Wing" the second CD is a lore more "in your face" if you see what I mean. Plus all the little improvisations that you'll be able to listen to on this part of the compilation are really nice. Note finally that you have a video "The Cry Of The Night" directed by Roth himself as a bonus.

"The Best Of Uli Jon Roth" is a good compilation especially if you want to discover the music of this amazing guitarist. Of course it's music for people who like "guitar heroes" stuff but well if you like the guitar, after all why not? This double CDs is well done, with even a good and interesting biography written by Lars Brandon so if you like Uli Jon Roth, you can gof for this one in my opinion.