Sex & Religion

For attitudes of various religions toward sex, see Religion and sexuality.
Sex & Religion
Studio album by Vai
Released July 27, 1993[1]
Recorded The Mothership Studio in Hollywood Hills
Genre Heavy metal, hard rock, instrumental rock
Length 59:18
Label Relativity
Producer Steve Vai
Steve Vai chronology

Passion and Warfare
(1990)		 Sex & Religion
(1993)		 Alien Love Secrets
(1995)
Singles from Sex & Religion
  1. "In My Dreams with You"
    Released: 1993[2]

Sex & Religion is a studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, presented under the name of simply "Vai" and released on July 23, 1993 through Relativity Records. The album features Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band singer and guitarist Devin Townsend on vocals before he started either one of his own bands. Townsend also co-wrote the tracks "Pig" and "Just Cartilage", the latter of which was only released as a bonus track in Japan. Vai also co-wrote "In My Dreams with You" with Desmond Child and Roger Greenawalt.

Sex & Religion reached No. 48 on the U.S. Billboard 200[2] as well as charting within the top 60 in four other countries.[3] "In My Dreams with You" was released as a single, reaching No. 36 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.[2]

The album's cover art appears to be a reference to the famous artistic depictions of Saint Sebastian.

Background and conflict

For Sex & Religion, Vai wished to put together a band of "monster musicians" which included him, Townsend, drummer and fellow Frank Zappa alumnus Terry Bozzio, and bassist T. M. Stevens. It was originally intended for each musician to contribute ideas and play a large role in the creative process, but Vai ended up micro-managing the whole project, which caused much conflict during the making of the album. As Vai explains,[4] there was heavy expectation to make another album in the style of Passion and Warfare (1990), but he instead made the decision to go in a radically different direction, which confounded many fans and critics. The band split up after the album was finished, and Vai subsequently toured only with Townsend and several session drummers and bassists.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine at AllMusic gave Sex & Religion two stars out of five, calling it "the most predictable and conventional—not to mention boring—[album] of Vai's usually remarkable career" and criticizing the band as being "pedestrian".[1]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Steve Vai, except where noted. 

No. Title Length
1. "An Earth Dweller's Return"   1:04
2. "Here & Now"   4:47
3. "In My Dreams With You" (Vai, Desmond Child, Roger Greenawalt) 5:01
4. "Still My Bleeding Heart"   6:00
5. "Sex & Religion"   4:24
6. "Dirty Black Hole"   4:27
7. "Touching Tongues"   5:33
8. "State of Grace"   1:41
9. "Survive"   4:46
10. "Pig" (Vai, Devin Townsend) 3:36
11. "The Road to Mt. Calvary"   2:35
12. "Down Deep into the Pain"   8:01
13. "Rescue Me or Bury Me"   8:25
Total length:
 60:25
Japanese edition bonus track
No. Title Length
14. "Just Cartilage" (Vai, Townsend) 4:19

Personnel

Chart performance

Album

Year Chart Position
1993 Dutch albums chart 26[3]
Swiss albums chart 26[3]
Swedish albums chart 41[3]
Billboard 200 48[2]
German albums chart 53[3]

Singles

Year Title Chart Position
1993 "In My Dreams with You" Billboard Mainstream Rock 36[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sex & Religion - Steve Vai". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Sex & Religion - Steve Vai | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Steve Vai - Sex & Religion (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  4. ↑ "Sex & Religion (1993)". vai.com. Retrieved 2014-12-09.

External links