Modern Primitive (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Modern Primitive
| type = studio
| artist = Steve Vai
| cover = Steve Vai - Modern Primitive.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2016|6|24}}
| recorded =
| studio = Stucco Blue Studios
| genre =
| length = 70:14
| label = Epic
| producer = Steve Vai
| prev_title = The Story of Light
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Inviolate
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Classic Rock
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url= https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/steve-vai-modern-primitive-album-review |title=Steve Vai - Modern Primitive album review |first=Pheobe |last=Flys |work=Classic Rock |date=10 August 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2020}}
| rev2 = PopMatters
| rev2score = 7/10{{cite web |url= https://www.popmatters.com/steve-vai-passion-and-warfare-25th-anniversary-edition-modern-primitive-2495426574.html |title=Steve Vai: Passion and Warfare (25th Anniversary Edition) / Modern Primitive |first=Brice |last=Ezell |date=June 23, 2016 |work=PopMatters |access-date=December 31, 2020}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Modern Primitive is the ninth studio album by American guitarist Steve Vai, released on Epic Records on June 24, 2016. According to his website, the material on the album was "based on song sketches and works-in-progress penned and recorded by Vai following the release of Flex-Able, his debut album, in January 1984." He sees this material as a link between the stylistically different Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare (1990). The name of the album refers to his "modern" finishing of some of his oldest, most "primitive" works (when he was then in his mid-20s).{{cite web |url= https://www.vai.com/album-modern-primitive/ |title= Modern Primitive |date=June 24, 2016|website=vai.com |access-date=December 31, 2020}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_music = Steve Vai, except where noted
| headline = Modern Primitive track listing
| title1 = Bop!
| length1 = 5:37
| title2 = Dark Matter
| length2 = 3:53
| title3 = Mighty Messengers
| length3 = 3:57
| title4 = The Lost Chord
| length4 = 4:10
| note4 = Vai, Devin Townsend
| title5 = Upanishads
| length5 = 4:37
| title6 = Fast Note People
| length6 = 5:53
| note6 = Martin Schwartz, Bob Harris, Vai
| title7 = And We Are One
| length7 = 5:22
| title8 = Never Forever
| length8 = 5:16
| title9 = Lights Are On
| length9 = 6:26
| title10 = No Pockets
| length10 = 4:54
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Pink and Blows Over
| title11 = Part I
| length11 = 3:22
| title12 = Part II (Mars Attack)
| length12 = 13:16
| note12 = Vai, Thomas Mariano
| title13 = Part III
| length13 = 3:31
}}
Personnel
- Steve Vai – guitars
- Mohini Dey – bass (1)
- Jeremy Colson – drums (2, 7)
- Alvin Chea – backing vocals (3, 6–8, 10–13)
- Antonio Sol – backing vocals (3, 6–8, 10–13)
- Fletcher Sheridan – backing vocals (3, 6–8, 10–13)
- Mandy Vajar – backing vocals (3, 6–8, 10–13)
- Nayanna Holley – backing vocals (3, 6–8, 10–13)
- Stu Hamm – bass (3–6, 9–13)
- Chris Frazier – drums (3–6, 9–13)
- Devin Townsend – vocals (4)
- Philip Bynoe – bass (7–8)
- Mike Mangini – drums (8)
- Mike Keneally – keyboards (8)
- Dave Weiner – sitar (8)
- Tommy Mars – keyboards* (11–13)
- Jazz James – vocals (11–13)
- Greg Wurth – "performer" (5)
- Marpran Cassiopeia Vai – "performer" (11–13)
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for Modern Primitive ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Flanders|196|artist=Steve Vai|album=Modern Primitive|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|143|artist=Steve Vai|album=Modern Primitive|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|France|151|artist=Steve Vai|album=Modern Primitive|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|61|artist=Steve Vai|album=Modern Primitive|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Oricon|41|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/94287/rank/album/p/2/|title=スティーヴ・ヴァイのアルバム売上ランキング 2ページ目|publisher=Oricon|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|77|artist=Steve Vai|album=Modern Primitive|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/160702cluk.txt|title=CHART: CLUK Update 2 July 2016 (wk26)|website=zobbel.de|access-date=February 2, 2022}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 118 |
|---|
| {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|11|artist=Steve Vai|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|35|artist=Steve Vai|rowheader=true|access-date=February 2, 2022}} |