I even like the solo in Transcending Time. The super fast shredding part makes me laugh everytime because it's so random.
I don't know what JP was thinking during that part of the solo. He's better than that.
Man, talk about hitting the proverbial nail on the head.
If someone said, "Hey James, you used to worship at the alter of JP, what gives?"
I'd play them the solo to "Transcending Time," as it pretty much sums up everything I've grown tired of with JP's playing.
Again, he's an amazing player, and Lord knows he forgot more about guitar this morning than I'll ever know, but I think his quest to 'bench press 1000' on guitar has taken his playing to a place that doesn't really move me much these days.
That said, I'm listening to A View (on vinyl) as I type these words, and man, has this record continued to grow on me. It's a damn fine listen. Not necessarily a top-tier album, but it's gotten more listens from over this past year than nearly any other album I own.