Sex & Religion is the third solo studio album by American guitarist Steve Vai, released under the band name "Vai" on July 27, 1993, through Relativity Records. It is known as the first major appearance of Devin Townsend, who performed vocals for the album and went on to fame with Devin Townsend Project and Strapping Young Lad. 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, No. 17 in the UK albums chart and also charted within the top 60 in four other countries."Steve Vai - Sex & Religion (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-12-09. "In My Dreams with You" was released as a single, reaching No. 36 on Billboard'''s Mainstream Rock chart.
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 himself, 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, 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, therefore confounding many fans and critics."Sex & Religion (1993)" . vai.com. Retrieved 2014-12-09. The band split up after the album was finished, and Vai subsequently toured only with Townsend and several session drummers and bassists (including Abe Laboriel Jr., Toss Panos, and Scott Thunes).
Critical reception
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".
Track listing
Personnel Steve Vai – guitar, vocals, arrangements, engineering, production Devin Townsend – lead vocals Terry Bozzio – drums T. M. Stevens – bass Kane Roberts – background vocals Bernie Grundman – mastering
Charts Weekly charts +Chart performance for Sex & ReligionChart (1993)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)67European Albums (IFPI)22Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)14Icelandic Albums (Tónlist)10Spanish Albums (AFYVE)34US Billboard 20048
References
External links In Review: Vai "Sex & Religion" at Guitar Nine Records