I can appreciate that Vai, Malmsteen and others like them are technically profficient, even brilliant, however their music leaves me cold, there's nothing in it, I find it neither joyful nor sad, it just seems to be emotionless and machine like. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana on the other hand while maybe sloppy players have a sense of purpose. Their songs and playing express the feelings inside them, rage, frustration, boredom, hope and so on. Their rock really rocks, while the likes of Malmsteen prefer to show off their skills. This is not a put down, just a point of view. I prefer music to give me a slap round the face, to make me think, to sing in the shower, or just to make me feel good. I think Lou Reed once said two chords is rock and roll, any more and you're getting into jazz. Keith Richard said (something like) all you need to play rock and roll is 3 chords, 2 fingers and 1 a*&hole. Right Keef!