Classical Composer Reacts to Ego Death (Polyphia feat. Steve Vai) | The Daily Doug | Episode 466 

My brain can't figure out how you were able to improvise a piano part that went along with Steve's solo and it actually complimented it on your first time listening. Hat's off to you sir.

The trumpet is from the group Brasstracks. They are the feature on the first song in the upcoming album. Ego Death is the final song so the album begins and ends with the trumpet.

Yeah it was a really *SIMPLE* song especially for Polyphia and Steve. They made sure it was all about feel and melodies and not becoming another GENERIC SHRED FEST. We all know they could go ham especially with Steve but they didn't and they chose to play with their feelings. Maybe why it is called Ego Death 🙂

Polyphia has always done this thing where they take the most popular pop progressions, and they put them in the background as they play incredibly intricate parts over them. And that specific combination makes it so that every song sounds familiar to the brain since people have heard those progressions in thousands of songs, but also the intricate parts makes it seem so new and exciting that it just blows them away. And they're absolute masters of this type of playing.

Out of every music 'reactor' on youtube, Doug is easily the best. Superb knowledge and amazing ears...Please don't ever stop you are so good...

It’s remarkable to me how tastefully they merged modern pop rhythms and feel, yet showcase their near surgical technique and mastery with the instrument. They deserve every success

Now you have to go back and give Stevie's solo an honest listen. :)

Your piano accompaniment went so nicely with the track that either Polyphia should next collab with a piano player or would you consider doing a full piano playthrough video... please?

The way Tim hensen explained it making these songs he finds a progression he likes and just finds fun ways to arpeggiate because he enjoys it. It’s just his style and it’s lovely.

So glad you talk about sound engineering/sound scapes. It's a really important thing that a lot of bands overlook. Atmosphere is almost everything.

They have a track on the album called Genesis that features the guy from brasstracks playing the trumpet. Hasn’t been officially released as a single yet but there are live versions of it on RU-vid from their recent shows. Polyphia sometimes sounds too complicated and you really need to know how to break it down into the basics like you did here. There usually is some over arching melody in their songs but can get buried in the number of notes they play. This song does a better job or putting the melody out front more. Like a lot of their older songs. And when Vai starts playing, he brings a classic and amazing sound to compliment the craziness. He could have easily gone crazy too but his part was perfect and wouldn’t want to see him do more. Tim Henson has his own neural plugin that my son played around with on his guitar and that’s where a lot of their sound is coming from. It’s crazy what you can do to a guitar sound these days. And the plug-in has tons of other musicians that crafted their own sounds from it so you can use those too. Or create your own. It’s heavily “synthesized” but at least the music is coming from real instruments initially. They are my oldest sons favorite band so I hear their music quite often. We unfortunately missed their show here in Boston but I was able to preorder a signed copy of their new album for him which he will love. So happy that bands like this are encouraging real playing again and motivating kids like my son to try and push the boundaries.

The name of the song is perfect. I didn't get it till I watched the video. I think saving the trumpet for the end was part of it. They all just basically stopped and let that trumpet have the last word. Ego Death.

I did not know what to expect, but this is a very pleasant surprise. Love it.

The guitar reminds me so much of Zappa. It doesn't hurt to have Zappa's guitarist(Steve) to play with.

Mad respect for that tasteful piano accompaniment you improvised, was damn cool to be honest!

I don't watch a lot of your videos, as a lot of the songs aren't what I'm looking for. But when I do see one such as this, it genuinely fills me with a sense of joy and excitement. Thank you for the excellent work you create 😌

Definitely my favorite reaction to Polyphia so far. Please do more!

Nice! Your piano part made me think keyboards would take them to a new level. Someone like Jordan from Dream Theater on a couple tracks would be killer.

auditioning live for polyphia..that's a ballsy move..polyphia with a jazz vibe, i like it

I love the personal touch you add to your analyses with the piano! It seems like you're very invested in structure, so I'd like to make a random suggestion: the band Others by No One, specifically their song Dr. Breacher and the Time Travel Anomaly. It's a bit of a long song but it's the most interesting piece of art I've ever heard and extremely avant garde. (Also, the music video is only half the official song) Also, regarding the trumpeter, he will be featured on another one of the songs in Polyphia's new album!

I'm guessing the trumpet is a teaser to the following track on the record/video, which I'm betting will have that trumpet as a feature.

Polyphia works so well because while they're super innovative, they're not really reinventing the wheel. By using super approachable chord progressions used millions of times in pop music and usually keeping a 4/4 time signature it gives them the opportunity to create really catchy hooks and damn near ear worms. The filigree and "flexing" of their ornamentation makes it really interesting and has a wow factor and their use of different voicings and tones and effects help create a ebb and flow dynamic that keeps the listener's attention. They've really hit a solid formula.

Blown away by that. They brought the G.O.A.T. of shred. Also that’s nice of them to at least ask you to take down the Playing God vid rather than copyright it like other bands or musicians would.

If there is more content like this on this channel, I'm subscribing. Loved when he decided to play along with them. Truly shows his understanding of music in a way that talking about cannot capture.

Steve's energetic and fun work with Roth was extremely influential for many guitarist,such as myself.Yankee Rose is epic.David Lee Roth's rock n roll swag is iconic.I miss those days.🤘

The film clip is awesome They start low in the building, with each level it gets heavier/harder Followed by Steve on the thrown - so so cool I remember Steve said Tim was the future of guitar

oh you played over Steve Vai's solo. That's evil!

Your observations are deep. Thanks. They are so syncopated and rhythmically adventurous. I am really enjoying everything this band does.

Possibly my favorite song they’ve released this year

Now I peep the “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” LP in the background. Wonderful taste, as always!

I really appreciate this breakdown and the accompaniment on piano really shows how good your ear is and the theory you followed that formula almost flawlessly very impressive.

I was worried that there was little space left for innovation on guitar. I was wrong, and both Tim Henson and Steve Vai have been pushing the boundaries in the past few years. Steve's Candle Power made me think about bends in a whole new way. Tim Henson made me think about guitar in a whole new way. Also, Doug, please do Window of a Waking Mind by Coheed & Cambria. It's staggeringly good.

Appreciate the insight into the basic melody being a lament, i felt that, listening to it, but was unaware that was a labelled form. The beautiful purity of the iconic trumpet at the end always brings tears to my eyes. I must have listened to 5 or more different reaction videos, and learned more about music from each one. Polyphia are not just entertaining us, and facilitating emotional and cognitive processing ( as all good music does), they are helping educate us. A beautifully put together work of art.

If you get the chance to see them live, DO IT! They put on a fantastic show.

Some people said in YT comments that this song "has no feeling" 🙄 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 People are hilarious. At any rate, Mr. Helvering here is the best reactor and analyst for ANY music because he analyze the merit of the music elements, not the genre. Salute, sir.

Oh my god it's so nice seeing a reactor that actually has a wealth of knowledge and isn't pausing every 2 seconds. Bravo. I wish I had someone like you teaching my band class in high school.

Imagine being the G.O.A.T guitarist, and being featured with a band with two younger arguably even better guitarists. I bet Vai is overjoyed that he has inspired this generation to reach even higher than he could. A decade ago I wouldn't have thought it possible, yet here we are.

Holy shit that track is massive. I get chills every time. Great analysis!

The Album that comes out at the end of October starts out the first track with the Trumpeter you see at the end of this video, Ivan from BrassTracks

was waiting for this!!

As in novice guitar player seeing polyphia knocked my socks off but after hearing your breakdown of it, you really bought it back to Earth. really enjoyed the video thank you 👍

THANK YOU for simplifying Polyphia. I'm learning music but you simplified it so well that I was able to understand it. They are just technical.

Haven't stopped playing that song at least 5x a day since it came out.

Nice piano jamming Doug.

Doug! This is my first video I've seen from you and I gotta say I love your review. First - I love how you play the track straight through, but your able to get your point across while the song plays. Secondly, you really understand music and can play along on the piano in a simple but effective way to get your point across. Wonderful review! You've got a new subscriber :)

One of my best feelings was when I randomly searched Polyphia and got a Daily Doug. I’m subscribed but I didn’t know this existed. It’s 2 and a half months to Christmas and I don’t care. Merry Christmas to me.

Really appreciate the walkthrough on theory. Very helpful.

What most people fail to realize (and I only did bc I had the song on repeat) Is that the trumpet I think starts being heard after steve's intro on the roof @ 6:26. Its in the background but its there and it adds to that sound stage and the growing theme within the song.

Man I am so envious of people that can break down musical nuances like this. A lot of bands I love are often considered music for musicians I just nod my head and I’m like yea that sounds cool. Maybe one day I’ll pick up an instrument and explore my need for funky sounds

one does not simply play over steve vais solo and not listen to his epic solo with full attention!

Best part of the song was Steve's solo and the trumpet at the end. No doubt 😀

Really great review!!!!

I feel like when you were improvising there after identifying their chord progression, you really got down to the essence of what Polyphia is and does. They take something incredibly simple and see how far they can play around within that. Get a good, dope beat, a thematic chord progression, and then keep breaking up and styling on that chord progression.

Vai's work is what makes the piece - his little counterpoint intro; multiple, asynchronous polyphonic bends at the same time! A single pitch bend is kinda mechanically intuitive, up to a point - you just keep increasing till you hit the desired pitch.. but try doing two or three at the same time, with vibrato and legato etc, and keeping them in tune.. guy's just a wizard..

These kinds of tracks are technically amazing, most impressive......the issue is that at the end, I can't always remember much about them

Haha yeah I wish the trumpet was introduced earlier. Love the song. Also love how youre playing while listening lol. Thats really cool.

thank you for the great break down

As a former trumpet player, I loved the trumpet outro. I think any further addition of the trumpet throughout the song would have lessened its impact at the end.

I would love to see Doug review TheOcean Jurassic-Cretaceous. Sooo much to download in their musical soundscape pallet. 😮

Okay but now I want a Steve Vai song ft. Polyphia that is more in his domain.

From what I understand the trumpet player is on another song and this (Ego Death) is the last song on the new album (don't quote me on that, though). Great breakdown, most clear information/explanation I've seen on any of the music nerdery reaction videos.

The terminology you used around 5:30 you said it was "lament" as it was a descending progression. BEAUTIFUL terminology, I will be using this from now on.

Man, when you started playing the piano that was magic happening before my eyes

This guy needs to add that piano and play it along.....that was dope af

Polyphia have been doing lots of collaborations since I became aware of them. As far as that goes, I've found other musicians I now follow through those collaboration.

F’ing brilliant mate

Mixing so many hand technics, songwriting technics, it's a masterclass : not a song, a gimmick !!!!

I tell people about Polyphia all the time and most have never heard of them...imo, I think music like this can only be truly appreciated my other musicians. I have been asked "what kind of music do they play?" my answer has been ( Classical-Progressive Jazz Fusion!!!)

Polyphia songs are always a party. Their previous album, New Levels New Devils, was the first that had a bit of an edge to it. Every album is full of party sounds and pop feel despite being metal. It's so unique and fun.

Hey Doug, Tremendous Reaction!

All Ibanez, all the time.

holy crap your piano sounded so good with it!

Great reaction and indeed....Polyphia are genius and cool as heck...

I had to listen to Live at the Regal right after this track to refill my soul.

I would absolutely LOVE to see Doug react to Todd Rundgren’s Utopia - “The Ikon”. A 30 minute prog epic, he would LOVE it. It’s a mind-blowing musical work!

Why does Robert Fripp come to mind?

Awesome reaction, love the riffing over it. Please do next 'Sailing the Seas of Ganymede' by Joe Satriani - Vai's teacher. Super unique track, weird but brilliant.

The trumpet was a nice add-on and my favorite part.

doug throwing it down on the improv!

Ηuge admiration for someone who has a combo of perfect and relative pitch and can catch things on the fly...i think thats the most coveted music skill.....countless hours of solfege maybe?Anyway...always fun to watch your videos.... now those are some reactions that actually have meaning attached to it...keep doing your thing....

love how good these folk are so talented. i love how tim henson uses long phrasing and simple proressions, then vai appears and immediately starts dive bombing pitch bends not going nuts like he is more than capable of, but adds liife/ another flowing texture to what is essentially is a generic pop progression Dm Cmaj Bflat A/c# back to Dmin.

This was an excellent reaction and analysis. I've been putting off getting into Polyphia for a while now, but Steve Vai is my absolute favorite guitarist, probably my favorite artist after Led Zeppelin, so when I saw that they featured Steve in this song, I knew I had to give it a listen, and I'm totally blown away. They kind of sound like if Animals as Leaders did alt-pop instead of prog metal. I'm always a fan of highly technical and experimental artists like this. Doug, I highly recommened you check out a guitarist by the name of Jon Gomm. He's been bouncing around tge underground scene for two decades now, and he's absolutely incredible. I recommend checking out the songs Passionflower, Afterglow, The Weather Machine, and Topeka, but you HAVE to watch the accompanying videos. Check out Passionflower first, and make sure you watch the older version. It's absolutely life changing. My first time seeing it, I was 12 or 13, and just starting to get into playing guitar, and I've always equated it to having my third eye opened.

I totally agree about the trumpet! I hope to see more instruments in future Tim Henson music

The lament turned triumphant is DEFINITELY intended for this particular song.

Fantastic... I'd call their genre "Easy listening Prog"...

The trumpet player is from bass tracks, and he’ll be featured on Genesis, All Falls Apart, and here on Ego Death

Part of what makes Polyphia so enjoyable is how much *interest* they create with relatively simple chord progressions! Like a master baker on a TV competition, the underlying chords are the basic cake recipe, but the flavoring, the layering, the decoration ... these are what take the cake from a standard cake to a winning construction! Despite the differences in style, the same idea has worked for Steve Vai for decades, also - it is no surprise that they work *so* well together!

I love how with every section they are moving up the floor, playing and summoning the final boss the god himself and in the end playing all together. real ego death right there) and simple trumpet finishes off the song underlining that technival skill is not the most important thing

I wish you could teach me music. Doug I get you Best. You deffently know music better than anyone I've ever heard. Your a great music professional.

Would love if you did an album reaction to either Hand Cannot Erase or The Raven that Refused to Sing by Steven Wilson!

Mr. Helvering this is unrelated but I just noticed that Iron Maiden's "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" in your wall ! My favorite Iron Maiden's album there !

Pretty nuts how you broke down the entire song like that. Amazing

To me, the trumpet at the end ties their music back to its blues/jazz roots.

I dig that flat cap!

Finding a root note is easy. But doing it on the spot and then composing a piece that can pull its weight on this piece? Pretty incredible.

What was called variations in classical music is called Flex now by Polyphia :)

Oh wow, this is great.

I love that music so totally consumes you that you needed to play along with the song. BTW, the guy at the end with the horn recorded the rest of the trumpet parts in the song. They're in there, mostly in Steve's section, and where the three leads are playing together at the climax.

Would really love you to review Steve's entire album "Passion and Warfare". Considered by many to be his masterpiece. For a future extended play episode. The concept and creation alone is extremely interesting and the music stands the test of time.

I thought I could hear some trumpet in the background during Steve's third section of the solo (around the 7:00 mark of this video), it really makes the song for me. But I may be wrong, it might not be trumpet.