I agree with this 100%, but I wouldn't say Steve Vai is unlistenable wank, and ICP is unbridled creativity. Hah, I say.
If you want to talk about talent without creativity, listen to some certain university jazz ensembles. Nothing but musical dick-waving; no passion whatsoever in their solos, just running up, down, and around chromatic scales and modes as fast as they can. They're playing a lot of notes, but they aren't saying a damn thing.