Joe Satriani - “Joe Satriani”
Tracks:
- Cool #9
- If
- Down, Down, Down
- Luminous Flesh Giants
- S.M.F.
- Look My Way
- Home
- Moroccan Sunset
- Killer Bee Bop
- Slow Down Blues, Pt. 1 & 2
- (You’re) My World
- Sittin’ ‘Round
Back in the late 80’s Joe Satriani’s name was being talked around. Supposedly he was the guy that taught Steve Vai how to play, and now this guitar virtuoso had his own instrumental album out. I had even heard about him from my Uncle Steve, (and if I remember correctly) how people were looking for his album in the jazz section. He was obviously turning a lot of heads. I went out and bought the album (”Surfing With the Alien”) and have been a fan every since.
Satch (as he is sometimes referred to as) grew up on Long Island, but eventually moved to Berkeley, California. After Steve Vai hit it big and raved about how good Satch was, considering he was his teacher, Satch’s second album (”Surfing …”) made a big impression and was the first all instrumental album to hit the pop charts. This self-titled album was his seventh studio album, though the double album “Time Machine” (the release before) was in fact songs that were left over or tracks that the record label didn’t like filling the first disc, while the second disc was live material.
Though Satch plays with more feel then other technically superior rock guitarists like himself, this album is a few steps further over that line. It is heavy on the blues influence. You can still hear the Satch signature sound (coming from his famous Ibanez guitars). And no offense to some of the musicians that have recorded with Satch (especially Stuart Hamm), but having Manu Katche and Nathan East as your rhythm section certainly helps the overall sound, too. Then again, Hamm and longtime drummers Gregg Bissonette and Jeff Campitelli don’t seem to have styles that would go well with the sound created on this album. Andy Fairweather-Low supplies rhythm guitar for this affair adding another dimension that we are not used to hearing on Satch’s albums.
Every track is touched with the blues theme except for two tracks. First there is “Look My Way” which brings back the humorous vocals from earlier releases. (It is the only non-instrumental on the album.) And then there is “Killer Bee Bop”, which is like heavy metal jazz. I am dead serious about that, too. It is so jazz it’s ridiculous, yet with heavy metal sounds and speed. The song is very worthy of it’s name. And Nathan East puts in an incredible performance on this track. (Though he is great throughout the album.)
My favorite song, both in title and the song itself, is “Luminous Flesh Giants”. (That’s the beauty of instrumentals … the titles don’t have to make sense.) It is not as strong on the blues theme as the other songs, but it gives the typical Satch song greater appeal. “Moroccan Sunset” is a close second, and “If” would closely follow that.
The whole album is very well rounded, highlighting great musicianship without any real sign of the “guitar god” pyrotechnics that do occasionally show up on Satch’s albums. Or it is well cloaked in the themes of the songs. This album has a great overall feel that even those opposed to “self-indulgent albums” that guitarists release could find some tunes to love here. It’s that feel and emotion that, in my mind, make this Satch’s best album.
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