One of the amazing untold stories in music these past 20 years is how an artist like Joe Satriani has maintained an audience for this long.
Think about this for a moment. This is a guitarist/composer whose indie label got bought out by a major label and he has been with that label since his first album, Not Of This Earth, in 1986. This is a guy who, fairly or unfairly, got lumped in with the hair metal crowd of the '80s and has managed to not only continue to work but has continued to work at a major label.
This is an artist who works primarily – almost exclusively – as an instrumentalist and he's never had the fluke pop chart success of that walking punchline Kenny G. His music has never been especially fashionable, but here he is with his 13th studio record. With all of the troubles of record labels in recent years and all of the consolidation and the upheavals that result from bad business models and shifting tastes, how is it that Joe Satriani is the last man standing? I wonder if he isn't a little like Milton Waddams from Office Space where he's been around so long and no one can remember if he still actually works there or just keeps showing up. Maybe the fat cats at Sony have just forgotten he's still on the label and his records manage to trickle out every couple years anyway.
I'd love it if the explanation was the various label heads who have run Sony over the years recognized the obvious quality when they heard it but we're not children and we all fuckin' know better. However he's managed it, he has survived long enough to make Professor Satchafunkilus and The Musterion of Rock the latest chapter in his ongoing "least likely to succeed" epic.
I broke one of my cardinal rules with this record and this review by reading another review before writing my own. I had the typical Fanboy reaction to seeing them put down a record by one of my heroes. I'm disappointed that I'm going to agree with many of those conclusions.
The opening track, "Musterion," does indeed play like a leftover from Flying in a Blue Dream. It's a very good composition but it's difficult not to feel like we've been here before and heard it done better. It's a good song but it doesn't throw that knockout punch to open the record, nor does the next track "Overdriver." It can't be as easily pigeonholed as a remnant of a specific album and is also a strong track that fails to captivate the listener.
"I Just Wanna Rock" is the first time the record falls off the edge of the cliff. Satriani's singing gets ripped on those rare occasions when he adds a vocal to one of his songs. His lyrics are actually worse- far worse. From the pen of Joe Satriani we've gotten such inspirational and influential thoughts as "I don't want what you want, I want what I want" and "I just wanna ride/ get on my bike and ride." Brilliant. Even though "I Just Wanna Rock" doesn't technically feature vocals (a Frampton-esque voice box is used, though) we get the sense Joe is trying to say something here and we really wish he wouldn't.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Tom Johnson
This is a guy who, fairly or unfairly, got lumped in with the hair metal crowd
Unfairly - the guy is bald.
I'm going to have to disagree, overall. I like it. Is it essential? No - but how many Satriani albums are truly essential? Of Joe's baker's dozen, there are a small handful of essentials now, and this isn't in there, but it fits in with the "nice" albums. I truly can't find an album of his I actually completely dislike, and only one I actually consider a disappointment (Strange Beautiful Music continues to fail to connect.) What I like most about this album is that it find Joe in mid-tempo, melodic rock territory more often than usual, and I like that.
I will agree that "I Just Wanna Rock" is, and I'll put it bluntly, crap. I don't know what gets into his head when he decides he needs to do stuff like this. It's just bad. Unchecked in Itunes, permanently - no transfer to the Ipod for you. And it's the featured track - with a sticker on the front pimping it and all!
You can probably lump me in with the fanboys - I'll pretty much enjoy anything Joe puts out, I guess. Oh well. There are worse sentences in life, and at least he puts out decent stuff even at his worst.
2 - Josh Hathaway
He wasn't bald when he started, Tom, but you make a good point.
I guess I did a poor job of communicating if the impression is that I don't at very least like the album. There are a handful of good songs , songs I'll listen to again. Overall, I think it's an average album for him.
Most of his albums hang together pretty well as albums and most of them have at least a couple of killer songs. SBM has a couple of killer songs but isn't strong throughout. The degree to which I love "Oriental Melody" causes me to inflate my opinion of that record.
I'm 100% hopelessly a Satch fanboy and I'll buy anything he puts out other than a full vocal record. His decent stuff is always worth hearing and that's how I feel about this album. It's decent with a couple good tracks. He's been better, but this is fine.
3 - Sony G.
Nailed it! Completely agree with this article!
4 - duane
The problem with Satriani is, and has always been, that he doesn't write good music. That can happen. He's in good company. But like you Josh, I am amazed that he continues putting out the same kind of stuff and that he more or less gets away with it. I guess there are enough budding shredders out there to keep him afloat. And he has corporate sponsorships.
He's a brilliant guitarist, but he would benefit (at least musically) by teaming up with a decent writer and vocalist. But I'm sure he knows this --- he's no dummy --- and has decided against it for personal reasons.
5 - Mark Saleski
Satriani is a great guitar player. the fact that Robert Fripp speaks so highly of him says a lot.
on the other hand, he could take a few pointers from Jeff Beck as to how to put together an interesting chunk of rock instrumentals.
6 - Josh Hathaway
I don't think Joe should stop making instrumental rock records. I think he often composes terrific instrumentals and has more than enough ability to execute those songs brilliantly. He just didn't do that often enough on this record. I don't think he needs to drastically change his approach nor does he need advice from anyone. Of his 13 records, most of them are excellent, a couple are classic, and a couple are lesser. Professor Satch is somewhere in the middle. It's fine, but it's not him at his best.
7 - Tom Johnson
The thing about Beck is that there's so much cool stuff in the one album of his that I have (Guitar Shop) that I feel no need to check out anything else. My loss, I know, and I'll eventually branch out - but I've survived a long time on this one album.
I can't imagine anyone having much interest in Satriani outside of his own music. (Didn't he fill in for Blackmore in Deep Purple for a short while?) Joe's niche is exactly what he does now. I don't really want to hear him backing somebody - I'd be annoyed knowing what Satriani could be doing instead. What he does is unique - I don't know of many other guitarist of his skill that play songs, hummable songs, that aren't just displays of technique. Steve Vai gets close, and I'm really liking what he's been doing lately, but technique still slips in there a lot.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Satriani is a guitarist who desperately wants to sing beautifully, but can't, so he makes his guitar do it for him. (Except every once in a while he does sing, and it's really pretty embarrassing.)
8 - Mark Saleski
Guitar Shop is exactly the record i was thinking of what i made that comment.
honestly tom, it would be better to go backwards in the Beck catalog. i'd get Wired, Blow By Blow, and Live With The Jan Hammer Group
9 - Josh Hathaway
Tom, I agree with everything you said (except the Beck, which I've simply just not heard). I can't imagine him going forming some supergroup. He's great at what he does and I love what he does. I just don't love this record. I don't hate it, either. I don't even dislike it. It's just not a favorite for me.
I am going to have to explore some of Beck's discography at some point. Thanks for the suggestions on where to start, guys.
10 - duane
I don't really want to hear him backing somebody - I'd be annoyed knowing what Satriani could be doing instead.
You already know what he would be doing instead --- making innocuous guitar rock songs as a backdrop for his soloing. There's a time and a place for all things musical. Joe's had his say in this particular genre, and it's time to step it up a notch and make some real music. It's not that he would be backing somebody. Maybe you could look at it like somebody would be backing him.
Vai is already there. His music is far more interesting than Joe's. I know there's almost no support for the following comment here at BC: but Vai outplays AND outcomposes Joe most any day of the week --- at least as regards anything they have recorded.
As for Beck, there's really no way to compare him with Joe or Vai. He's a completely different kind of animal, much more into making musical statements than showing off his chops. Beck said years ago that he doesn't go in for solos so much, but if he comes up with something really compelling, he will "shove it down your throat."
Satriani's stuff is great for guitarists who want to learn from him, but harmonically and rhythmically, it's not very creative. Why not be creative AND show off at the same time?
And of course, the preceding is said in all humility. Joe is a great musician. I just wish he would open it up a little.
I second Saleski's recommendations. By the way, Beck stole the show at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, with a surprising performance from bassist Tal Wilkenfeld. You guys have seen it already but here it is for passersby.
Two songs here, the first or which is a beauty, the second of which kicks ass ... with Vinny Colaiuta on drums ... oh my. Notice the cute jump to 6/4 after being led to 4/4 by the high hat. Tal is on the 6, but she's messin' it all around in the intro.
11 - Josh Hathaway
Don't worry, Duane, no one in this particular thread is going to jump you with a silly "you think you can do it better?" barb. That's a waste of time. You make fair points, sir, whether they're universally agreed with or not. I know plenty of people who place Vai ahead of Satriani.
I think they are both so technically gifted it gets silly trying to dissect which is "better." They're both impossibly good, period.
As composers, Vai might be a bit more adventurous but is less melodic. I love Vai and respect him immensely. I like that he wants to be challenging but, like Tom, I find myself sometimes paying more attention to his technique and chops because the songs aren't particularly engaging on a melodic/hook level. Satriani writes memorable songs that employ great playing. I don't always feel that way about Vai.
I'm going to have to buy a Jeff Beck record tonight if I can find one in this godforsaken town. I appreciate the further cajoling and recommendations from the three of you.
I also appreciate everyone's comments and the discussion here. Sometimes I think it's impossible for people to have differing opinions and a civil discussion simultaneously. This has been refreshing.
12 - Mark Saleski
yep, i've seen that Crossroads vid. it perfectly displays why the Guitar Shop record is so cool. and that Wilkenfeld...how does a person get to be so good so young?
13 - Josh Hathaway
I have that DVD and have yet to sit down and watch it. It's a long story. I'll check this out directly, as well.
14 - Mark Saleski
cool! so you have "Big Block" then...oh man, so good.
15 - Josh Hathaway
I'll go home and queue to that song before TheWifeToWhomI'mMarried and I go out for dinner and errand running (said errands I hope will include the purchase of Guitar Shop).
16 - Tom Johnson
Yes - you HAVE TO get Guitar Shop. My mention of it being my only Beck album was meant to imply that it is so full of good stuff that I simply needed no more, not that I found very little interest in Jeff Beck. It is a really, really, really good album, and I have found over time that my appreciation of Beck's subtleties has grown immensely. As has been mentioned, he isn't out and out soloing - lots of textures, lots of great shapes and riffs, but it doesn't feel showy to me at all. It's a fun album, and the playing is beautiful, but it doesn't stand out and scream "Look at me!" like Satch and Vai do. I would be surprised if you don't like it, however. If "Where Were You" doesn't make you wet your pants, in a proverbial way, at least, I'd be stunned.
If you can't find it locally, it can be had dirt cheap on Amazon.
Guys, it's okay to drool over Beck's bassist, she's really not as young as she looks. She's like 23 or something, believe it or not.
And, Duane, I concur, Vai is doing some very interesting things lately. His music has grown tremendously while Joe's has basically stayed the same. I stopped listening to Vai a long time ago and then recently picked up a couple of more recent efforts and was stunned - very, very different, more like Zappa's orchestral work. I like where he is headed.
17 - Glen Boyd
Wired is a great place to start with Beck because of all the interplay between him and Jan Hammer. I'd rate Blow by Blow a close second. And Guitar Shop aint half bad either. Get your ass down to Satan Best Buy or wherever they have CDs in that God forsaken place you live, and pick up some Beck, Josh.
-Glen
18 - Glen Boyd
And that goes for you too TJ...
-Glen
19 - Mark Saleski
Tom Johnson needs to own Wired. gawd man, he covers "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" on that one.
20 - Josh Hathaway
All right, fellas, I lowered myself and went into SatanBestBuy and bought a copy of Guitar Shop, which I am now about to listen to.
21 - Tom Johnson
All right, all right. I have resolved to fill out my Beck collection very soon, after listening to Guitar Shop on the way home today. Listening to Amazon clips, this stuff sounds very different than the Beck I know - I've only heard his output from the 90s, when he was experimenting with electronic stuff. This might take a little getting used to . . .
22 - Josh Hathaway
There's something very slick and '80s about the sound on this. I'm going to have to spend some time with it. The sound of it is a little offputting- very thin and treble-y to my ears right now.
23 - Josh Hathaway
The playing on "Savoy" is amazing, though, so I definitely see the point you're making. I'm going to listen to the disc while I noodle around the office tonight.
24 - Mark Saleski
isn't "Where Were You" the song with much of the melody played with the whammy bar? if so, really fantastic.
oh, and even though i really like the old "Live with the Jan Hammer Group" record, there's also a more modern live album: Live at BB King's. i don't own it but have heard a bunch. you've got to hear his instrumental version of "A Day In The Life".
25 - Glen Boyd
Wired, Josh, Wired.
-Glen