The Who - Endless Wire: I could go on and on about this, but I'm just going to save that for a formal review to be coming in the next few days. In the meantime, just know two things: I'm fully aware this isn't remotely "overlooked" (and I don't care - I love the Who) and Best Buy has your best deal: this week $9.99 gets you the album, the 5-song live DVD (all versions have this) and an exclusive 7-song live CD (two songs overlap the DVD's content, both of which are sourced from the same concert in Lyon, France.)
Isis - In The Absence Of Truth: I like to think of Isis as the band that Tool wishes it could be. Call me jaded, but Tool has become entangled in plots created to baffle and obfuscate rather than intrigue and draw listeners in, being what they think is clever but what really winds up being just tiring and boring after a few listens. Isis instead has wisely held back the throttle at all times, always letting things churn just a little longer than might be comfortable, but giving listeners something extra to chew on, and that's what's made their music so rewarding - it's worth going back to over and over again. It's not easy listening, but it's also just not made difficult to keep you guessing forever. There's no game here as there always seems to be with Tool lately - the music speaks enough for itself that the band doesn't need to hide clues to keep listeners interested and that speaks volumes as to who their music is aimed at. We're all adults here, they're saying, do we really need to give you riddles? How about we just give you great music that will last you a lifetime?
Isis is heavier, harder, and more demanding - this is not casual music by any means. While vocalist Aaron Turner has usually spent most of his time in a yell, here he has added more sung vocals. Don't take that as a sign that the band is softening. It's simply a new dynamic that adds texture. In The Absence Of Truth shows the band growing by leaps and bounds and easily becomes a contender for metal album of the year.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
Songbird is killer.
for that matter, so is Endless Wire
2 - Pico
Endless Wire is the best comeback album after a 20+ year layoff since Steely Dan's Two Against Nature. Maybe even better.
-P
3 - DJRadiohead
As a Satriani completist, I am likely to acquire this new live set. Having scanned the set list, I have a hard time believing it will be as good as the SF set. I know he still plays the old favorites, which is great, but he has released three CDs since his last live set. It would have been nice to have a set that drew from those. He does cover his new album, but the releases in between are largely ignored.
4 - Mark Saleski
yea dj, my advice is to skip the Satriani and pick up Steely Dan's Two Against Nature instead.
5 - DJRadiohead
Yeah, that's going to happen. The same guy who pans Elliott Smith as a vocalist is going to offer up Donald Fagen. Right. I'll get the Satch set for Christmas. Right now, I have my sites set on larger, more expensive, more elusive prizes. TWTWIM has proved more resistant to my need to overspend for music than I had hoped. Damnation!
6 - Mark Saleski
tell her to cut back on shoes...and stuff.
7 - DJRadiohead
I'll see if that works. I'm pessimistic.
8 - Pico
Any major dude would tell you to just raise the money by selling her old shoes and your bad sneakers on eBay...everything must go.
-P
9 - DJRadiohead
Well said, Pico. I just talked to her on the phone and her response, "I haven't bought any new shoes." It's true. TWTWIM is not a shoe person. Any road, she just authorized the purchase and audibly rolled her eyes at me. I can get the truckload of new CDs but something tells me I am on her list. I must tread carefully.
10 - Mark Saleski
pico gets extra points for comment #8...chock full of Steely Dan references. heh.
11 - Tom Johnson
I took a look at the Satriani set while I was out and noticed something interesting - it's not with his typical band of Stu Hamm and Jeff Campitelli but with Eric Johnson's backing band (found that out via a comment on Amazon.) So I guess that makes it slightly more interesting . . . ? But yeah, the tracklist is not exactly saliva-inducing, is it?
As for Steely Dan . . . sorry guys, I just can't stand 'em. I suggest saving your money for the Emmylou/Mark Knoppfler live set coming out in a couple of weeks. That's going to be worth investing in.
12 - Mark Saleski
ah, now Tom Johnson and the DJ are kindred spirits on their distaste for Steely Dan.
i will do my best not to hold it against the both of you.
13 - Scott C
Eric Johnson's band was *NOT* backing Joe. I saw that exact same comment on Amazon and wondered what that poster had been smoking. The band on the new DVD/CD is Jeff Campitelli on drums, Galen Henson on rhythm guitar, and Dave La Rue on bass.
I guess everyone missed the 5+ years that Matt Bissonette was Joe's bassist as well? Stu has been doing his own thing since shortly after the Live In San Francisco album.
14 - Tom Johnson
I know Matt's played on many of Joe's studio works, but I thought Stu usually accompanied Joe on the road. I never quite understood that arrangement - why didn't Stu record with Joe?
15 - JR
Tom Johnson: I never quite understood that arrangement - why didn't Stu record with Joe?
Maybe Satriani doesn't want to cede any creative control by collaborating with musicians who are leaders in their own right. His arrangements and solos do seem to be pretty tightly scripted. And I've always noticed that the drumming on Satriani's albums is somewhat rudimentary; I've heard it's because he doesn't want a busy drummer distracting from the written parts.
16 - DJRadiohead
Both Matt and his brother Greg have worked with Satriani on record.
I would not be surprised if Satriani did not want a "busy" rhythm section. He would not be the first musician with an ego. For that matter, Max Weinberg still has the ad Bruce Springsteen took out when he was looking for a drummer. It said something to the effect of "no junior Ginger Bakers." Not everyone wants "flash" in the rhythm section. Hamm/Campitelli might not be the greatest in the world, but I like the sound on SF. Jonathan Mover used to drum for him, too, and I think Joe has said that relationship did not stay solid.
17 - JR
I would not be surprised if Satriani did not want a "busy" rhythm section. He would not be the first musician with an ego.
Yeah, but I don't see it so much as an ego thing. I think it's more having a composer's ethos versus an improvisor's. To me, Satriani seems to be more interested in music as structure than music as interaction.
I could just be projecting, though, because that's how I tend to approach music.
18 - DJRadiohead
My guess is probably a bit of both, JR, but a good point. I'm not knocking the guy. I'm a Satriani fan and like most of his records.
19 - Tom Johnson
He did have Manu Katche doing some pretty busy drumming behind him on the self-titled album, which I loved hearing because it was such an unusual texture to hear behind Joe. And I just love hearing Manu do his thing - such a unique sound and style. I'm kind of surprised Joe would have wanted that backing him on the album he was doing such bluesy material. Still a favorite Satriani album for that reason! (And, yeah, I know I'm in the minority on that.)
I have no doubt I'll be picking up Live! at some point. I'm a big fan too . . . I'm just not dying to have this one yet.
20 - DJRadiohead
I completely forgot about Manu's brief stint, Tom. You're right about something else- you are mostly alone in your love of the self-titled album. I never liked more than a few bits and pieces of that record.