Joe Satriani - Strange Beautiful Music

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Music reviews of Strange Beautiful Music

Music Review: I REALLY want to give this a strong review...
Rating: 3 Stars

...but i can't. Yes, it's Joe Satriani. Yes, he's a brilliant guitarist, my favorite, even. Yes, i'll rabidly buy everything he ever releases. But this isn't a studio satriani release, this is a demo.

Most of the guitar tracks on this Satch cut in his home studio during the pre-production process, and when he brought them up in the mix after his band laid down bass and drums, they all liked them enough to keep. BIG mistake. Satch has some of the worst, most anemic tones of his career here- check out the rhythm part to "Belly Dancer," it's just fizz. He recorded all his lead tones direct, as well, and it shows- there's a brittle high end and a weid mushy quality to the midrange in his lead tones. Yeah, they're better than, say, "Surfing," or "Engines..." but at least the EoC tones fit the context, and considering the budget he was on, we can't blame ethe man for "Surfing..." Also, how about the song names? Come on... "Belly Dancer?" "Seven String?" (bet he lost a lot of sleep on that one...) "New Last Jam?" Yeah, the name doesn't make the music, and Satriani's titles are on occasion a bit spotty, but this is an all-time low for the man.

And that's not even getting started on the soloing. Yes, there are some good leads on this disc, probably better than anything i'll ever be able to play myself. however, take Mind Storm, for example. Awesome riff, cool melody, then we hit the solo section. It basically lacks all structure- he takes a meandering little legato solo, then does a pick-scrape solo. It's something that Tom Morello can make work, but Satch should have let that one die back on "The Snake." And then, of all things, we get a sweep-picking solo. The whole lead is just a series of unconnected ideas- it doesn't take you anywhere. compare that with, say, "Secret Prayer" or "Always With Me..." or, in the harder rock vein, maybe "Motorycle Driver." And 'Mind Storm" has by no means the worst solo on the disc.

so, what do i LIKE about this CD? Well, when he's on, it's as good as anything else he's ever done- "Starry Night" is a great tune, and "Mountian Song" is one of my favorite compositions by the man. It's worth the price of admission alone to hear Satch grooving out on a 7-string. Although most of his tones are pretty anemic here, "Oriental Melody" has a great, psychedelic rhythm tone (as well as being a fairly solid overall peice), and if nothing else, he makes better use of pitch-axis theory than he has in a LONG time- the breakdown of "Belly Dancer," for one.

I was expecting another "Crystal Planet" or "The Extremist" when i picked this up, and that it definately isn't. what it is is more of a question than a statement- the ideas are there, but unfinished. It's got "Joe Satriani" stamped across the front- for that reason alone, it's worth buying. And, if this is your first Satch disc, you won't be disapointed... but when you pick up "Crystal Planet," and see what the man is really capable of, you'll be blown away.

It's too bad, these songs just needed to be recorded in a real studio, with a few more weeks spent coming up with better leads, and this could have been one of the best albums of Joe's illustrious career. Yeah, 3 stars is a little harsh, but when you're talking about a guy like this, you know he can do better.

Description of Strange Beautiful Music

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