Best and Worst of Joe Satriani

Any Satriani fans here? If so, what are some of your favorites and least-favorite albums?

I've been a Satriani fan since I was in college in the 80's and discovered "Not of This Earth". Though Joe is a shredder, the album was comforting and relaxing for me. "Surfing With the Alien" was a bit more upbeat and shredding, but it's a great release. Many still hold it up as Joe's best. It has the distinction of being one of the few instrumental albums to generate a hit single. Those two have long been my favorites, with "The Extremist" coming in a close third.

I've recently really been enjoying Joe's 1995 self-titled release. It's a bit more stripped down and blues based. Much like "Not of this Earth" I find this record to be quite enjoyable and relaxing.

Although I'm only a casual Satriani listener, My favourite album would def. be 'Flying in a Blue Dream (instrumental parts only)' and The 'Extremist' comes in close second, worst is 'Surfin with an Alien' (I dunno maybe I never liked the production and the uber cheesy 'Always with me', can't stand that tune)

What I don't understand is...why does he have to sing in some of his albums? I mean come on Joe, you know you're not even an 'OK-level' singer

I love Joe Satrinai, my fav 'The Extremist', my least favorite, which surprises me, because I am a fan of live albums is 'Time Machine', the live disc is good, but the second disc seems somewhat uninspired studio wankery, with the songs not having any real structure or foundations IMO

I only have Flying In a Blue Dream and Surfing With The Alien and I like both albums

My favorite is Surfing With The Alien. But that is more a sentimental choice. Agree with Manny on Time Machine. Given the love for The Extremist I may have to track that one down.

I'm a casual fan myself. The 3 albums I have (Flying in a Blue Dream, The Extremist and Crystal Planet) I enjoy very much. The singing on Flying..., while not his strong suit,doesn't bother me. It's a sentimental favorite I guess. It's the only one I upgraded from tape to cd.

At one time I had one of his later releases that I didn't care for, so I sold it. It was more experimental and not enough shedding wankery. I can't remember what one is was though. I'll have to look it up. I'd recognize the cover.

His creative peak was at 'The Extremist', after that, he was pretty much recycling his phrasing and his 'feel'. Kinda like what Malmsteen did after his second album

Even though he relies mostly on the pentatonic box pattern, it's amazing how he can come up with so many variations out of that simple scale, such a shame Kirk Hammett bastardized his technique tho

ultmetal wrote:

Any Satriani fans here? If so, what are some of your favorites and least-favorite albums?

I've been a Satriani fan since I was in college in the 80's and discovered "Not of This Earth". Though Joe is a shredder, the album was comforting and relaxing for me. "Surfing With the Alien" was a bit more upbeat and shredding, but it's a great release. Many still hold it up as Joe's best. It has the distinction of being one of the few instrumental albums to generate a hit single. Those two have long been my favorites, with "The Extremist" coming in a close third.

I've recently really been enjoying Joe's 1995 self-titled release. It's a bit more stripped down and blues based. Much like "Not of this Earth" I find this record to be quite enjoyable and relaxing.

Ya know, that's kind of funny. I used to LOVE the Satchman! I have The first three and then lost interest in him and the next album I bought was The Self Titled one which actually had some NAME players on it(Any Fairweather Low, Nathan East, Manu Katché)..... a very enjoyable album. I haven't heard anything since. I don't really mind his singing, I think it fits on "Big Bad Moon".

The ones I have:

Not Of This Earth
Surfing With The Alien
Flying In A Blue Dream
Dreaming #11
Joe Satriani


I think I'll pick up The Extremist. I beleive that his first Ep is available or is on the Time Machine Comp.

[quote="chewie"I beleive that his first Ep is available or is on the Time Machine Comp.[/quote]

The EP is included on Time Machine.

ultmetal wrote:

[quote="chewie"I beleive that his first Ep is available or is on the Time Machine Comp.

The EP is included on Time Machine.[/quote]

Another reason to get that, then. Thanks!!!!!

My favorite Satriani album is the self-titled featuring Manu Katche, that album is closer to the style I prefer.

I also enjoy Flying In A Blue Dream.

I appreciate Joe and have seen him in concert a couple times. But I prefer my instrumental music to be more "group-oriented" where everyone gets a chance to solo/contribute and it's not just a guitar feature.

S.D. wrote:

My favorite Satriani album is the self-titled featuring Manu Katche, that album is closer to the style I prefer.

I also enjoy Flying In A Blue Dream.

I appreciate Joe and have seen him in concert a couple times. But I prefer my instrumental music to be more "group-oriented" where everyone gets a chance to solo/contribute and it's not just a guitar feature.

Manu is a great drummer!!! He is another one of my early influences when I started drumming, Secret World Live and the Us album. Great groover!

I'm a very casual fan. I have one compilation, I like it but have never felt a burning desire to pick up more.

Casual fan here I do have several of his albums but I would be hard pressed to name them, Surfing with the Alien is the only one I know by name and I know the only one that has gotten much play

I'm a big Satch fan, I have everything by him on CD, and vinyl LP's of Dreaming #11, Surfin', and Flying. There isn't an album of his I don't like but I'd say his worst is Engines Of Creation, which was his foray into techno-ish and electronica stuff. Still, I like it alot.

My fave is by a long shot: Crystal Planet. Doesn't let up from start to finish, with the exception of A Piece Of Liquid and ZZ's Song. 13 out of the 15 songs on the album hit you in the face with his trademark black Ibanez guitar. I highly recommend it.

Along with the aforementioned albums in this thread, I also like his 2000's releases like Strange Beautiful Music, Is There Love In Space, and Super Colossal. Unfortunately his last few releases are ok at best, he's just running outta gas at this point (could have something to do with Chickenfoot sapping all of his energy and ideas).

edit: nice thread Ult!

I guess my favorites would be SWTA followed by FIABD.

I have 3 or 4 of his albums and enjoy certain songs on them very much. I guess my favorite is SWTA because I have listened to it the most. He does sound very uncreative at times, like some of his work with Chickenfoot.

EmoElmo wrote:

His creative peak was at 'The Extremist', after that, he was pretty much recycling his phrasing and his 'feel'. Kinda like what Malmsteen did after his second album

Even though he relies mostly on the pentatonic box pattern, it's amazing how he can come up with so many variations out of that simple scale, such a shame Kirk Hammett bastardized his technique tho

i agree. I love everything up to The Extremist.

The Extremist is my favorite, followed by Flying In A Blue Dream.

bassman wrote:

The Extremist is my favorite, followed by Flying In A Blue Dream.

The Extremist was heavy, filled with lots of cool, memorable hooks. 'Surfing' and 'Flying in a Blue Dream' have distinct characters as well, the 1995 s/t was good, but nothing too spectacular. Then how many albums he made after that, 5? 6?...and NOT one song stuck in my head, it was just awfully uninspired.

My fave is Surfin'. Bought it when it was a new release and listened to it constantly. I know every squeakin', squawkin', whammy divin' note of that album. Love it.

He hasn't released an album yet that I've hated, but some aren't quite as inspired as others. I like the first half of his catalogue more than the second.

A big Joe Satriani fan. I have a few of releases, but there are lots of holes. Need to get the rest of them. From the one's I do have I'd say Extremist, Crystal and Surfing are great spins. Joe has never really felt compelled to play it safe and has a way of making the guitar sing. I like the way Joe can make you forget that the song doesn't have a singer. Great guitarist. I started with Not of this Earth on cassette back when it was a new release and I've been a fan ever since.

Joe is one of the most melodic of the "shredder" guitarists, which is why his music interests me more than most of the others from that era.

I don't have much by him but I like everything I've heard by the man. I only own Not Of This Earth, Surfing With The Alien, and Dreaming #11. I used to have Flying In A Blue Dream but a crappy boom box I had ruined it and I never replaced it. Gotta add I never had a problem with his singing. Like someone said, Big Bad Moon is an awesome tune.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

At one time I had one of his later releases that I didn't care for, so I sold it. It was more experimental and not enough shedding wankery. I can't remember what one is was though. I'll have to look it up. I'd recognize the cover.

It was Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock. I got a free promo copy from work when it was a new release. I think I played it through once or twice before dumping it. Probably should have given it a little more time to sink in, but oh well.

I kinda lost respect for him after he ripped off Coldplay.