[Vai Freak] Glacius

I purchased his latest album up to date that was released last year, entitled Super Colossal. This title is also the title for his first track. In this album, it consists just about 13 tracks of his mysterious ways of the guitars. Unlike some guitarists there who plays without feelings or without a soul, he's done it again.

I just read through the inlay, that came along with the CD, of a summary of what the songs in the album meant. Through this inlay, I understood the songs even deeper, and better.

I see that like many other musicians, Joe Satriani messes around with a lot of instruments to complete his songs. One of his songs, titled Ten Words, which was written one day after the September 11th incident while he was playing the piano. He ceased to continue writing the song because it was too heartbreaking due to the grief of the death of the thousands that perished in that incident.

Besides that, he tends to show some inspiration caused by former great guitarists or musicians from the past. In the album, he mentions about Bob Marley, how his songs were so powerful yet the musical arrangements were so simple. He tried that out and he made a very interesting composition. It was the 3rd track, and I can't really remember the title. What he did was that he recorded 3 layers of guitars. One playing the picked rhythm, then melodic rhythm, and a riff-based rhythm. All three combined into one, you get a very odd combination - but a unique sound.

And as an artist, a music artist, he has managed to capture my attention in delivering his message or story through his songs. In terms of composition, where he lays down the theme of his story, and in terms of melody, where he lays down what happens during that part of the song.

Of course, Joe Satriani may be the mentor of many great guitarists out there (where people don't know his students at times..), like Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett (Metallica), and many more. But what's so unique? If you listen to his students, you can't tell that they were once under him when it comes to guitars. And Joe Satriani, truly, has his own style that can be easily recognised - through skills, and through sound.

Being a guitar wizard, he's done it again. I was never a major fan of Joe Satriani, but I prefer his playing style now. It's somewhat in the midst of commercial playing, and still sticking to what the underground would provide.

Then again, it would be kind of useless to read this review as I can't explain much regarding his extraordinary sound. I don't support both piracy or the original, but you get the proper inlay when you purchase the original copy. So if you can, pick a copy of Super Colossal and you'll definitely enjoy.

In fact, the first song, Super Colossal, is superb. So many layers of guitars, and it makes it so thick and powerful.

And the mixing.. ooo...ooo lala..... I'm in love again.