Customer Reviews

Crystal Planet

5 star:		(97)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After seeing G3 on DVD, I chose Satriani over Johnson and Vai to study guitar method(Johnson is too mellow, but knows thousands of chords. Vai's just too goofy.). I bought Crystal Planet as my first Satch album, and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. "Up In The Sky" Delivers sleek harmonics and a mind-blowing solo. "House Full Of Bullets" gives you a nice, bass-heavy blues piece.My favorite song, of all time, hands down, no contest, is "Crystal Planet". If, for some reason, I want to stop playing guitar, this song will keep me right where I belong. If you're lucky, and live in a big city like Miami, do this: Wait till midnight, and go downtown. Put the top down. Crank "Crystal Planet". People will offer to buy the cd from you. Anywho, back to reviewing. If you play guitar, play "Love Thing" for your girl (or guy, ladies). The song brought tears to my eyes. The CD stays strong. "Raspberry Jam" could've been improved. "Lights of Heaven" is timeless, as is "Ceremony". "Secret Prayer" kicks serious ass. Things mellow out at the end with "Z.Z.'s Song", with just Joe and a very nice chorus pedal. All in all, Crystal Planet is his best to date, better even than Strange Beautiful Music, though SBM is a close second.

This is easily Satriani's best and that is saying a lot since the self-titled LP, The Extremist, Flying in a Blue Dream, and Surfing with the Alien were all strong albums. However, Crystal Planet barely gives you time to catch your breath from the time "Up in the Sky" starts all the way up to "Psycho Monkey". There are great songs one after another including "Ceremony", "Secret Prayer", "Lights of Heaven", and "With Jupiter in Mind". PLAY LOUD AND ENJOY!

Joe Satriani is one of a kind. If his other cd's didnt prove it already, this one does! Ever since his masterpiece Surfing With the Alien, Satriani has been on a roll releasing great albums. So much emotion flows through his guitar, no words can not express and thats why his guitar does it for him! Song after song, brilliant guitar playing is heard. It always amazes me every time i listen to it. "Love Thing" has to be one of the best songs I have ever listened to. Some other favorites from the album are "Crystal Planet" and "Ceremony". "Time" gives such an intense feeling, its unbelievable! Buy this album now, you will be satisfied!

"Crystal Planet" is not just the title for this album; it defines Satriani's homeland, and as intergalactic emissary, this is a gift from the race of superior alien musicians he personifies. I can not praise this album enough.

"Crystal Planet" came to my attention last summer while visiting my brother. My brother plays guitar, so an essential ingredient to any real music for him is a strong guitar player. As he drove me to various places in New Orleans, he had "Crystal Planet" playing in his car. I got rushes listening to Satriani speaking a new language with his fingers. I had to have this album, though I had never before in my life responded to an album dominated by a modern virtuoso guitar player. On the way home, I bought this CD and I've heard it too many times to count. What is so exciting is, this is my first Satriani CD, so unlike his previous fans who've been buying his albums as he produces them and currently find themselves stranded and hungry for a new release, I've got a lot of catching up to do. And what fun that's going to be. My goal is to own all of his CDs by next summer. I've already taken the first step, having acquired "Joe Satriani"(1995), which I also give five stars. Oh, the pleasures to come!

"Crystal Planet": There is literally nothing like it on earth. And if you're thinking that only a guitar player can enjoy an album like this, which is void of lyrics, sung or spoken, think again: I myself am not a guitar player, and I've enjoyed this album emensely. It's an initiation for me into a whole new world of music. Though I acknowledge the genius of Jimi Hendrix, not being a guitar player myself, I found that most of what Hendrix recorded was not enjoyable to simply listen to. Contrarily, every song on "Crystal Planet" is at least good, while most of them are great, and some even entice you to believe you've conferred with an alien, making it difficult to resume normal life among mere terrestrials.

Buy this CD, put it in your player, ensconce yourself into the sweet seat in whatever room you do your listening, and let it fly. Accept Satriani's invitation to ride with him via the blisteringly fast and needle sleek leads of the opening track, "Up in the Sky." Keep in mind that this is just the start of a trip into an aural black hole from which you will not want to escape. One of my favorite songs for a pure sonic rush is "A Train of Angels": Like for most of his music, the title somehow says it all. By the time the final track, "Z. Z.'s Song," comes around, you take from the melody a satiated melancholy: It's time to go, now. You know what you have to do. Spread the gospel: "Crystal Planet" is an awesome accomplishment, and it's your mission to share the gift.

I don't quite recall how I got introduced to Joe Satriani's music, but I do know that the music from this album was the first music I heard from him. If you want to introduce someone to the wizardry that is Joe Satriana, I think this is the album to start them off with. It's accessible, with nary a weak track of the bunch (except maybe Z.Z's Song, but I don't like that one because when I listen to this album, I wanna rock and not chill). My fave songs are Ceremony, Up in the Sky and the title track.

This is one of Joe Satriani's better albums! Even though I must say that I love them all,except ENGINES OF CREATION. Joe put together some great guitar riffs and guitar solos throught the album. I'm impressed with many of the fast guitar solos on this album. Stu Hamm does an excellent job on bass,as well.The radio hit single "Ceremony" is one of the high points of this album,along with "House Full of Bullets","With Jupiter In Mind",the great ballad "Love Thing", and the grammy winning "Train of Angels".

I had never listened to Joe, had no idea who he was until my boyfriend and I started going on long drives up to the mountains and he was constantly playing Joe's CDs. This was the first CD to catch my attention, and I totally fell in love with it!
"Up In The Sky," "House Full Of Bullets" and "Crystal Planet" are great when you're snaking up a mountain road at about 55 mph. "Love Thing" is my absolute favorite track - actually, my favorite Joe song. Period. It's very mellow and just beautiful!
From "Trundrumbalind" on, you just can't go wrong.
I wish that "Time" came a little sooner in the album (#14 of 15), another excellent track - it always gets you drumming your hands on the steering wheel.
I was lucky enough to see him live twice last year, and you couldn't wipe the smile off of my face! Joe is one of the best musicians around and you are sorely lacking if you don't have at least Crystal Planet in your music library!

As an avid fan of Joe Satriani's melodic yet technically masterful guitar playing, I always have high expectations for a new album of his. Yet even with that high expectation, Crystal Planet blows me away. The guitar work ranges from fast and furious to slow and moving, with everything in between. This CD makes you want to get up and move, and will then move you on an emotional level, as the music connects with something in you. If you have never heard of him before, buy this disc and discover what you are missing.

As I read the reviews for this incredible CD by professional journalists, I find myself scratching my head in bewilderment. With all of the hip hop, MTV, sampling and the hit parade from hell, you would think critics would be wetting their pants over artists who actually are massively talented and play their own instruments - as well as writing original material. But let Puff Daddy sample "Every Breath You Take" or Steely Dan's "Black Cow" and rap over the lyrics, and the critics will fall to their knees with sickening praise. There was once a time when musicians played their instruments. They developed and blossomed as artists. The record companies cultivated musicians and creativity was saluted.

This CD is a prime example of how I remember guitar rock was - loud, aggressive and passionate! Turn off the damn album rock radio that is programmed by marketing twits and turn up "Crystal Planet!"

I've owned this CD for quite a while and I have to say it is definitely one of my favorite CDs(even when compared to CDs with vocals). Like a previous reviewer said Satch's music doesn't need vocals to convey the emotion of the music across. He does an awesome job of that with his catchy riffs and screaming solos.

Although Satch's level of mastery of his instrument is nothing short of amazing not all of his music is that great. This CD has best mix of rock and slower songs. I myself love all things rock so this CD sits better with me than some of his other work(included his newest Super Collosal).

If you are intested in getting into the world of Satch this is a great place to start. All the songs rock(especially my favorite Train of Angels!). Do yourself a favor and pick it up.