Customer Reviews

Super Colossal

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a long time Satriani fan,you won't be dissaponted with this one. The cd has excellent guitar riffs and guitar solos in the classic Satriani instrumental style that I love. The music is fresh and creative while still maintaining his trademark sound from the past. Joe plays all the instruments,except the drums(played by Simon Philips and Jeff Campitelli),and plays them very well. There isn't a bad song on this cd. It's right up there in the same league with his past 2 studio albums. All killer,no filler!!

Joe Satriani never let us down. But I couldnt`t believe that he could record new album much interesting than his older classic CDs as "Surfing With An Alien", "Flying...", "Extremist". But he did it. As always fresh energetic driving beautiful really colossall sound!!!

Soundclips on this page couldn`t give you right impression of this record. As you know each peace by Joe is a kind of a story spoken by his guitar, a kind of a puzzle, labyrinth which listener would follow Joe till the end. First 3 songs are great but the album really starts with hard rock hit "Redshift Riders" and with this music you would follow the stream through ambiental "A Cool New Way" to rocking "Croud Chant".

So don`t wait - buy this album. Really rock album of the year!

After the somewhat lackluster effort of "Is There Love in Space?", "Super Colossal" is somewhat of a return to form. While it lacks some of the experimental edge that the releases before "Is There Love in Space?" had, what it does bring to the plate is a sense of patience and of development. In the past, Satriani was much more up front and jumping headlong into his performances, this album has a more organic feel and lets the performances build naturally.

All of this could be an outgrowth of a heightened sense of drama and slower tempos-- title track and opener "Super Colossal" sets this up nicely-- the theme is heavy, slow, and build dramatically until an absolutely superb solo by Satriani. But the piece is also offset by a sense of subtlety in the arrangement and performance-- check the piano line pounding away way below the lead in the mix-- it's this sort of thing that makes the piece go somewhere.

And really, all the best tracks on the album have this mix of patience and subtlety driving them-- from the Morricone Western sounds of "Redshift Riders" to the layered cleantone guitars and fierce leads of "A Cool New Way" and the galloping rhythm guitars of "Made of Tears" offsetting an utterly fantastic and passionate lead line.

Still, with all this nice playing, some of the album drags a bit-- "It's So Good" is somewhat dull riff-based rock and even Satriani's exciting solo can't resurrect it, "Movin' On" sounds just a bit too familiar to me (although Satriani's solo construction, including scratches at the guitar, is superb) and while "Crowd Chant" is likely to be a highlight live, its call and response (with a crowd echoing back the guitar lines) sounds goofy on record.

While "Super Colossal" isn't as good as much of Satriani's other work, after what I felt was a bit of a lackluster effort on "Is there Love In Space?", it's nice to see a reasonable return to form. Recommended.

That's where I feel Joe's music takes me when he composes like this. Great stuff, it's inspired,it moves me. Thank you Joe!

Super Colossal and I really have no clue why William Smith would bother reviewing a CD that he really hasn''t listened to. To make matters worse to slam EOC as it to wasn't worthy of 5 stars is simply rediculous. First and foremost I am glad as usual that SC doesn't sound like any of Joe's previous work, how boring that would be. I am relieved it isn't Surfin II as well. I am sure it can be quite a challenge for an artist like Joe to not repeat himself and just for that feat alone (this is instrumental work were talking about by the way) I would give him a star or two. But let's cut to the chase. This CD has all the ingredients to why I have always loved Satch's style and musicianship. He evokes emotions when I listen to his music and there is never a need for lyrics to be a part of that equation. When you close your eyes you envision his titles and understand a bit of what he is trying to convey with each note. His technique is undeniable and brilliant. It was Christmas morning for this fan as I tore open the Cd and cracked the jewel case..........hate them I really do.

There are many special moments on this CD and many more to find I'm sure as I will listen with a pair of good headphones and just tap my fingers to "It's So Good". "A Cool New Way" punctuates my favorite Satch style. I love the heavy stuff, I really do but Satch is at his best when he opens up and there are way to many examples in past albums where he has done this......Clouds Race Across The Sky comes to mind. Joe's new CD won't completely appeal possibly to the fans who are living under a rock waiting for him to release that same sound as say Surfin'.......but for those of us who enjoy new music from the guitarist who sets the bar very high you will feel as I do that this new works is eaxactly that SUPER COLOSSAL! A complaint about the new CD would be non musical in that the liner notes were minimal and no images of Joe to be found. On the other hand the artwork is very cool so no big deal. To sum my review up it is genuingly appreciated that you are so consistent in releasing such high quality material in a day an age where way to many artists never offer anything new or exciting. And to top it all off to witness you perform your music live and be so incredibly professional, sonically accurate and true to the studio version well anyone who has ever seen Joe live can attest to that. Now it's time to listen to "Ten Words" and remember some fallen heroes.

Joe Satriani has been my favorite guitarist for many years, ever since my college roommate turned me onto Surfing With The Alien back in the late 80's. I love every album Joe has put out though I was a little disappointed with Strange Beautiful Music. I listen to his CD's almost constantly and the new one Super Colossal spent several days in my CD player! I was a little underwhelmed by the title track at first but after a couple listens, it has that funky Hendrix kind of sound as do a few other songs. What are my favorite songs? Well, rather than cop out and say I love them all (which I do) I'll just list the few that really stand out in my mind (and ears!). Just Like Lightning is way funky, real bluesy and smooth. It's So Good is fun and uplifting, really makes you feel good! Redshift Riders is one of the coolest songs ever, from the Arabianesque rhythm to the spacey sound. Ten Words almost made me cry the first time I heard it - it's a very mellow and sad song but I love it nonetheless. Theme For A Strange World is a perfect song for the present day - weird yet very listenable. A Love Eternal is another very emotional piece that makes you feel it down deep, really tugs at your heartstrings. Finally, Crowd Chant is so much fun to listen to and "sing" along with! I found myself smiling and chanting along from the first listen! I hope I can get to see him on tour this time - it'll be a real treat to hear these songs done live! If you don't have this CD yet, do yourself a huge favor and buy it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

As the world's biggest Satch fan, let me start by saying that I'd actually pay good money to hear him play "Mary Had A Little Lamb". Hard to believe I've been in love with his music for 2 decades now. Almost 20 years after "Surfing...", Super Colossal is Joe's most mature album to date - his guitar arrangements are simply sublime, every song is filled with those trademark "Satch-isms" [you Satch fans know what I mean] and believe it or nor, Joe's solos seem even more melodic and tasty than ever.

No real weak spots on this effort, though I personally feel tracks 4 through 10 are truly exceptional. Standouts for me include "One Robot's Dream" [my favorite, a very cinematic and funky piece with some brilliant solo runs], "The Meaning Of Love" [reminiscent of "Flying In A Blue Dream" with its hypnotic groove and relentless pulse], "A Cool New Way" [an almost *gasp!* Jazz-like swing], and "Redshift Riders" [a straight up-tempo, warp-speed ride].

From the first time I saw him play, I just got the sense that Joe was one of those guys who was born to play his instrument. IMHO, Joe's playing has got the most interesting combination of technical prowess, musicality and emotional investment than any of the other so-called "Guitar Gods". What makes Joe unique is the way he lets his melodies and solos "breathe", stretching things out as if he really isn't in any kind of hurry to get his musical message across.

The CD sounds amazing with some real sonic depth and musical drama. Check it out on some good headphones.

This is a great Satch album! Like with the last one, "Is There Love In Space?" Joe redeems himself for less entertaining past records. A good buy, and no disappointment.

For the first time this year I managed to get tickets to see Satriani perform at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, and the majority of the material he played was from the new album. And I can safely say I believe it to be his strongest outing since Crystal Planet.

After some very mediocre albums, Satriani has once more struck back with a superb balance of speed and passion; some lovely melodic hooks in 'Ten Words' and 'A Love Eternal', not to mention some excellent rocky songs such as the superbly executed 'Bedshift Racers' and indeed the title track.

Perhaps the only thing that stops me from giving this album a full five stars is the way in which the songs don't progress until almost a quarter or halfway through the song; the beginnings are often slightly mediocre, which for Satriani is slightly unusual.

However, it must be said this is a step in the right direction from one of the technically greatest guitar players in the world. A superb alloy of melody and speed; a step away from 'Engines of Creation' and a step towards 'Crystal Planet'

This album didn't show him off as a guitarist but as a musician. It really showed that he can write, and not just technically difficult songs or guitar pieces, but they're pieces that everyone can listen to. He's got the songs that really gets everyone going, and the songs that show more of his emotive side. "Ten Words" and "A Love Eternal" is something that you don't hear in every guitarist these days. It's all about fast for them, but no, Joe's comfy in his tight little spot because he's made his name already. So now he's releasing so pieces that are just phenominal. I swear, I almost teared up the first time I heard "Ten Words."

And then you have your songs like "Super Colossal,"Redshift Rider," and "Movin' On." Classic Joe sound. "Crowd Chant" is also a really fun piece. Would be fantastic to see live with he crowd.