Customer Reviews

Is There Love in Space?

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

All one can EVER say of Joe Satriani is...Wow. After all this time, as so many "guitar heros" have come and gone...along with big hair, grunge, heavy metal, industrial, and all the other labels which have at times been dominating -- but never lasting -- aspects of what passes for rock...Satch remains the undisputed king of technical, melodic guitar music. Eddie Van Halen invented a sound and style that are as recognizable as his face -- as did Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton, Beck, Page, Hendrix, Zappa, Iommi and too may other greats to list. But in my opinion (and 13 years of guitar playing), there is simply no one who has ever played with such melodic, beautiful proficiency.
"Is There Love In Space?", "If I Could Fly", and "Searching" are all uniquely different styles and 'feel' of songs, yet each is totally Satch. The latter is probably my favorite song on the album, but as with each album he's done, you never dislike songs...only favor some more than others. In my mind, very few artists create music of such consistently good quality. I literally put him up there with the Stones, Zeppelin, and that small few of others who produced nary a bad song.
More proof of his talent, I have NEVER seen anyone play live who sounded as true to their 'studio' sound. No overdubbing, 35 takes, digital processing...just his fingers, his Ibanez, and a 12" Mesa Boogie and digital delay pedal.
Least anyone forget, this is the man who "taught" Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, and several other notables how to play. That's right, he was their guitar teacher when he was just a studio player, long before people who he'd for many years played studio guitar for convinced him that he HAD to cut an album.
For those who would dismiss him as a 'technical guitar stuntman,' I beg you to listen longer. Steve Vai, Ynvie Malmstein, Vinnie Vincent...these are stuntmen, who while technically proficient lack real musicality, in the sense that you never really sit down and listen to an entire Vai album on a rainy day. It just makes for great "WOW" fodder for teenage boys who think fast fingers are the essence of great guitar.
Please give this album a listen. It can join "Flying In A Blue Dream," "Surfing With The Alien," the "Red Album," and his best, "Crystal Planet" as your begin your PHD in great guitar-driven music.

Guitar hero Joe Satriani returns with what might be his best album since "Surfing With The Alien". Now in his late forties, Joe started out teaching guitar with students such as Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett and Charlie Hunter. Vai scored a gig with with David Lee Roth and praised his teacher and the rest is history. "Is There Love In Space" is simple, satisfying Satriani. Free of gimmickry, Joe just burns from start to finish. It's a myth that guitar instrumental albums are just for other guitar players. This is just great rock and roll and belongs in anybody's collection who appreciates an incredibly talented musician. Thanks Joe!

So here we go again. There's a lot to like in the overall Satriani sound - hard-rocking guitar pyrotechnics, bright driving melodies, and.. well.. more guitar pyrotechnics. He hasn't learned how to make the instrumental technique serve the song the way Steve Morse does in the same genre (and doesn't quite have the same good ear for composition), but the string-bending isn't too overbearing either, so the melodic element is never buried (though it can be overridden in spots). I was pleasantly surprised to hear him incorporating some new elements like electronica with Engines of Creation and Strange Beautiful Music. His latest offering Is There Love In Space?, however, backpedals to the basic if consistently solid straight-guitar-rock approach of Surfing with the Alien and Crystal Planet. I'd almost say Joe's returning to his roots, except that he never really left.

That being said, of course it's still a fun sunny ride. And it does really get off the ground in spots, e.g. the gorgeous soaring "If I Could Fly" or the down-and-dirty "Souls of Distortion," which are to the ears what tangy candy is to the taste buds. Satch nicely keeps the needless-flash factor in check; sometimes he still can't resist the urge to show off in a small flurry of 128th notes, but as on SBM, there's a more restrained touch to the fretwork that helps the songs immensely. "Searching" and "Bamboo" get some good points for really taking the texture-over-shred road with some impressive results. If the writing on the rest of the disc slips into basic blues mode a little too often, as in the two vocal numbers especially, those are still some mighty impressive highlights.

I dock ITLiS a star since as fun and energizing as this ride is, it's still one we've been on several times before. But otherwise that's no reason not to crank up to high-octane-cruising levels and enjoy. Space? rocks hard, the level of melodic skill and guitar wizardry is never in question, and if you're happy with that (as I am most of the time), it's well worth adding to your shelves.

Two years after the his last studio album, "Strange Beautiful Music", Joe's latest studio album has a distinctive fusion of rich and brooding guitar work combined with synth-pop. The result is a mixed bag of futuristic progressive and insturmental rock. To truly appreciate the scope of this album, a second listen is recommended.
The opening track "Gnaahh" breaks new ground with a wonderful mix of Rock and Funk. "Up in Flames" immediately grabs you with its catchy beats and is a sure-fire Joe trademark. The title-track "Is there Love In Space" has a mellow theme reminiscent of songs from his "Flying In A Blue Dream" album. The brooding and heavy "Searching" has some of the album's most incredible technique and Satch fans will love every minute of it.
Other highlights include the radio friendly "If I Could Fly" and the dark and mysterious and haunting "Bamboo."
If you are expecting another "Surfing With the Alien" or "The Extremist", this album will probably not be for you. But if you have an appreciation for the evolving sound of Satch, give this album a spin.

Thanks for reading my Review. I am a huge Satriani fan. I have all his albums, and I play guitar myself, both electric & acoustic.
Personally I like the direction that Joe has taken since "Crystal Planet". All his stuff is brilliant in it's own way, and each album unique. Being a guitarist I can appreciate his speed, technique and pure brilliance in creativity & innovation which at times is so incredible it is beyond words.
"Is there love in Space" is not his best album, but by no means is it his worst.
This album is definitley rawer and raunchier than the last couple, with a few exceptions.
The first track "Gnaaah " is a great starter, with terrific solos and a great upbeat sounds. Love this one.
The next two tracks " Up in flames " and "Hands in the air" are typical Satriani fare along the lines of the "Surfin" album.
Then the album gets interesting.
"Lifestyle" yeah he sings on this ones- and yeah his singing is not the best this time- it sounds a little flat. His singing was better " Flying in a blue dream" .
And by the way C. Butigan "COKE08" who reviewed earlier. This is NOT the first time that Joe has sung since " Flying in a Blue Dream" He sang "Crazy " on "Time Machine"- 1993, and " Look my way" on "Joe Satriani"- 1995- and you have all his albums? Can't be much of a fan....
But the song " Lifestyle" is awesome. Brilliant solo- just way too short. I bet when he does this live, the solo will be extended. Some awesome potential for an extended solo here.
" Is there love in Space" the title track is brilliant. (I can imagine the video clip with Joe floating through space playing his guitar ). It does sound wonderfully eerie and haunting. I agree with the reviewer who said it's worth buying the album for this song alone. Joe has a great habit off playing these slightly off notes within the key. He does brilliant here. Great moments of hammer ons and pulloffs, good use of the Wah wah pedal and echoing for some awesome sounds.
"If I could fly" is a little disappointing. Starts off brilliant ( great hammer on and pull offs similar to " Echo "), but by the second half of the song, he's playing in a different key, or different sound- I can't work it out, doesn't sound as good, and drags on just a little- which from a huge Satriani fan is saying something. A pity this could have been something else.
" The Souls of Distortion" is another master piece. Nary a clean note in the Rythmn part of the song. Lovely innovative use of pedals again to produce the distorted sonds. The solo is hot; clean, fast, effortless technique up and down the scale of notes.
Another creative song from Satch.
" Just look up" continues the solid album with probably the most mellow song on the album. Slightly reminiscent of " Home" from the self-titles Blues album. Joe still manages some ultra fast notes though, all the while mantaining the songs mellow sound.
"I like the rain" is probably the weakest track for me. Didn't like the melody. I thought the singing on this was actually better than " Lifestyle" just not a very good song!
Then the album finishes on two more moments of brilliance.
"Searching" is a ten minute jam - extremely creative brilliant, melodic haunting, jam, almost of a "mellow" Joe soloing over a repetetive base line. Think a slower "The Bells of Lal- Part 2 " from "Blue dream". I can't think of a longer track that Joe has laid down except the terrible " Woodstock Jam " from "Time Machine" However, he manages to hold this superbly down the entire song in a similar vein to "Bells of Lal" by running the scales back and forth with different techniques, padal effects, feedback, distortion and some things I can't even imagine what he's doing!
I think an important song in Joes career. The bass line reminds me of " Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2. There's also element of " Riders of the Storm" by the Doors in this one. He could have played this forever...
" Bamboo" finishes a top effort from Joe with another creative masterpiece of unusual , ground breaking guitar from the master.
Most fans will love this album I think. It may even bring new fans to the genre.
I also think this album will take a few listens to like. Personally I liked it better after a few listens. They're the albums I usually end up loving. I hated " Extremist " for the first ten times, but then it hit me with a blast, now I think it's one of his best.

For the newer fans: If you want some excellent albums from Joe, try " Crystal Planet", "Extremist" "Engines of Creation" or "Flying in a Blue Dream"
Who knows, you may end up like me.. with a draw full of Cds, videos and DVDs.
Enjoy!!!

Joe abandoned that techno synth experiment and takes a trip back to the sound that made him, well, Satch. This is a smokin' release on par with SWtA. The title track "Is There Love in Space?" is a highlight as is "Up In Flames," "Searching," and "Gnaahh." Joe throws in some vocal on "Lifestyle" and "I Like The Rain." Needless to say I am no fan of the vocals on this release, thus the one star hit. The minor key masterpiece "Searching" is a ten minute six string orgy. This is Satch you can sink your teeth into.

Satch is one of the few great virtuosos left that doesn't have to shred to prove his skill. This album is my personal favorite from him, for good reason. I'm not going to do a full fledged review, but I will tell you that you will not be disappointed by it; it's amazingly accessible from the first listen. Tired of hearing the endless shredding of Vai and Malmsteen? Satch is your best bet for a tasteful show of virtuosity, along with Steve Morse. (really, any guitarist who played with Purple)

'Is There Love In Space?' is another fantastic album by Joe Satriani. Although not his best work to date this is still a great album which Satch fans will love.
'Hands In The Air' is a great song witha hard, rock riff and some amazing harmonies. 'Gnahh' is another one of my favourites from the album as it has a catchy, funk-driven guitar sound to it. 'If I Could Fly' and 'Just Look Up' are also quite good, both being more pop-like than other the songs. 'Bamboo' and the title track are both made up of lots of strange and mysterious sounds that give the album a bit of an experimental side. 'Searching', the longest song on the album (10:07) is one of my favourites as it displays the tone fans of Joe have come to expect. Matt Bisonette also plays extremely well on this track providing a very complex bass line, in the middle of the song.
All in all 'Is There Love In Space?' is probably the most consistant slbum ever, no bad songs no truly min-blowing songs, not Joe's best album but its not his worst either.

4.5 stars

Satch never ceases to amaze me.

I never ever get bored of listening to the same albums over and over again.

This album is my most recent purchase.

Some of Satch's albums I have liked instantly... (The Extremeist my first introduction to the genius of Satch and Crystal Planet my all time fave Satch album) this is one that whilst I enjoyed initially didn't immediately make me want to go back and put it on again....hence it getting 4 stars and not the usual 5.However like most music by Satch it has a habit of growing on you...after 3 or 4 times of listening it had weedled its way into my sub-conscious and surprise surprise I find it as easy and as enjoyable to listen to as any other Satch album.

It's nice to see he has gone back to a more genuine Rock sound with meaty Riffs and more emphasis on Guitar once again.

I particularly like the opening to survivor...AM I wierd I always play the first minute over and over again?

All in all a good listen and long may Joe be putting out stuff of such a high quality.

What's good about it?
Joe starts things off with a commanding "Gnaah". Repetitive string bending is the inspiration for this song. Joe displays some great hammer-ons and string tapping during the solo section. "Hands in the Air" finds Satriani switching to dropped D tuning for more meaty riffing. He adds a splash of keyboards ala Steve Vai. Cosmic tones and a warbley guitar effect dominate the slow tempoed title track "Is There Love in Space". "If I Could Fly" has an acoustic heavy chord progression, highlighted by melodic soloing. "The Souls of Distortion" relies heavily on, what else...heavy distortion. Satriani goes manic on his improv soloing.

The ten minute epic "Searching" displays Satriani's knowledge of his fret board and guitar effects in all its glory. "Lifestyle" is the first of two songs that not only has Joe on guitar, but also has him handling vocals. That's right; Satriani takes the mic in this catchy number about his lady's deadly way of life. He delivers the vocals in an echoy, new-wave style. "I Like the Rain" has the same echoy vocal delivery, but it fits the songs better. Kicked off with a motorcycle engine revving, this bluesy track gets the blood pumping with a little 12 bar blues progression and piercing licks. Joe adds a little harmonica for fun.

Anything bad?
It's not a bad thing, but vocals don't really suit Satch.

Bottom Line
Thank God Satriani abandoned the Engines of Creation techno idea and reverted back to what he does best.