Joe Satriani — Dreaming #11

• Artist: Joe Satriani
• Title: Dreaming #11
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

Dreaming #11 by Joe Satriani is an EP that had one new studio track, “The Crush of Love”, and three live tracks on the flip. “Ice Nine”, one of my Satch favorites, “Memories” and “Hordes of Locusts” are the live numbers and they make it clear what a true maestro Satriani is. That said, despite being shred-tastic this stuff just doesn’t have the soulfulness of my new héroes de la guitarra, Rodgab. I went right back to playing their new album when this one was done.

Joe Satriani – Surfing With the Alien

• Artist: Joe Satriani
• Title: Surfing With the Alien
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

This record is awesome! Sure, it’s mostly for guitar geeks or wannabes, the songs are sorta stiff, and much of the drums are programmed. But who cares!? That stuff is not what Joe Satriani and Surfing With the Alien are all about. Besides, his playing is so exciting and the solos so completely excellent that they are the hooks, and what make the tunes memorable. I can’t pretend to play this stuff on guitar but I tell you I can hum along with every note, and of course air guitar the entire record. It sticks with you.

Be-cause
he’s just
that good.

Bonus on this post is that I remembered to take a pic of the liner with Joe rocking in the Reebok hightops. Bonus number two is that I found my ticket stub from seeing him live in 1988. Mary and I went to see him with my friends Bennie Ingram and Jeff Slay. Of course Joe tore the Boathouse roof off.

Check out Joe’s site.