Joe Satriani
Super Colossal

It has been out for more than two months, yet the reviewers and colleagues at deBaser have not reviewed this latest chapter of Satriani's music.

The hero of the six-string (lately, a few songs with the seven-string have slipped in) gives us just under an hour of new tracks. And to call them good is quite an exaggeration because in this "Super Colossal" you will find nothing exciting, especially nothing, but nothing original.

Indeed, it seems that good Joe has settled into the not-so-great but winning formula of his last two works, I'm talking about "Strange Beautiful Music" and "Is there love in space?". Similar sounds, similar use of effects, and no stylistic innovation. The only thing that might strike you is perhaps the spur-of-the-moment composition attitude, almost improvised, that permeates the entire album.
There is no lack of energy or melody, but that spark of genius is missing that Satriani accustomed us to in past times. The record starts with the decent and rocking "Super Colossal". Nothing exciting but enjoyable, with the usual riff repeated several times and a solo of undeniable taste and technique. So it's the usual Satriani piece. "Just Like Lightning", on the other hand, plays with more bluesy sounds with a solo featuring the unmistakable wha-wha, but the piece doesn't captivate me much, even though there are effective parts.

"It's so good" is a nice track, very rhythmic and transporting, but it seems too standard for someone like Joe. Joe seems to be running away from what has distinguished him in his career, but this apparent escape only brings him back to the usual piece that, although enjoyable, just repeats what Joe has already said in the past. "RedShift riders" doesn't say anything to me, and leaves a bitter taste, while a sweet shiver is given by "ten Words". Nothing brand new: it's the usual ballad that Satriani places on the album, but how beautiful it is! Emotion that shines through every note, bending, or otherwise. Notable.
The following "A Cool new way", however, does not repeat the previous emotions and falls into my oblivion also because it's endowed with a truly annoying duration. Instead, "One robot's Dream" excellently reminds me of the tracks from "Engines of creation". And it's a nice memory, this is really the second gem of the album. "The meaning of love" retraces the paths paved by other more famous Satch ballads, neither shame nor praise. Almost nothing happens anymore on the album: the following tracks are structured in the usual Satriani standard: the usual rock and melodic riff (Theme for a strange world) and yet another ballad (A Love eternal). But the album closes unexpectedly: I expected a slow ending, while here I am facing another jewel: "Crowd Chant" is sublime. It sounds like Mission Impossible, with an arena singing as the background and the track explodes. Truly stunning. It is absolutely not a return to the origins, no new things, no innovation.

The same old story, well done, and played, with wonderful highs and lows that give nothing, absolutely nothing.