It’s been over 15 years since I first heard a Joe Satriani track, and until that point, I had never imagined that the Electric Guitar would be able to translate complex human emotions so vividly--how lush chords and technically intricate guitar solos could express delicate feelings while at the same time, sound musically immaculate.
As one of the pioneers of the modern instrumental Guitar genre, Satriani has crafted some of the most musically rich, imaginative and diverse pieces of music to ever grace the Electric Guitar. What sets him apart from most other great Guitar Heroes out there, is that his playing, even when it gets unbelievably technical, is always in service of the songs. There’s almost always a ‘musical storytelling’ aspect to his compositions and a central theme that every element of the ‘songs’—from the riffs to the solos, serve as essential contributors instead of being self indulgent. It’s this element of ‘restraint’ that makes Satriani a virtuoso musician and composer on the Guitar and turns his music into compelling works of sonic artistry that are also widely appealing and accessible.
And to celebrate Satch’s Sonic Shockwave Supernovas on the fretboard-Universe, here’s a compilation of 10 most memorable tracks that everyone who loves music ought to listen to.
10. Ten Words: The most uplifting power ballad in Satch’s entire catalogue, this song is also one of the most instantly-feel good compositions you’ll ever hear on the Electric Guitar. Also, I love the soaring, creamsicle-sunlight-flavored solo that just takes it all to a whole another level of musical delights. Compact and lean, Ten Words can take the listener into a joyful state as soon as it starts.
9. Shockwave Supernova: Out of all the rockers and arena stompers that Satch has created so far, this one stands out as the most extravagant one, complete with a distinctly futuristic vibe that can take the listener straight to the upper Stratosphere. With a turbocharged, scorching riff that’s also easily one of Satriani’s most epic ones and a solo that’s as musically memorable as it’s technically thrilling (gotta love that short-but-intense legato run at 2:04), Shockwave Supernova is one of the very best album openers in Satriani’s discography. Energetic and fun, this riveting track also has a phenomenal amount of replayability cause of how layered it is.
8. Until We Say Goodbye: This somber, heartbreaker of a melody is one of Satriani’s most memorable slow burners. It’s also painstakingly melancholic and beautiful, with a mood-shifter of a riff around the middle part of the song. But the real highlight is the emotionally drenched solo, which is equally evocative and technical—it’s a great example of how sweep picks and lightning-fast passages can turn into incredibly tasteful musical phrases. One of Satch’s most universally appealing and musically profound compositions, Until...is a must listen for any and all music lovers out there.
7. The Crush of Love: This song is the Electric Guitar’s way of a sonic painting, filled with emotionally rich textures and a fantasy-layered skybox color palette. From start to finish, it’s gleaming with rich melodic overlays along with dreamy chords that drive home it’s musical themes of longing and head-in-the-clouds romantic fantasies. With it’s delightfully tasty licks (just listen to 1:57 to 2:00), the solo takes you deeper and deeper into it’s central themes. The Crush of Love is easily one of the more imaginative expressions of Satriani’s musical craftsmanship and a real gem of a Guitar instrumental ‘song’.
6. Is there Love in Space: One of Satriani’s most adventurous sonic explorations of the Universe, this song takes you on a journey through ‘spacey’ chords, an emotionally tormented solo and a cathartic section near the end. Eerie, eccentric and unforgettable, this powerfully moving track is one of those sublime pieces of musical artistry that’ll stay etched in the mind of the listener long after it’s over.
The top 5 Joe Satriani tracks will be featured in the next part of this article. Till then, just breathe into these amazing pieces of transcendental Guitar arts. See you in the next one.
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