Guitar heroes are so hard to find nowadays; at least in the way we are used to appreciate them back in the 80s. One of the very few ones left is surely Joe Satriani who remains punctual to his usual date with the recording studio where he has given us through the years very specific yet exceptional releases. Let’s not forget, after all, that he has 17 studio albums under his belt and counting.
“Shapeshifting” is his latest opus and one more proof (not that he needed any) of his unparalleled talent. This is another record by Joe that combines a variety of rhythm sections and tempos plus many special effects whose roots are traced in different musical genres, from electronic to country music. The truth is that he really tries to include far too many elements in those 13 songs and I must say that he succeeds in doing so.
The special guests are also really important here thus I am sure everybody’s familiar with Chris Chaney (bassist of Jane’s Addiction and of the Alanis Morissette Band), Kenny Aronoff (session drummer extraordinaire) while he retains the winning team of Eric Cadieux and Jim Scott who handle the production work along with Joe on “Shapeshifting”.
Standout tracks at least for this editor who doesn’t have a clue of music theory are definitely “All For Love”, “Perfect Dust” and “Falling Stars”; songs that I am sure I would listen in the future to come.
All in all, “Shapeshifting” is a really good record and a great lesson for the up and coming generation of guitarists out there. I’d add that “Shapeshifting” could work also as a driving force and a musical compass for the young guitarists that still are in search for that unique sound of theirs.
