Not of this Earth 3:55 The Snake 4:40 Rubina 5:50 Memories 4:00 Brother John 2:07 The Enigmatic 3:25 Driving at Night 3:30 Hordes of Locusts 4:55 New Day 3:56 Headless Horseman 1:50 | MAK'S REVIEW: Not of This Earth marks the beginning of Joe's long and successful career. From the burning solos of the title track and heavy riffs of "Hordes of Locusts" to the slow and melodic phrases in "Rubina", this album reflects the character of Joe's later projects. NOTE is also Joe's first recording issued on Relativity Records, courtesy of Mr. Steve Vai. Nevertheless, the album lacks the energy and quality of later records. Clearly, this is a direct result of Joe's lack of money in the early part of his career. Joe has said that he ultimately creates half of the tracks while he is actually in the studio. For this recording, Joe only had his $5000 credit card, which doesn't buy much studio time. The album took a total of 107 hours to create and the lack of time is reflected in the songs. While the record does an effective job of showcasing Joe's talents, it simply isn't as enjoyable as later works. Then again, a "bad" Joe record isn't what other "bad" records are. Star Rating (out of 5): *** 1/2 EVAN'S REVIEW: This album is definately 80's influenced, but that's what helps make it so classic. The title track is a great starter, and is Joe's favorite example of use of the Pitch Axis theory. The Snake is one of the best songs on the album, though it lasts a bit too long in my opinion, and Rubina adds a great contrast with its slow, soothing feel. One of my favorite songs is Hordes of Locusts. NOTE is quite different from Joe's other work, simply because it was recorded so early in his career. Although it's probably my least favorite of his CD's, I'd still definately reccomend it for Satch fans to check out. As Mak said, Joe on his worst day is a lot of times better than the next guy on his normal day. However, I wouldn't reccomend it being the first Satriani album you buy, this one is more for the die hard fans I think. It's impressive for being financed on a credit card, and it shows Joe experimenting with sounds and finding his style as he started out on his solo embarkment. Star Rating (Out of 5): *** 1/2 |
A review by critic Jim White (© Emap Consumer Magazines Limited. For personal use only.)
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