It’s hard to believe this is Joe Satriani’s 16th solo album and even harder to believe that the great man can still conjure up new soundscapes and experiences seemingly at will that can both retain the attention of casual non guitar nerds like me ad the serious players too. Over the span of the last few albums I’ve found myself re-visiting Satriani again and again and as a staunch ‘verse-chorus-verse-chorus’ man that’s as surprising to me as anyone. But whatever that magic is, and to be honest I’d rather you listen as I’m not sure I want to break the magic of that connection on ‘What Happens Next’ it appears that he’s done that all over again.
This time though he’s got the legendary Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Black Country Communion) and drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot) in tow, twiddling the knobs though it’s still the ever-present Mike Fraser who has worked with Joe for over 20 years now.
As songs go there’s an immediate latent engine growl at play here from the opening track ‘Energy’ which bursts out of the speakers with real classic rock feel and pace. It’s one of many tracks here that strike an immediate chord from the feline fun of the jazz meets funk ‘Catbot’ through the real showstoppers like the majestic ‘Thunder High On The Mountain’ which packs power from the central riff and paints a landscape you could almost step into. Then there’s the scintillating ‘Cherry Blossoms’ which balances delicacy with violence – and man when it explodes take cover!
We segue into two tracks that seemingly seek to explore the soundtracks of the past: ‘Righteous’ and ‘Smooth Soul’ – the former melodic and architectural and the latter adding a glassy texture to the score.
The second half of the album starts with something a little stronger and courser in texture with ‘Headrush’ taking up where we started and Joe delivering fiery Blues elevated to a classic by that rhythm section behind him. ‘Looper’ takes it funky again before the title track reflects back at us the landscape from the lander, before it’s funk again, but this time harder as you might imagine from a title like ‘Super Funky Badass.’
The album ends with the possibilities and the door wide open ‘Invisible’ starts like a fiery rocker before heading to a casino on an alien jazz plant and never returning whilst closer ‘Forever and Ever’ is firmly rooted in the earth and reality it almost reminisces for simpler times: it’s certainly the most emotionally resonant track here and a great way to leave us.
Satriani always manages to take you elsewhere and leave you hankering after that experience again. This is another great adventure and one that brings you safely home.
Track Listing:
1 – Energy | 2 – Catbot | 3 – Thunder High On The Mountain | 4 – Cherry Blossoms | 5 – Righteous | 6 – Smooth Soul | 7 – Headrush | 8 – Looper | 9 – What Happens Next | 10 – Super Funky Badass | 11 – Invisible | 12 – Forever And Ever
G3 U.S. TOUR SET TO LAUNCH ON JANUARY 11TH – Tour features Satriani, John Petrucci (Dream Theater) & Phil Collen (Def Leppard). In other news: “Beyond the Supernova” Documentary by ZZ Satriani to Premiere at Mill Valley Film Festival – October 14th
