"Not the Satch sound"...."many of the songs were missing the depth and varied technique that I normally associate with his work. The guitar work was too restrained for my liking".....
Wow, it's actually a revelation to come across so many die-hard Joe 'fans' who expect so much from the master guitarist. There's a little hitch here, though: do any of the reviewers lamenting the 128th-note lick-heavy Joe even realise that that kind of playing owes a lot to the bluesy Satriani of this album? Or am I talking in a fool's paradise?
Probably the latter, cynical as I am, since this album's not even there in the first search on Amazon's list of Satriani albums. That itself is quite freaky!
Not only is this album a technical super-fest -- it's Manu Katche and Nathan East as a rhythm section, if you please -- it's also a kicker of an album of compositions. Any of the serious guitar players I know would give their right-hand to compose such material. It's lesson after lesson of grooves, if you ask me, of cymbal colouring, and just brilliant melodies. Songs like 'Home' do bring a tear to the eye.
Sometimes, it's nice to let someone be as they are. Maybe we can let Joe be blue.

In order to really enjoy this album, you have to know and accept that it's not like his other works. When I first heard this album, I absolutely hated it. But after giving it a few listens, I finally accepted that this one wasn't going to be the same as his other stuff, and once I did that it quickly has rocketed to my favorite Satch album.

This CD may be harsh to someone trying to discover Satriani's music for the first time. I would recommend that one does not begin with this CD, but let this be one of your last of his works. His sound is quite a bit different, sometimes very smooth and subdued, which is not his usual virtuoso style. Don't get me wrong -- Satch shreds on this album like usual, but it's a more bluesy style, which he most likely knew would be sort of "experimental" and may have upset some of his listeners. At first, I didn't like this album, but over time, I gave it second and third chances, and now it's one of my favorites ("Extremist" and "Crystal Planet" are my favorites). I would suggest picking this up to listen to Satch doing new things, but be forewarned that it is not his usual style.

Thanks for reading my review.
This is my least favourite Joe Satriani album. I have all his albums and I am a huge fan.
For me this is still an average to good album and a must for fans of Satch. If you like blues guitar, you will probably like it too.
For me, many of the songs were missing the depth and varied technique that I normally associate with his work. The guitar work was too restrained for my liking. It was inevitable I guess that he would bring out an album which I thought was average. You can't be brilliant for everybody all the time I guess!
The album does contain a couple of gems. "Cool #9" is clearly the best track on it for me, and the closest to his other work, without sounding too bluesy.
" If" contains some funky riffs, particuarly at the end and is also a great track. " Home" is a nice gentle relaxed ballad, and "Moroccan sunsets " also contains some nice work. But little else on the album is more than passable, and just OK to listen to every now then for me.
" Look my way" is the only vocal track on the album, and is very average. "Killer bee bop" is my second worst Satch song after " Woodstock jam", but hey... whatever turns you on.
" Sittin' round" is very boring, and " Slow down Blues" and " Down, down, down" also send me to sleep.
Hats off to Satch for going back to his roots, and making something that he clearly enjoys playing, but I was glad he followed up this work with the brilliant " Crystal Planet"
Not the best album to buy first if you want to try some Joe Satriani, he has much better work in my humble opinion.
If you have all his other stuff, you'll find at least a couple of tracks you will enjoy.
Thanks for reading!

Satch is full of surprises. Thats the very reason he still has such a strong fan following and keeps getting more popular. In this album he made the right decision by brining in Nathan East, Manu Katche and Andy Fairweather Low as his studio musicians. The virtuosity of every musician on this album is astronomical. Songs like If, Cool no9, down down down, etc are the Satriani you never have heard of before.