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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
You`ve heard the tricks before...now enjoy some real songs, 1 April 2008
What I mean by my title is that you`ll hear much the same sort of electrifying solo work that you`ve heard on Joe`s other classic albums. So, what`s new then? Well, I think this is much more of a "song" orientated album. Very occasionally there can be a slight tendency for a Joe track to sound like a collection of disparate solos (which is hardly a criticism when he is so incredibly talented and inventive). "Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock" doesn`t have many songs that feel that way, mostly they sound like the emotions that Joe is trying to portray and the songs are structured to best achieve this. Despite the smug remarks by some critics of guitar instrumentalists, I reckon Joe gets his titles spot on.
So, to track one, "Musterion"; anyone that knows Joe will think he is plagiarising himself! It`s like "Not of This Earth" for 2008! Perhaps a bit darker and broodier, and containing one of the great slow-build solos, a real stunner. "Overdriver" (track 2) is a big, "Super Colossal"-sounding track, with big lead guitars and big chords, it has a real arena-feel to it, lots of fun. Which is probably the point of "I Just Wanna Rock" (3) too - it`s a little by-numbers though but with a 100mph solo that makes the hair stand up. I consider there to be two weak tracks on this album, track 4, "Professor Satchafunkilus" (it sounds like a theme tune for some cheesy American daytime comedy) and "Diddly-Y-A-Doo-Dat" (8), which sounds as silly as it`s title. These two tracks are both quite witty-sounding I guess, but lost the album one star, as they are skip button material to my ears.
There are though some seriously good compensating songs. "Revelation" is a beauty (it has a bit of "Secret Prayer" from Crystal Planet about it), and another emotionally moving song, and "Come On Baby" (6) is a rare piano-led track, that builds slowly but keeps its groove and feel wonderfully. My standout track is the mesmerising "Out Of The Sunrise" (7). Another to feature keys in the intro, it`s about staying up all night and watching the sun rise, and the feeling that you can put right the mistakes of the day before. I love it. Joe uses his whammy pedal to give an eery, echoey feel to this most sublime of songs, and throws in a reggae-style solo to symbolize the emergence of the new day`s sun. Joe really can create some magnificent, haunting ballads when he wants to.
"Asik Vaysel" though, track 9, is a proper rocker. It`s so good that it wouldn`t be out of place on "Surfing With The Alien" - has a sort of "Crushing Day" vibe about it. Album closer "Andalusia" showcases Joe`s chilling ability with a classic guitar, but it changes tack quite violently after two minutes with feedback and power chords, and you can only guess that what Joe was really thinking about was a massive thunderstorm over Andalusia! It`s the song I`m always crying out for really when I listen to Joe - thrilling lengthy fretboard runs, harmonics, pick-tapping, dive bombs...it`s got everything.
You get your money`s worth with this album, all the tracks are of good length and Joe mixes quite a good range of styles and ideas that come together very satisfactorily. It`s really near to being a masterpiece. Joe has already made some perfect albums and it`s not quite there with them...it`s near enough for me though. Joe says he tried to get as much feeling and emotion into as tight a package and as few songs as he could, and as usual, his work surpasses all else around.
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