Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Consider this a DVD with a bonus CD, 13 Aug 2007
Joe Satriani's live output was already fairly extensive with two double-DVD concerts and three G3 offerings. However, all this footage shows a much more mature Joe, post-'96 haircut, performing the material very well, but almost as if it were a tribute to his rock 'n' roll past. I was absolutely thrilled when I found out he was releasing a full concert from the late 80s, back in his heyday of long hair and a gritty live act.
The DVD is great fun: Satch really gets into the material and sacrifices perfection for lots of improvisation and new fills. Many of the tracks have not before featured in Satch's videography, and are full of insight for fans who want to see how Satch pulls of his music live. Lords of Karma is particularly interesting as it shows Jonathan Mover using an electric drum pad to provide the rhythm guitar part, whilst the solo in Echo is entirely different to the album version. Satch also ad libs a delightful alternative solo before he begins the melody. Unfortunately, the set lasts just an hour because the band were late on and it had to be cut; indeed, Satch is so keen to get through it he even returns a beat early after the tapping solo in Satch Boogie!
I have never been so keen on Satch's early lineup of Stu Hamm and Jonathan Mover; I feel neither play very tastefully and the dated production and sound quality of this show doesn't help. There is little subtlety in Hamm pounding his way through each track putting his entire hand to the strings, whilst Mover's drum solo is boring and laden with too much double kick drum work. I much prefer Jeff Campitelli, who is clearly a huge Bonham fan and concentrates on the groove rather than competing with Satch for speed and volume. Where Hamm does shine is in his solid accompaniment to Always With Me, Always With You, where he plays both the bass line and the rhythm guitar's arpeggios.
The CD itself sounds fantastic and is complemented by a booklet in which Joe talks his way through each track. Armed with these, one can really appreciate the new mix, from Joe's huge sound on the title track to the ambience of Echo.
I definitely recommend this latest release, not least for the bonus live DVD, which shows the timeless and oxymoronic image of Satch, tightly clad in the quintessential rock outfit, performing his outrageous tunes in front of the stage's backdrop, which reads "Montreux Jazz Festival".
|
|
|
1 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
what a guitarist, 24 Jul 2007
i was inspired to buy surfing with the alien first time around after a listen to one of his tracks on Air Guitar I as his fret work sounds as if it is from another planet far far away and its the reason why i gave this re release five stars as i would have rated before it on its first release.
If he was to do an album that had a vocalist he could have Carmine Appice on drums, Lemmy Kilminster on bass and Ginger of the Wildhearts on vocals and himself and what a line up that would be!
A match made in heaven
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
Updated 'Classic' CD, 20 Feb 2009
I bought the original CD having been recommended by a friend. The remastered version is a lot cleaner, with additional amplification that gives it a more dynamic feel. Surfing and Satch Boogie are classics and how he plays Midnight is just amazing!
The addition of the bonus DVD - Live at Montreux Jass Festival 1988 probably shows Joe at his best. He was quite annoyed the set was delayed until 4am! due to other bands running over their time, so, considering the time, both he, Jonathan Moover (drums) and Stu Hamm do an excellent job, although the CD lists Jeff Campitelli as the drummer.
If you're new to Joe, or love Instrumental Guitar Rock and the odd blues track Joe is the one to get.
I consider this CD to be the second best ever - Flying in a Blue Dream remains his definitive work. I also rate The Extremist quite highly.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Joe Satriani
![Joe Satriani - Satriani Live [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51o-6xyYhlL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Joe Satriani
~ Chickenfoot
~ Joe Satriani
~ Joe Satriani
See all 14 tracks on this disc
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home