Joe Satriani Crystal Planet CD

Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, harmonica, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, bass, hand claps); Eric Cadieux (keyboards, programming); Stuart Hamm (bass); Eric Valentine, Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion, hand claps); Rhoades Howe, Elk Thunder (percussion); Mike Manning, Mike Fraser (hand claps).
"A Train Of Angels" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, harmonica, keyboards, guitar synthesizer); Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion); Eric Caudieux (programming).
Audio Mixers: Eric Caudieux; Eric Valentine ; Joe Satriani; John Cuniberti; Mike Fraser.
Recording information: H.O.S. Recording; Hyde Street Studios; Plant Studios; Site.
Editor: Eric Caudieux.
Joe Satriani always stood apart from the legions of guitar virtuosos who surfaced in the late '80s, largely because he had a sharper ear than his peers. He didn't limit himself to hard rock or heavy metal, preferring to draw in elements of pop and jazz as well. At his best, he stood head and shoulders above his peers, many of whom were his former students. However, his records were a little uneven, especially those featuring his vocals, and it seemed like he had painted himself into a corner by 1995's eponymous effort. Remarkably, moving to Epic revitalized his career. Recording wih longtime bassist Stuart Hamm and drummer Jeff Campitelli, Satriani turns in an all-instrumental record with Crystal Planet. It's an instrumental record with a difference, finding the guitarist taking more chances than ever. There are some familiar hard rock and ballad workouts, but what's astounding about the album is that it shows his technique continuing to develop and deepen, reaching into new, uncharted waters. It's his finest all-instrumental effort since Surfing With the Alien. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
On CRYSTAL PLANET Satch provides his fans with exactly what they've come to expect: crunching riffs, soaring melodies, chord changes and solos from heaven. He deviates little from such past releases as THE EXTREMIST and SURFING WITH THE ALIEN, and as the saying goes: "if it ain't broke". That's not to say he doesn't stay contemporary, as "Raspberry Jam Delta-V" effectively dabbles in electronica as subtle background noise.
"Love Thing" is a beautiful ballad and potential single, and Satch is able to make the guitar "talk". There are also elements of funk ("A Piece Of Liquid") and metal ("With Jupiter In Mind"). But his skills shine through the most when he shreds, and nobody does it better. Quite simply, the man is a virtuoso and probably one of the most influential Instrumental Rock artists of his generation. He shows he can play at the speed of light while fitting all these speedy solos into the context of the song. CRYSTAL PLANET continues the legacy of a man who shows that no matter how much technology advances, there is no substitute for a wailin' guitar.

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Entertainment Weekly (3/6/98, p.80) - "...innovation is moot: Satriani is an old-fashioned guitar hero, and antic wailer, and a romantic at heart."
- Rating: B