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"At the age of sixty, Joe Satriani offers us one of the most rock, optimistic and coherent records of his career."
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5/5
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He has been repeating it for more than thirty years, through interviews, never tired of this question that has been asked so often. Joe Satriani started playing guitar when Jimi Hendrix died. It was the founding act, the trigger, the event that changed his life and the course of the history of the electric guitar. It is also what distinguishes him from many shredders to whom he paved the way. Joe is first and foremost a rock musician. It is his DNA, his inspiration, his musical identity. Everyone who knows him well knows how happy the Chickenfoot episode made him. He finally got him his real rock band. But Chickenfoot seems to be dead and buried today. Yet the guitarist has done everything he could to keep the flame alive. But Sammy Hagar was never satisfied with album sales. Sammy's a singer. He needs recognition and fame. No matter how much Joe told him that their job was first and foremost to play rock and roll and that was the only thing that mattered, Hagar wanted more. And Chickenfoot wasn't Van Halen. So Joe went on his way. The "Shockwave Supernova" tour was a worldwide success and the occasion for Satriani to celebrate the thirty years of the release of "Surfing With The Alien" and to think about what can happen next, after forty years of career.
This much-awaited sequel is the master's sixteenth solo effort and is yet another milestone in his impeccable career. "What Happens Next" is a rock album. In spirit and in letter. A return to the roots of the groove and soul that rocked Joe's childhood. An album entirely composed around the rhythm section. Chad Smith, also an orphan of Chickenfoot and on vacation with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, didn't hesitate to put his inimitable feeling of funk rock drummer at the service of the guitarist's compositions. But the real genius of the album is the presence of Glenn Hughes on bass. For his first collaboration on an entirely instrumental record, the "voice of rock" was able to devote himself to swinging his bass lines. For a result that exceeds all expectations in terms of groove.
"What Happens Next" is the album of a power trio who have fun like a high school band, experience and talent on top of that. From the very first seconds, the rock riff of 'Energy' takes everything in its stride. There's no useless technique or convoluted shots here. Satriani has long since moved beyond the demonstration stage and has nothing more to prove. Of course, some musical phrases are there to remind us of the exceptional richness of the guitarist's playing: the legato open-string riff of 'Thunder High On The Mountain', the mastery of vibrato and octave playing of the very jazz rock 'Invisible' or the incredible boogie 'Headrush', a nod to the 'Satch Boogie' of 'Surfing With The Alien' on which Glenn Hughes develops all his bass talents. But that's not the point.
The main thing is rock, groove and fun. And from that point of view, it's a festival. The funk rhythms and Satriani's uncommon use of compression give the American's music a sexy and unusually cheerful aspect ('What Happens Next', 'Super Funky Badass', 'Looper'). And the trio's relaxed and funky playing is so communicative that it really structures the compositions. This is the case with the very playful 'Righteous' or the magnificent psychedelic ballad 'Cherry Blossoms'.
At the age of sixty, Joe Satriani offers us one of the funniest, optimistic and coherent records of his career and finally, for the first time, pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The album ends with 'Forever And Ever', which sounds like an extract from "Electric Ladyland", as Joe's rhythm guitar perfectly reproduces Jimi's playing tics, which are forever part of the collective memory of rock guitar. The master is always there and well there. "What Happens Next" exudes the joy of living, composing and playing music. Hats off to the artist! - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Energy 02. Catbot 03. Thunder High On The Mountain 04. Cherry Blossoms 05. Righteous 06. Smooth Soul 07. Headrush 08. Looper 09. What Happens Next 10. Super Funky Badass 11. Invisible 12. Forever And Ever
LINEUP:
Chad Smith: Batterie Glenn Hughes: Basse Joe Satriani: Guitares / Claviers
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READERS
4.4/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
5/5 (1 view(s))
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