Since his guitar skills often sound like they come from another planet, ifs no wonder that Joe Satriani seems the ideai person to ponder Is There Lave in Space? Joining such Satriani classics as Nat af This Earth and Surfing with the Alien, his latest Epic Records endeavor further explores his extra-terrestrial mastery of the instrument-albeit
while working in a more comfortably grounded environment. -People have heard my bluesy side, my metal side, and my techno side: he says. "I guess this is my rockin' side."
The 11 diverse cuts on Is There Lave in Space? range from the
pulsating, brash opener, "Gnaahh," to the seven-string menace of
-Hands in the Air," to the poignant ballad "Just Look Up." Yet ali the
tracks are unified by Satriani's love of old-school hard rock.
-l've ta"-en a lot of my cues recently from live performance more than
anything else," he says of solo tours and those shared with fellow
virtuosos in the evolving project G3. "Standing on stage has made me
feel freer to explore some places l've been before and to look for
some avenues I haven't."
Dne of those avenues that is rather novel to Satriani is vocal
duties. Is There Lave in Space? includes two
compositions that feature the instrumentalist taking
command of the mie. "I usually try to find a character to
sing through as a method of creating a vibe on the
song," he explains.
Overthe hammering riff of "Lifestyle," Satriani
summons the same style he adopted when covering
Neil Young during the G3tour, while on the swamprocker"
1 Like the Rain," he dons a ZZ Top hat "Iike a
junior Billy Gibbons."
-My fans know l'm just using the vocals as an effe et to
create an interesting song," he says. "Just like if l'm
playing slide guitar, they know l'm not a dedicated
slide player. l'm not going to make it part of
my signature. What we arrive at is
somewhat cathartic for someone
who doesn't sing."
-I L.i"-e the Rain" also
reatures the album's most
eccenrnc moment, when
!he engine rewing of a
Harley Davidson
becomes an integrai part
af!he song. rtt's a little
synchronicity combined
wiìh serendipity," Satriani
says afIDe circumstances
mat spawned the
recording.) Apparent!y,
while waiting for a guitar
tech lo retum to the studio
wiih a piece or gear, the
band could hear his
momrcycle's rumble
signaling the arrivaI. The crew ran some cables out the control room
doors and into the street to pop the sound onto tape. "It was perfect
because it went with the attitude of the vocals," Satriani says.
Another notable guest appearance involves the musician's young son,
who turns up on the moody-and downright spacey-closer,
"Bamboo." "I coaxed him into Iying on the floor with an electric bass
and playing a couple notes with his violin bow," he remembers. "It
turned out to be great. It was the first thing that we had really done
together that I knew would wind up on a record, so it was exciting for
me. Obviously, he couldn't care less."
Is There Lave in Space? is produced by Satriani, recorded by longtime
collaborator John Cuniberti, and mixed by Mike Fraser. The album
features the performer's core trio of Matt Bissonette on bass and Jeff
Campitelli behind the drums.
With this release, the New York native now boasts 11 solo albums to
his credit-and a staggering 13 Grammy nominations to go along with
them. His records have sold over 10 million cop;es worldwide. In fact,
his sophomore effort, Surfing With the Alien, became the first
instrumental guitar album to crack the Top 40. His Uve in San
Francisca DVD hit the gold rnark, and the first G3 Uve in
Cancert DVD went platinum.
. In addition to his own material, Satriani has recorded
and toured with such artists as Mick Jagger, Deep
Purple, Alice Cooper, and even Spinal Tap. Even
before his 1986 debut Nat of This Earth, Satriani had
become sornething of a cult legend as the guitar
teacher to such future stars as Steve Vai,
Metallica's Kirk Harnmett, Counting Crows' David
Bryson, and jazz artist Charlie Hunter.
Satriani has also becorne a hornetown hero in the
Bay Area, where he resides. He has been recruited
to render the national anthem before San
Francisco 4gers and Giants
games, a;; well as far acrossthe-
bridge neighbors, the
Oakland A's.
It's no wonder he is listed
at NO.8 in Guitar Plaver
rnagazine's "Top 50
Greatest Guitarists PolI."
"My ultimate goal is to
continue playing forever,"
Satriani says. "I hope to
never be tired of it and to
always be searching to
express the life I lead by
taking those experiences
and turning them into
music. Hopefully, the guitar
will be my ongoing
instrument of expression."
Matching Folio with Note for Note Transcriptions and Tablature for Joe Satriani's Is There Love in Space. Includes the songs: Gnaahh -Up in Flames -Hands in the Air -Lifestyle -Is There Love in Space? -If I Could Fly -The Souls of Distortion -Just Look Up -I Like the Rain -Searching -Bamboo. TAB.
Series: Play It Like It Is
Publisher: Cherry Lane Music TAB
Artist: Joe Satriani
PHOTOGRAPHY by Greg Watermann
The All Music Guide says that Satriani has "explored many directions, mashing together rock, blues, jazz, and pure technical proficiency in a dizzying blend that bears his unique signature." This matching folio to his 9th album, released in 2004, includes 11 tracks, 112 pages.
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