[ericbourassa]

Re: Shapeshifter Released Today

yes! i feel the same way about this album as i do most of Satch's albums- some really standout tracks, some meh tracks. his tone is incredible. band sounds great. The snare drum tone is awesome.
i lean towards liking the more upbeat rockin stuff so the slow tunes don't do it for me as much generally.
shapeshifting is a cool tune.
big distortion has those really cool chord changes in the interlude. it's actually way simpler than it sounds but man does it work.
all for love is my least favorite track
ali farka, dick dale... kind of cool but feels gimmicky
teardrops also meh
perfect dust is kind of the token "here's my song on the album that is intentionally a different style." feels gimmicky
Nineteen Eighty is so freaking awesome and I WANT MORE OF THIS
All My Friends Are Here is my #1 fave song on the album. just excellent. THAT SNARE DRUM
spirits, ghosts, and outlaws is great. cool chords/lead switching
the rest are fine.
'
i need to listen to it again. his albums tend to grow on me.

look, hard for me to piss on anything he does- it's better than the music i create. satch is my fave guitarist. playing is always top notch. the songs are usually all over the place for me in terms of enjoyment.

what did you think of the tracks?

 

[ericbourassa]

Re: Shapeshifter Released Today

agreed. and yes the beers help lol

I've only gone through it once... and starting it again, so my impression may change. Like was mentioned before, I have to listen to an album several times when I can really get into it. Usually driving to and from work, or working in the garage at home.

So far I like it! I'm a big Satch fan though, so I'm going to like it anyway, but it really does have some good songs. In the same vein as more recent albums, no really groundbreaking new techniques or anything, but solid rock-n-roll guitar, well written songs, and great recorded sound. Liking the title track, Perfect Dust, 1980 is pretty good, Spirits/Ghosts is a good rocker... and I really like Joe's slower, more open songs like Teardrops and Falling Stars. He is just magical when given space to do his thing!

I'll be buying it ASAP and then I'll get a better listen. Now if I get to drinking beers and listening to an album that's when I really bond with the songs... lol.

 

[ericbourassa]

Re: Shapeshifter Released Today

100% agreed

After first listen through with a good set of headphones...

- incredibly polished. Great sound/tone.
- does Satriani thing. Amazing playing. Instantly recognisable as Joe.
- nothing has grabbed me as "oh that's new or different" and there isn't an instant classic like flying in a blue dream or Rubina on there. But i think after more listens there are definitely some really good tracks that'll grow on me.

So solid effort. But not really Joe taking any risks or trying to innovate here. Maybe it's not the time to expect that anyway. He has his thing he does and he does it better than anyone...