Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien

Outstanding Instrumental Rock

I challenge anyone to release a more accessible instrumental rock album than Joe Satriani's Surfing With the Alien. I don't play guitar myself, but that is hardly an impediment to enjoying his music...and that's probably the best thing about Joe -- you don't need to be a musician yourself to love his songs. That is often not the case with albums meant to show off a musician's crazy skills.

Surfing With the Alien was Joe's first successful record, and after listening to it just once you'll understand why. Joe eschews needless self-indulgence like most 'guitar heroes' and just plays rocking songs with interesting melodies. My favorite songs are "Crushing Day" -- an exhilarating song with mind-bending solos and some good hooks, that builds and builds in intensity -- and "Echo" -- a great track that flows naturally and beautifully. Every other song here is excellent, from the epic and orchestral-sounding "Hill of the Skull" to the pretty ballad "Always With Me; Always With You."

I highly recommend this album to guitar players and rock fans alike.