I just got the autographed CD in the mail. Thanks, Joe, for signing it (and putting some great music on it!), and to Sony for shipping it before it's release date!

I'm on my third listen so far, and I'm going to reserve (some) judgment for a later time, when I've digested the songs a bit better. Generally, with my favorite CDs, I hate them when I first get them (initially I thought I wasted my money with Vai's Passion & Warfare!). I think it's because it's such a new sound to me and/or too complex to fully appreciate on just a few listens. That wasn't the case with this CD, I think partially because I have Joe's style hardwired into my brain by this point.

Gnaahh is defintely the standout track. Like I said before about the sound clip, I love every detail of this song. I'm hearing new details on every listen (the gurgle sound at 1:28 is very cool). I am a bit dissapointed that Joe so blatently ripped himself off at 1:37 (compare to Borg Sex at 3:13). Not cool, but it's forgivable :-)

The solo on Hands In The Air is PERFECT.

Lifestyle seems pretty cool, but I'd hate to see Joe release it as a single, just because it's pretty standard blues with a lot of cliches and a complex solo, and there's way better stuff on the album (Gnaahh, Is There Love In Space?). Great sound on the vocals, though.

Is There Love In Space? is great. As I said before, there's four notes that initially reminded me of Until We Say Goodbye, but they're used in different parts of the phrase (which wasn't obvious on the clip), so I don't really hear it anymore. And I was being picky - it's just four notes. 2:02 is my favoite part - I love the clean guitar sound with no accompaniment. The solo is awesome - I'm glad Joe decided to go with the "crazy" one, as he explained in Guitar Player magazine. I love when a solo comes in playing notes you'd never expect to be played, but still fitting in to the rest of the song.

I don't like the Souls of Distortion yet. I think I will, though.

The voice is too distorted on I Like The Rain. I keep skipping that song.

Searching is a good example of Joe's real talent. Like Joe stated in Guitar Player magazine, it's a loose jam where Joe came up with an initial melody, then told the band to jam for a long time. It's amazing how cohesive and interesting the whole thing is. Like the band Tool, Joe knows how to keep your attention throughout a 10 minute song.

Bamboo is cool. I hear Ronnie Montrose all over it, but I seriously doubt Joe was trying to copy his style. And there's still a lot of unmistakable Joe in there. I like the backwards guitar - it doesn't sound like your typical backwards guitar just used for effect - it's more like how George Harrison used the technique (he worked it out so he knew exactly how it would sound when it was flipped around).

Today is Easter, we are all sitting around the house, waiting for dinner, the neice and step daughter are here acting goofy, putting on puppet shows...etc, etc. So, the step daughter, Demetria(age 5), likes to sing along to "times like these" as I am playing my guitar...as we were on intermission I decided to let my sister and brother in law listen to some of the new JS.."if I could fly"...WHAT A HIT, the two young ones went dance crazy. Me and step daughter have been listening to it all night long, listening to it as I type...what can I say?? Its Joe=awesome......Just wanted to post to let you know that even the generation gap does not seperate good music.

Thanks Austin:

I will try the link now. Chris is opening for ZZ Top and Hank Jr. June 26, in Beaumont TX.

www.chrisleblancband.com................... Oh well, still didn't work

Hey my cousin heard Ceremony a few years back and she thought it was the music to River Dance. Thanks to her when I here the tune now, that is what I think of. That is why I referred to that in the e-mail I sent you. Thought you you may have thoughts on it yourself......................Clint

Joeman9:

Did you get the meaning of the post I sent to you.

Bil:

xxxCHROMEBOYxxx I'd fly anywhere the wind took me and I'd enjoy everyminute of it. Sheer bliis of the wind against my face just enjoying the skyline and the smell of the clean air above the ocean.

Joeman9:

Hey it was @ your 665th post. I said post your next 2 post real quick. Wondered if you knew what I was talking about. You are way past that now so you should be alright. HAHA.

Hello Joe.

I have not heard the album yet, only the samples, but from what I hear I think the album is another great bout of creativity, congratulations and thanks for such great listening experiences.

The upbeat sounds I hear in the samples are a welcome emotional booster in what is sometimes a world with chronic conflict and difficulties.

Cheers

JS_JS hey did you see!? Did you see!? I ordered Extremist, Crystal Planet, and Engines of Creation all in one package! For only $35.11! That's great! I got free shipping too! SWEET! so how are you today?

I was checking out some interviews on Satriani on forveverjoe.com and seriously, some of the interview questions are just boring boring boring..... Every Interviewer seems to ask "Um, so whats your Live set up?" or "Why do you use .009 strings and not .010's" or "So why you use this gear set up?" Not that these questions are bad or anything, but interviewers ask the same damn thing in every damn interview! I need to hear questions like "were there any moments when you just wanted to kick Yngwie's ass?" or "How much beer did Yngwie consume during the past g3" or "Did you ever feel like saying 'Fuck this tour man, I'm going home." In other words, they should learn to ask creative questions. We dont expect Joe to give straight up answers to questions like these, but for a change from those gearhead questions. I think fans can appreciate it more rather than just seeing him as a guitar geek who wakes up in the morning and wonders what scale should he brush his teeth in.

And finally, Joe is known to be a pleasant guy to be around with so the interviews would only expand a fans view of him.

Hey everyone, just popping out to say g'day in the middle of my 1 week much needed holiday. I read half of the posts, and although there's a lot of discussion-worthy stuff I'm going to let it go and make my own topic of conversation before I disappear again.

I need a new gearbox (need, not want. I grit my teeth when I'm driving, it's so scary) in my car but I have no money other than what I'm saving for a good crash cymbal. 4th gear is fine, nice and smooth. The other 4 forward gears sound like there's a heap of (big) rocks in the box. Reverse is a bit crunchy.

The band played twice on Saturday, in the morning and afternoon (in different towns) and it was good fun, even though we were so rushed we didn't play fantastically. Left foot wasn't warmed up so the double kick thing didn't sound too good. Over all a good yet tiring day.

Going to get some milk, then it's peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch. Oh, it's nearly 3pm...

the easter bunny brought me a stomach virus & a migraine today. nice bunny.

kick the bunny.