Thanks for announcing new Australian shows! It seems that G3-06 was such a long time ago.. Hopefully I can manage to go to the Forum in Melbourne! :-)

So....I haven't posted in a while. I've had a lot of crazy things happen in my life over the last 8 months, but I did want to chime in here and give my thoughts on the new album.

I just got the special edition of "PSATMOR" with the accompanying DVD (which was entertaining) in the mail a couple days ago. I have to admit...there are moments on this disc that are absolutely amazing and a couple that are more "hmmmmm....I don't know about that", like the "Satchifunkilus" track for example. Its a humorous and whimsical tune that pokes fun at the the entire funk genre, and Joe demonstrates his ability to "get funky" quite well, but....why? Its wasted effort for Joe IMHO because, as a Satch fan, I really don't want to hear him playing funk music. I want to hear him playing soaring rock leads that make your foot heavy on the gas peddle when you're driving. I want to hear him playing soulful minor blues'ish ballads that tug the heart strings.

He does get a lot of that right on this disc though.

The disc is a continuation of songwriting and playing styles from both the ITLIS? and Super Colossal discs. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you liked music on those, you'll like the music on this new outing. However, if you are a jaded fan longing for the days of "The Extremist" and "Crystal Planet", you'll probably walk away from your initial listening of this disc with disappointment, much like you have for the last four albums Joe has put out.

For me though, after repeated listens, there's a lot on this disc and its grown on me in the 3 days I've been jammin' to it. Its a very eclectic record with styles kinda all over the place. The standout tracks are without a doubt "Overdriver", "Come on Baby", "Andalusia", and "Revelation". These tracks, while not the meticulously composed, highly progressive tracks that I know Joe is capable of writing, are still fantastic all on their own merit. They are full of groove and soul with melodies that captivate and spark the imagination. There isn't much stretching out from where Joe has taken us before as far as his technical playing, and his licks more or less remain unchanged from other recent albums, but the context of his playing in these grooves is really cool and says a lot about where he's at musically. I have no doubt that the disc will stay in my CD changer for months to come, just because of these tracks.

My final thought is that Joe is still Joe. He's an amazingly gifted player and puts a lot of soul into everything he does. He's just at a point where its pretty clear that he's playing for himself and not necessarily for anyone else. Exploring things in a way that makes HIM happy. His writing seems to be much more "free form" and appears to be geared for songs that will fit into live performance and allow for the obligatory open ended concert jams he has come to be known for during his shows. Songs like this really free Joe up on stage to be as expressive as he can be.

I think Joe's career is at a point now where he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone and he can pursue his own musical muse with a clear conscience. I think that's the place every commercial artist strives to be. He's reached that level without a doubt. He'll continue to be Joe and play things that Joe wants to play, and I for one will continue to support him in that.

Thanks for the music Joe!

I give "Professor Satchifunkilus and the Musterion of Rock" 8.0 out of 10

Good Morning Joe

First of all, kudos on the new album. I personally think it may be the most mature of your records, but they're all so consistently good, it's probably a waste of energy to try to prioritize. I always like the new one best just because of new ideas and themes and delivery, which is probably true for most listeners.

Anyway - a question, or maybe a wish. On listening to "Andalusia", (which is absolutely audacious in how the song moves in tone and still maintains the integrity of the underlying ideas) The handclasp opening reminded me of Pat Metheney's "The Heat of the Day". Of course, this convention is not new, but it provoked the thought - "wow, my two favorite guitar players together". Has that ever been an opportunity for you - have you and Pat ever played or even considered playing together? You're both often so cinematic in your writing styles, if you'll accept that terminology, and of course technically there's no need for concern.

Hey Joe!

Last night my daughters and I waited 3 hours in line for a sessions clinic at Guitar World in Englewood Colorado. I have three daughters ages 15, 11 and 8 and every minute was worth it to learn from you and hear/watch you play.

Joe, thank you for sharing your gift, your inspiration, your soul and your heart with the world. As a fomer touring vocalist even I learned from the experience of listening to your session. As the mother of an aspiring guitarist nothing made her LIFE more than meeting you! Your down to earth nature and wonderful expression with children made me proud to name my horse after you!!

Satriani ( the horse) is undefeated in the Pinto horse show world and we tell anyone who doesnt know where his name came from, all about your phenomenal gift. Thank you for the autograph on his picture! We hope we can infuse our love of this great horse and your music. By the way his first foal was named...Summer Song (lol)

Thank you for building the dream within my children Joe, you are truly a class act.

I Just Wanna Rock!

This is getting ridiculous....

It actually snowed over here the other day. It's supposed to be nearing our summer and it snowed.....

Amir - She's having a long walk home coz hubby took her off the car insurance!

Blue_Moon - "I showed you 2 wayyy to many pics god knows what ya do with em!"

Haha...you'll never be able to run for public office now, will you?

The same is true with me, because this photo (scroll down) ran in my paper a few months ago.

Can you tell me which songs Joe played, and what the order was? From reading other reviews I think it's three new songs and three old ones, right?

I'm going to try to record the new songs with my camera to share with everyone here...so I'd like to know where in the set they appear so I can be ready. I won't bother with the songs we hear all the time.

I also know some of the Guitar Centers haven't allowed photography, but I'll try my luck.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on PSATMOR. I agree with most of what you said, especially about how Joe is playing the music he wants to without trying to prove anything to anyone.

The album is a continuation of his last few, style-wise, but I think this is closer to SBM than any of the other ones. I also hear a lot of Not Of This Earth vibes, and maybe even a bit of Crystal Planet as well. I'm very happy with the album.

I need to type out a full review soon...maybe I can get to that tonight or early tomorrow.

Any chance of updating the set list request list to feature songs from the new album? Im sure Im not alone in wanting to hear some of the new material played live!

Cheers,

Do the Stu - Thanks for the kind "Welcome Back" and I appreciate the +1 on my review. Yeah, hopefully I can find some time to be a little more active on this board than I have been. Hope all is well for you.

**Peace**

KenC.

Amir, you're welcome...hope you're doing okay.

Civi, sorry, can't help you out with a ride as we're only a few blocks from GC where we're staying so will likely be walking.

Austin, I hope you can record at GC, I'm going to try to do the same in Portland but who knows about their rules =/ As for mckenna and his pics....yes...he really should be afraid, LOL!!

I love the direction this new album has taken us, with all it's many moods and emotions...and you're right...Joe doesn't have to keep proving himself at this point, he has some freedom to do what his heart is telling him to with his music....although he's also very smart and knows he has to try to satisfy the die-hard rockers from days gone by...it's hard to satisfy everyone, impossible in fact. I think those that write this album off entirely just because they no longer hear the style of The Extremist, or whatever their favorite album is, really miss out on something incredible.

Joe has always been on a musical journey in his life, and his music has always reflected where he needs to be, whether for commercial value or as self-expression....he's been a master at combining the two. I think he's still the master at that, but his inner muse gets even more of a voice now than before and for that I'm so thankful. With every listen of PSATMOR I fall more and more in love with it and feel almost like I'm on a roller coaster....moments of lovely calm punctuated by moments of pure thrills...with every emotion in-between.

repost for importance: (Thanks for noticing Stu)

GREAT CD Joe!! I love it. Can't wait for the tour.. I'm in San Fran area

One thing that bugs me though.. whoever mastered it killed all the dynamic range dude!!

Picture of blown out track

Your music shouldn't be messed with like this. Too late for this CD but maybe next time you can look into this problem that is going on with pretty much EVERY CD getting released nowadays.

Cheese101 and Civgeek, I was hoping to make it to the GC thing this week, unfortunately i'm right in the middle of a War and Peace class that's really confusing so I'm going to go to class instead of hanging with all of you there. In fact I'll be driving by on the freeway about the time you guys are going to be in line. class is from 6 to 10. I'll look forward to your posts.

Austin...... Yes, you're right. I'm wasn't to familiar with the song titles from the new cd but Joe played Flying in a Blue Dream, Satch Boogie, and Always with me ......It's most likely Joe played the same songs from PSAMOR at each stop as he explained to us he's still learning these songs for "Live" playing. Before the GC mini tour he rehearsed the new material trying figuire out what parts would work. Joe was awesome as always. He just so eager to talk and spread his knowlege to the fans. Pure class all the way.

Do the Stu/Keniko

Hey guys, the songs he played from the new album at Chicago were musterion, overdriver and diddle-y-a-doo-dat. My father and I got video of them but they're a little shaky as we were in the back and had to raise our arms to their max. I can share them if you'd like.

joeman9...... Thanks for clearing that up. I was only familiar with the podcasts and I'm terrible with song titles. I thought one was Musterion and I knew of the jazz one and that turn out to be the Diddle- a - Doo tune. As far as envious of meeting Joe so much. You don't have to be. I'm really no different than any other fan. If you're patient enough to stay after his concerts depending on the venue geography you can meet him along with Mike and Mick going to the tour bus. The last G3 tour Joe played at the Congress Theater in Chicago....a first and we got to meet him again.The three prior tours he played at the House Of Blues which is land locked by the Chicago River so there was no way of meeting Joe and the gang after the shows. It's always great to meet Joe and shake his hand.....as a guitarist also he's so inspiering to me. But what makes Joe really great to me is..... Joe the person..... He's not stuck on himself and working in an industry with the most egotistical people in the world...... thats rare.

Edit......I'd post the vid on youtube and give us the link. That's the best way for anyone to see the vid.