Ok, I hate admitting that I could have been wrong, but the new album is slowly growing on me.The tones are great, and the soloing on a few tracks is amazing, best solos I have heard Joe do in a while.

KEVIN! How ya been man?I live in seattle, email me and Ill give ya my number.Graham and I kinda got a band thing together, you should come check us out!

The solo to "If I could fly" is just amazing.Great notes.

Phry-Hehe, honest enough mistake.I guess the offical Ninja Clan would be Myself, Graham, Megaboyd, Anuj, and Death Cube K.Austin is a Ninja twice removed. :D

http://www.legacylive.com/press/lizzy_speaksout.htm

Yngwie did this? Hmmm.Interesting.

Hey Graham-

See if you can get ahold of Alex and John.Also, I emailed John a Ptb. of another cool Ninja Gaiden tune that I forgot to tell youse guys about when you were here.I guess ask him for it, it is a MID extraction thing, but the sound is close enough to get the right idea.

Austin-Good review.Im really not in agreement with ya on most of it, just because im not really into the album that much.But everything you said is worded well, and I see where you're coming from.Most of all, I'm glad you like it so much.

I actually agree your criticisms, I just have many more.:D

Ok finally caught the video, I think a G3 with Andy Timmons flat out NEEDS to happen, that guy jammed his ass off with Joe, they mix so well.

OCPS-Dave does muhc more than pla guitar.That is probably his easiest task.Same for Galen with Joe.Both of those guys bust their asses.

OCPS-Hehe, no worries man, I was just pointing out that Dave's big job in the band is not playing guitar, that's just one of the smaller things he does.

I don't think Joe did a bad job or anything, I just think he went a different way.For instance, the 2 tracks I dig most are the Title track, and Gnaaa, except the solo.Those 2 songs are amazing, and if there was more of that vibe on the album, it would be one of his finest records.But for me, there are way too many songs that are not me.I don't really like any of the songs aside from those 2 really, the rest are just ok.I love the solos.

I guess Ill be more thorough in my review.I've been trying to keep my mouth shut out of respect for Joe, but basically, here is my preference:

1.ITLIS? 2.Gnaaa 3.Searching 4.If I could fly 5.Bamboo 6.Just Look Up 7.Up in Flames 8.I like the Rain 9.-Hands in the Air 10&11.-Souls of Distortion and Lifestyle I loath equally.

Ill go song by song in my next post.

1.ITLIS?-I have only one reservation with this track-The tone on the first solo is way too wah heavy.Its too cluttered, and it kinda obscures the notes.On one hand, I can appreciate it because I haven't heard Joe use that approach tone wise before.But I dont really think it sounds good.I also don't care for the way the 1st solo ends.Too abrupt.

BUT, the song is magical those things aside.The outro solo is indeed one of his finest moments.Joe really has done so much cool stuff with the pitch axis idea.

The song has a KILLER vibe, and is perfect as an album opener.Graham and I agree that it has that same vibe as "The snake", and it would be great to see those on tour.

ALTHOUGH-If he plays this tune live, and improvises each night over it, I will have NO COMPLAINTS :D

That for me, would justify the tune, and I would grow to love it if he did that.

5.Bamboo-Just kinda wanders about aimlessly.I would have liked a little more structure, this one also feels like "what could have been"Its pretty, and I think it will grow on me.

6.Just Look Up-Starry night 2, and Im not really a big Starry night fan to begin with.Dont hate it, its just a step backwards, IMO.I'm torn over one of the melodies, which is a reprise from "You saved my life", adn also sounds like a variation from a theme from "Love thing", which also kinda sounds like a variation on the "Trundrumbalind" melody...make ANY sense?Heh heh.

I'm torn, because I like the subtle ish nod, but the blend of that, adnt he total Starry redux vibe just kill it for me.

7.Up in Flames-Eh.Its ok.I like the heavy progression right before/during the solo.

couple of things-The guitar tones are amazing, the best Ive heard in a while.

The solos are amazing.

The drums and bass are TOO DUMBED DOWN.Matt and Jeff are an amazing rhythm section, I just wish they got to go crazy a little.I'm not saying Joe holds them back or anything, but cmon, the stuff that is on this album, and SBM, is just way too bland.LIve I know they will tear the house down, I just wanna hear on the album too.

I rate this album close to the Extremist, and above Strange Beautiful music.Its grown on me since I got it, which has never happened with a Joe album.

Hope I don't offend anyone with my critique of the new album. I can not be dishonest.I will say how I feel about everything.That's me.

And BTW, I DO know how to play guitar, for whomever ended their post with "Learn how to play"

the only things I really want now are Volume pedal, Compression, a 2nd delay, and a Whammy Pedal.Maybe a 535 Crybaby too, but I'm not really worried about that.

Im using a Ts-9(yeah, the original) on the clean channel, and that gets a nice mellow warm tone, kinda like EJ's last solo in "Manhattan".The distortion channel is awesome.

No real complaints!

Mikey-Thanks man.Im so happy its done with.The guy did a great job, he put 2 layers of Veneer on the backside of the headstock, so I need to get it re-signed by Vai.It looks awesome, he used Birds-Eye-Maple.

Plus the over-Wah stuff really irritates me.Its just not my thing.I think the reason why it irritates me most is that I dont like it, yet I have to suffer through some of it if I want to hear the solo, which is a good solo.

Good point about everyone having the same favorite 5 songs.Hadn't thought about that.

It's a decent album over all, bottom line.Its just not up to par with stuff like CP, EOC, Flying, or Surfing.I guess Im just living in the past, eh?

Basically for me, Joe's stuff is the best that music has to offer me.So when an album of his disappoints me, I get really bummed.Its like all hope is lost, know what I mean?

But then again, I don't understand how ANYONE can not like EOC, that album is just genius 1000x over.so maybe Im just a spoiled little man.

Honestly, the last thing I would want to do is have Joe read my critique.The guy is my absolute idol, I really wouldn't want him to read the nastiness, lol.

Trutina-Yeah, thats kinda accurate.I do like the 95JS album quite a bit, but it isn't in my top few.Same with the Extremist, which I do like, but it was my least fav Joe album until SBM and the new one came out.

I like blues rock stuff ok, I have been into Pat Travers, Robin Trower and all that since I was really young, but I only like hearing so much of it.Now that it has become Joe's main thing, I wouldn't say Im really enthusiastic about it, but it makes him happy.Thats all that really matters IMO.

GODGUNSGUITAR-Me and Graham were there too.Well, Graham got stuck outside cuz he showed up after 6, but I was the guy who asked about the possibility of a production JS 7 string.Had my Jem with me.

WEBMASTER-Can you tell Joe about this link?He told me he couldn't find it on the net, I told him I'd tell you.

http://www.race2winradio.net/houx/satriani-timmons.wmv

thanks for posting the link, btw.I closed the window right before I saw your user name, whoever posted it.