Joe Satriani's Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards - A Review - National Classic Rock

With Black Swans and Wormholes, Joe "Satch" Satriani puts his Ibanez JS Series to good use, connecting his varied guitar styles, creating an album with unpredictable, sundry tracks that explore the interior of sound. This is the multi-Grammy nominee's 14th studio album and is slated for release on October 5, 2010 via Epic Records.

The opening sounds of the first track, "Premonition," are Acheronian and progress into an intense, blistering song of colorful melodies. Shifting the mood, "Dream Song" opens with the wah-wah strains of funk-style rhythms, an upbeat tune of head-bobbing contagiousness, a song that Satriani literally wrote in his sleep: "I woke up and I had the whole thing. I had to run into my studio quickly before I forgot it. All you need is that one little thing to change from the original idea and the whole vibe is lost." Well, he certainly didn't lose the vibe in the track because it's entrancing. In contrast, "Light Years Away," which live-streamed on August 31, 2010, is a sizzling, fast track with provocative guitar riffs, a journey to various regions of musical realms. A couple of tracks are in memory of his mother and they are two of the jazzier, bluesier pieces on the album. "Littleworth Lane" is straight, delicious blues to the tee, the title the name of the street in Sea Cliff, New York, that Satriani's mother lived on for years. "Two Sides to Every Story" is a groovy, Larry Carltoneque jazz tune, a brilliant instrumental that's a nod to fabulous saxophone player Eddie Harris. The third track, "Pyrrhic Victoria," the phrase meaning "winning at great coast," is a honey-dipped stomp through a gamut of delectable sounds, with an awe-inspiring coda. "Wind in the Trees," which Satriani artfully uses Auto-tune for, is a tender, haunting melody, evoking thoughts of autumn leaves drifting from Fall-kissed trees. "The Golden Room" has sexy Middle-Eastern harmonies, a magic carpet ride of intoxicating sound. On "Solitude" and "Wormhole Wizards," Satriani explores lingering rhythms and "big rock moments," respectively. The closing cut, "God is Crying" was inspired by Satriani imagining what God must be think of what's going on with humanity. Though the title is heavy, the song is intensely upbeat, Satriani's musical aspiration for change.

All eleven tunes are "black swans," different, rare entities by this guitar virtuoso. Luckily, U.S. residents can pre-order the CD exclusively through Satriani's website, receiving an autographed copy of the CD, a download of "Light Years Away," and a special code allowing access to tickets for his upcoming North American tour. Satriani is a renaissance musician, capable of playing anything with anyone, as proven by his participation with G3 and the supergroup, Chickenfoot. Co-produced with Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica), Black Swans and Wormholes leads the listener through a wormhole, propelling you swiftly and stealthily to the furthest regions of melodic possibilities.

The first leg of the North American tour is as follows:

December 1 Center Stage Atlanta, GA

December 2 Pompano Beach Amphitheatre Pompano Beach, FL

December 3 House of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL

December 4 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL

December 6 The Palace Theatre Greensburg, PA

December 7 Aronoff Center for the Arts Cincinnati, OH

December 8 Massey Hall Toronto, Ontario

December 9 House of Blues Boston, MA

December 10 Tower Theatre Upper Darby, PA

December 12 Metropolis Montreal, Quebed

December 13 Nokia Theatre New York, NY