Along with the globally massive “surfing with the alien” this has to be one of Joe's more well known albums. It was also one of the first ones that I got my hands on.
On his official website “www.satriani.com” there are links to where you can hear audio clips of his album. You can also hear clips from all his other albums including his live releases. I very much suggest listening to these to hear some of his other amazing work to, and to find out if you would like to purchase a certain CD or not.
The Extremist was his 5th studio album released in 1992, so lets see how it shapes up....
01 = Friends (3min28sec) - The opening of the album with a big drum beat leading into bouncy chords, (nothing to over the top) just something to get your head bopping to. Then incomes the lead with the melody of the song, which is often not alone with the doubling of guitars to give it specific emphasis (nice overall pleasing tone :-)) Some of Joe’s lead playing can become a little lost when its at high speeds, but it lends to the dramatic build up in the melody. Towards the end, the song dies down after climaxing/crescendo slowly building up into the outro. As I have seen in other reviews I too have seen this live, (in the G3 concert this year) and I agree it’s more of an encore song, but I think if it was at the end of the album, it wouldn’t have got the recognition that it deserved. So maybe a wise choice putting it as the opener?
02 = The Extremist (3min48sec) - Another rock song which starts with the guitars blazing after a short quiet intro on a lone acoustic guitar. The nice thing about this track is the
interlacing of the harmonica and guitar; it makes a nice change to hear a different instrument added into the mix. The playing on this song is amazing, with very technically demanding techniques employed which, many guitarists inspire to replicate. This song has become a favourite for many of Joe's fans and is always greeted with a warm reception. It’s just a great catchy tune which is helped by its main melody.
03 = War (5min48sec) - A very edgy and tense rock song that has a driving, and rather evil sound rhythm guitar accompanied with the lead. The lead guitar is more laid back, almost in cruising mode. However there are small sections of over laid guitars which help lighten up the song and add a little more to listen to. It then changes in the middle to become more of the legato speed that Joe is known for, ( this leaves a lot of people questioning…”just how many notes did he play then?”) maybe a little bit over used? But it brings the song to a head before heading into the outro. The simple outro is just the first verse. Over all a driving, bouncy song, not my favourite of the album but when I saw it live it was better. Maybe its just a studio sounding thing?
04 = Cryin' (5min42sec) The ballad of the album - soft chords, big fat guitar tones, which sound instantly likeable and kind to the ear. It conveys sadness, but also the rhythm lends its self to a feeling of hope and calmness. This song never seems to come on too strong and Joe resists the urge to over power us with those power ballad type traits. THANK YOU JOE! Overall a polished and slick song which leaves you feeling more relaxed and happy :-) I just love this song, however it might go on a little too long and it has some repetitiveness about it.
05 = Rubina's blue sky happiness (6min11sec) For many years I didn’t like this song, but more recently I have come to like it more the more I hear it. It opens up with a small banjo like sound, and you know it’s just going to ooze “fun and happiness ". It then edges into a nice flowing bouncy melody on two acoustic guitars. It sounds almost “folk tune” like in its musical elements, but without any lyrics. About 2mins in the electric guitar takes over and it has echoes in the lead from track 4 “Cryin” with the same guitar timbres and tones employed. Personally I would say this song doesn’t really stand out from the rest, but makes a nice addition to the album with the use of acoustics over electrics for the main sections. Again it might go on a bit too long for some people with out any interesting musical development.
06 = Summer Song (5min) One of my all time favourites, it starts out with the familiar, almost dry drum sounds accompanying a rhythm guitar playing a very simple two chord riff (which for me is addictively catchy!), but simple is effective on this song so we like it! The introduction of the harmonics makes another nice change to the song giving it a different sound over his other songs. (The introduction is almost like a fresh start to the album, making a nice change when it ratchets up the speed) When it gets going into the melody it’s another catchy hit to my ears! This theme develops throughout the piece with a couple of modulations around the key, to make it a very good easy listening song. With some impressive middle section playing, which can almost make it sound like the song is losing its way - that is until the main riff kicks back in and then its all go again! Summed up Fast happy, good mood generating :-)
07 = Tears in the rain (1min18sec) A short but beautiful and graceful track...only on classical guitar playing a short tune which alone brings the atmosphere of sadness and can send shivers up your spine... or is that just because I am sat next to a fan ???? oh well... the song builds into a faster section and development of the main riff, to slowly come down and end with one of the nicest 3chord endings I have ever heard. A great but short track.
08 = Why (4min45sec) Get that wah-wah effect “wacka wacka” working and then you have a good idea what the track is like. (Think of the introduction to “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix then you have the general idea.) The dual lead guitars put across and a fluid melody which in some way really does sum up the title. It’s hard to describe but it’s more of a feeling with this track. The simple backing really keeps this track nice, until it heats up a little bit in certain places with the addition of distorted guitars. But thankfully this only serves as a small break. A nice song, again showing that satriani is one of the gods of conveying emotion through his guitar.
09 = Motorcycle Driver (4min48sec) Is similar to “Friends” in the respect of the moods it generates. It’s at a faster tempo (compared to Friends) and you can really imagine driving to this, but not above the legal speed limit of course ;-) Maybe the drums are a bit too loud, and this can drown parts of the guitar out. But the lead just about manages to cut through it. Summed up and faster more up beat and rocking version of friends.
10 = New Blues (6min58sec) I really do NOT like this track. I like almost all of Satriani's stuff but with all artists there are some that people don’t like - this is mine. Nasty introduction with synth trumpets and some weird sounding guitars lead into a single clean guitar, which is later joined by the lead guitar. A bluesy song in tradition, (Of which Joe’s roots are very much based in from his early days learning after he quit the high school football team the day Hendrix died. Just a little information for you along the way :-)) This song in my mind is the weak point on the album, and just seems to go on and on like a Duracell battery! It’s ok to fill time on the album, but maybe that was a little harsh. There are some good bits, but its not my cup of tea!
Summed up discounting the last song I really LOVE this album, and would suggest that as an intro to his work you listen to some of the songs off of it.
btw.. If you are thinking about checking out Satriani’s stuff then check out this review for some of the best songs to listen to... ( You may also hear him being referred to as “Satch” This nickname comes from one of Joe’s early teachers, who remarked that Joe was forever coming up with small licks (a lick being a small musical passage) but never made anymore of them. So they were just given names like “Satch boogie 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. Hence the songs name “Satch boogie” track number 3 I think, on Surfing with the alien.)
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