Shockwave Supernova (LP)

One way of looking at Joe Satriani's 15th studio album, Shockwave Supernova, is that it's a concept record-and indeed, the disc does follow a loose narrative that the guitar superstar dreamed up concerning the spiritual death and rebirth of an outlandish and extroverted alter ego for Satch named, appropriately enough, Shockwave Supernova.

Another way would be to call the 15 songs that comprise the disc "inspired by," which is how Satriani actually prefers it.

Shockwave Supernova sees Satch offering his idiosyncratic take on swing, samba and blues shuffles while refining his blockbuster approach to pile-driving instrumental guitar rock. Interestingly, amid the widescreen riffs and solos, Satriani employs a more naturalistic guitar tone than ever before, and when set against the lofty, sci-fi conceit of the album, a deeply humanistic message emerges.

"On past records I went out of my way to really trip out the guitar," he says, "but I think by playing things a little straighter, it reaches people easier. They can connect to the moods in a more personal way because the sounds are more direct. Some people have said that this is my best-sounding album. That's always the goal, of course, but it's nice to think that you've hit the mark." - Guitar World