CD REVIEW: JOE SATRIANI – What Happens Next

Shane | 29 March 2018 | Reply

CD REVIEW: JOE SATRIANI – What Happens Next
Legacy/Sony
January 2018
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9/10

At times shred heaven, at others delicate and exquisitely beautiful (Forever and Ever has the power to draw tears), Joe Satriani’s 16th solo album again achieves the rare goal of featuring instrumental tracks with such melody and style that you’ll find yourself singing the rhythms and solos in place of the absence of lyrics.

Recorded as the ultimate power trio – Satriani is joined by the incomparable Glenn Hughes, seemingly relishing being able to focus on his underrated bass work rather than his ‘voice of rock’ vocals, and Satch’s Chickenfoot compadre, Chad Smith – it’s a fantastic album, with the inherent celebrity never allowed to get in the way of the brilliance of the songs themselves.

Thunder High On The Mountain is the sound of the trio jamming some heavy, grinding riffs, Smooth Soul and Super Funky Badass both do exactly what it says on the tin, Looper is a great boogie jam, and – as previously mentioned – Forever And Ever is simply stunning.

Throughout there are echoes of Surfing With The Alien and all else that he has done before, but crucially What Happens Next is forward thinking. It’s Satriani combining his past, present and future, and it sounds glorious.