Besides featuring the Bay Area-based guitarist's six-string wizardry and vocals, Joe Satriani [ tickets ]'s "Is There Love in Space" also sports longtime collaborators like bassist Matt Bissonette and drummer Jeff Campitelli on its 11 rocking tracks.

Satriani not only has staggering command of his instrument, but is also an eloquent songwriter. He may be one of the only guitar players who writes guitar-based instrumentals that could honestly be called songs. You could write lyrics to his leads, add the vocal track, and have rock-solid stuff.

"Just Look Up" and "If I Could Fly" feature some jangly acoustic guitars underneath the sumptuous electric-lead melodies. The subdued title track and moody "Searching" aren't scale exercises; they're stories.

When it's time to rip a solo during the funky opener "Gnaahh" or "Hands in the Air," Satriani tears the room in half. The aforementioned "Searching" is a ten-minute jam. All the while, Bissonette and Campitelli play for the reason you'd expect--for the songs. Drumming fans of AC/DC's Phil Rudd will love this.

A supremely rock guitarist who knows how to write and play beautiful lead melodies and shred? Whatever happened to ... oh, damn those '90s!

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