Lately, I keep coming back to The Elephants of Mars — Joe Satriani’s latest solo release — and it's really starting to grow on me.
One track that I think stands out is Through a Mother’s Day Darkly. In isolation, you might not even guess it was written by a guitar virtuoso - at least not right away. And I really think that's a big part of its appeal.
Instead of an onslaught of technical wizardry, you're drawn into a sonic world that feels almost cinematic. It's still Satriani, no doubt about it. But he's really putting himself in service of the mood. It starts slowly, giving you just enough to pique your interest, and then it just keeps on building. It feels like a journey.
I don't think I can say it's my favorite Satriani album — or even my second — but it's definitely one I've been most pleasantly surprised with in recent years. But hey, what do I know.