I got up this morning and noticed my sister online. People usually post little sayings for the chat programs to relay either what they’re doing or what they’re feeling or something. This morning I misread what she had written and I started laughing. Suffering the web. That isn’t what was written, it actually said surfing the web. Substantially different saying and meaning. Funny nonetheless. That is the reason for the headline today.
Thus I needed to go look into the library o’ music and see if I could find a song about suffering, the web, or surfing. I found none on suffering in terms of a title. I found one about a web. Alas I had about 4 related to surfing. I suppose songs titled about suffering probably wouldn’t get much airplay, it’s that or I’m not really into keeping or hearing music about suffering if it’s in the title. The web song I had related life to being caught in a spider’s web. I suppose that could relate to the net, but still not very upbeat. One of those surfing songs was a christmas song out of my own catalog. Christmas is over, nix that.
Instead you’re listening to Surfing With The Alien right now. An early instrumental rock song from the career of Joe Satriani. Anyone familiar with the idea of guitar gods would mostly likely know that Joe has a page or two set aside in the guitar god book of who’s who. Not only because he has created some absolutely fun songs that showcase his guitar playing, but also because he is the guru to several other guitar players that would often be considered guitar gods themselves (cats like Steve Vai, Geoff Tyson, and of course Kirk Hammet).
What I dig about Surfing With The Alien (which is an homage to a comic book character) is the immediate upstart and running tempo. A little party intro, and boom it’s off to the races. A boogie type of groove going on with the guitar part that sets up the harmonic flow which leads into searing guitar leads. It’s got hills and valleys, meanderings, and even some simulated laughing all going on for the guitar parts.
Lots and lots of little guitar tricks going on in that piece. Probably why so many people refer to Joe as a guitar god. He’s got and awesome command of the music language and of the instrument that he plays. ‘Nuff said.
Now go buy it!