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 HIghly Underrated Dec 18, 2008
There were enough bad reviews here that I had to contribute a defense. Yes it's a techno-based album. Yes it's unlike anything Satriani had done before. But seriously, if he never tried new things he wouldn't be very innovative now would he? This album is a fine example why Joe is one of the all time greats. Despite what the other reviews have said, by the way, the fret work is mind blowing. A couple of my favorites....
Devil's Slide is a dark song with a preposterously cool 45 second solo in the middle that once again proves Satch the master of legato.
Grammy nominated Until we Say Goodbye is slower but amazing in composition. It's one that noone else on the planet could play quite like him.
The Power of Cosmic 1 & 2 take you on a creepy journey. They also use that funky right hand muting, left hand tapping thing he made famous on Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing, actually using it the rhythm on part 2.
So yes it's different. It's much about the mood the album puts you in, which the amazing guitar work contributes a lot to. If you want the same guitar, bass, drums that you're used to, look elsewhere. If you want something different and weird, buy this immediately.
I love Joe Satriani's work! May 27, 2008
I have been a major fan of Joe Satriani and his music for over 10 years. In fact, I was privileged to attend the Engines of Creation concert in Denver about seven years ago.
If you like guitar without lyrics, if you like instrumental music that is sometimes fast and other times very mellow, this is the stuff for you. I would strongly recommend Joe's music to anyone.
 Solid Electric Sound Mar 19, 2008
I've had this CD for years, but I keep coming back to it because the sound is so good. I cranked it up so loud on the headphones on a flight the other day I was afraid I might be disturbing the passengers on either side of me. It's really pleasing music to me.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Building a better guitar Apr 05, 2007
In the end of the 90s, some bands and guitar players decided to explore new grounds of music. Some of these attempts was successful, some were not. Good examples of artists that tried to sound modern was the German rock band Scorpions (EyeIIEye), Steve Vai (Sex & Religion), Jeff Beck (Who Else!, You Had it Coming, Jeff) and of course, Joe Satriani.
In a particular boarding, Mr. Satch saw the rising experiments from genius guitar player and inspiration Jeff Beck and decided to make an attempt into a more electronic kind of music. Now, the difference between Beck and Satch is that Satch was creative, bold and concise in his boarding, and Jeff, well, lost himself in the path.
Don't get me wrong, I love Jeff Beck from his Yardbirds/Tridents days to Beckology, he was truly a great genius, egomaniac, but genius, comparable only with Jimi Hendrix. But Jeff's techno sound is boring, noisy and truly out of place. He affirmed himself that his techno albums is among the worst ones ever produced by him.
Joe Satriani, in a kind of inspired mood and brilliance knew very well how to create his chops without sacrifice the music. He created a balance between him, his human band and the Pro-tools. He sounds fantastic in this release. Challenging, groundbreaking, powerful, beautiful and pleasant.
Rumor has that the title of the album was inspired in the molecular nanotechnology book "Engines of Creation", written by K. Eric Drexler in 1986. The book also have an interesting line that says that "what we can do depends on what we can built". I don't think that's a mere coincidence, considering the illustrations on the album's sleeves. Judging by that we can presume that we have a conceptual record in hands.
Of course, as an experiment, somethings goes very nice and somethings nor in such a way. "Devil's Slide" is a good example of a very cool, dynamic and inspired piece. "Borg Sex" is like imagining robots having sexual relations, and the song has a very nice mood. "Champagne?" is some kind of tribute to Jeff Beck, it's very similar to the sound that Jeff has been developing in his comeback album "Who Else!", by far, his best effort with techno rock. There's also beautiful electronic moments like "Clouds Race Across the Sky", witch is a nice soundscape song, and also human moments, like the wonderful ballad "Until We Say Goodbye" and the awesome closing title track. But the breathtaking moment of the album is the two-track song "The Power Cosmic 2000", witch is a nice improvement compared with it's version released as a single.
With this release, Joe got his foot into a modern and nice sound and continues to sound relevant. Of course, this is the "we don't need another one" kind of album. Joe knew it very well, since techno music sounds dated nowadays, and returned to his human sound in his next release. But as far as it went, it was a wonderful experiment and a very consistent work that still deliver us in a nice mood.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
A fantastic listen for the open-minded fan Aug 14, 2006
With Engines of Creation, Joe Satriani did what he has always done: make the most of the tools he chooses to use.
Only this time, he uses electronic beats and soundscapes as the canvas on which to express his skill with the guitar. It would be easy to give this one listen and wonder where the guy who wrote "Satch Boogie," "War" and "Flying in a Blue Dream" went.
Well, he's still here, only more than ever he's showing us his incredible command of his instrument by being able to create sounds that so perfecly reflect what they intend to convey.
I've never heard robots having sex, but I'm willing to be "Borg Sex" isn't far off. And although his calmly passing, sometimes noodling melodies appear to have little structure, that's kinda how you'd expect to see "Clouds Race Across the Sky." The 'chorus' to "Devil's Slide" sounds as sinister as its name suggests and "Attack" is as close to a musical sci-fi battle as I've ever heard.
To top it off, the album includes "Until We Say Goodbye," one of Satch's best ballads in his entire catalogue.
If you're willing to put a little more mental energy into appreciating the work Satch put into this album than just waiting for the album to rock your socks off Surfing With The Alien-style, you'll find that there's an incredible amount of depth -- and musicianship -- to be found.
It's not a Satriani masterpiece, but its a true testament to the man's enduring creativity.
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