Joe Satriani (self titled)

Joe Satriani is a talented rock guitarist who falls under the umbrella of rock virtuoso. The songs are really more about showcasing talent than crafting lyrics of melody. As such, it just doesn't move me. The guitar playing is really good, but sort of lacks a point. At times it feels like he is simply showcasing technique. You know how instruction books will introduce a technique, include some practice exercises, and then put it in some sort of "song" to allow you to explore that technique? They often include a "play along" cd so you can hear what it sounds like, and then practice it with a rhythm section. This album feels a lot like someone recorded themselves playing along with the cd from a really advanced instructional book. Great technique, but just not all that enjoyable to listen to as music. I picked this album up back when it came out in 1995, and it was very well-reviewed by guitar magazines. However, I've only listened to it a handful of times in the intervening years. People at Amazon seem to really like it as well. Give it a listen and form your own opinion.