Shockwave Supernova

It's been almost 30 years since Bay Area guitar god Joe Satriani put himself on the map with his technical wizardry and electric-guitar-driven instrumentals (hello, Surfing With the Alien!). And while familiar patterns have developed in his music over the course of 15 studio albums, it's still a blast. Shockwave Supernova doesn't veer too far from the formula of sky-scraping solos rooted in catchy-as-hell melodies, as on “If There Is No Heaven.” And Satriani's penchant for mixing moods and grooves is as strong as ever, as he contrasts the slicker cuts with more raw, less-polished pieces that hark back to his 1995 self-titled record, e.g., boogie-heavy “In My Pocket.” “Crazy Joey” is a nice showcase track as Satriani switches back and forth between lightning-fast scales and funky blues riffs, making the whole thing feel natural. Even though much of the album is more of the same from Satch, Shockwave Supernova is still an out-of-this-world experience.