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Reviewed in Germany on May 14, 2025
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Tony
Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2025
Very good cd, kind of the same vibe as "Surfin with the Alien". No vocals just all instrumental, but that is just fine as the music tells the story. You'll dig it !
Luca
Reviewed in Italy on June 2, 2023
Articolo arrivato in anticipo e ben imballato!
Donna Lyons
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2023
Came faster than expected, in perfect condition
lauzz
Reviewed in Australia on March 28, 2022
good album, thoroughly enjoyed it, definitely worth the money, a must have to your satch collection.
Blew1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2019
I love 'Surfing With The Alien,' it's my favorite instrumental guitar album, I was eager to add more to my Joe Satriani collection, did a little research online on the Satchs' highest rated albums and found this one more or less on a par with 'The Extremist' as most people's favorite album.There's 11 years between '..Alien' and 'Crystal Planet' and that becomes immediately obvious in the production, it is also very apparent that there is a band at play using proper instruments - Joe apparently recorded the bass lines for '...Alien' on the same guitar he did his leads (...just obviously tuned down) and used drum machines to save money. You get the feeling JS really considered that he had a band this time around, as the drums and bass are allowed to take hold of some passages as opposed to it being an all guitar attack.Highlights include the excellent opener 'Up in the Sky,' the equally brilliant (and Grammy nominated) 'Train of Angels,' the fittingly spacey 'With Jupiter in Mind,' and the anthemic 'Ceremony.' Those are my personal favourites, I like my Joe Satriani songs to have an anthemic quality, where the guitar leads, whilst replacing or imitating vocals, do so in such a way that they make you want to sing along to them - and that is his genius. These guitar leads give you goosebumps and a sense of emotion that's equal to any vocalists words.What I also like about Joe Satriani is that, although he could easily shred at a 1000 miles per hour for the entire record and it would sound great, he's not afraid to play a simpler, more fitting phrase or solo/lead/whatever, I think melody and feel takes priority over 'flashy' guitar work. To me, in that sense, he is the instrumental (or shred?) Dave Gilmour. Don't get me wrong, like '...Alien' some of the leads here are technically astonishing and will give any guitarist sleepless nights even thinking of learning them, there is a great balance between virtuoso flare and serving the song perfectly. Overall, 'Crystal Planet' is a great listen, covering many bases, but, it doesn't quite beat 'Surfing with the Alien.' for me, it is just a little less iconic, perhaps the extended track list (15 songs) contributes to that, who knows, but as a follow up addition to your Satch discography this is as good as it can be.
Super-Cool-Dude
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2016
This man is a genius. This is a futuristic sounding album with some of Joe`s most impressive and fast playing ever with blazing runs and solos. Joe is definitely the father of space age guitar. His playing on this album is not just fast and furious, but also crystal clear and every note rings out perfectly. If you are a guitar player who needs inspiration or if you like impressive guitar playing this album is a must for your collection. Jesus is the answer and God bless you :)
Kindle Customer
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2016
I came late to this disc, I have most his other stuff and this is one of the best...though I admit I'm a huge fan and have trouble finding fault with almost anything he plays. And I gotta say I'm not missing the keyboards that were on some of his others, I just don't think he needs them. If they are on this it is sparingly. So yea...I'm now turning my guitars into coffee tables :) If you have not seen the DVD Joe Satriani - Live in San Francisco available here for about $10...I HIGHLY recommend ! In my opinion it is his best live DVD.
gooseboy123
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
i rated this 5 star because used to have a copy of this cd and had it stolen from me.if you like satrianis early work, this one is up there with the best of them.he is the one who taught metallias james hetfeild to shred. he has been playing the guitar since the age of 6.if you don't have his well known "surfing with the alien" this cd is a good introduction.for those who don't know satriani doesn't sing and all his albums are instrumentals.if you like this you may also like Yngwie J. Malmsteen or steve vai.
David G
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2012
This album is very good, featuring amazing guitar arrangement! the bass is very audible and the drum is tight and precise with a natural and fresh sound. To me is one of Satriani's best for sure! i've heard of Crystal Planet in 1999, but it didn't matter to me because i was more into heavy/thrash metal only (i still love them) and i didn't even knew who Joe Satriani was. But a couple of years later someone brought me a bunch of mp3 files and one of the folders contained Crystal Planet and decided to give it a try..then i give it another try, and another over and over again, and definitively a was kind of in love, impresed and haunted with this album, it totally blowed my mind and senses away, the melody, the riffs, the soloing, the groove, the speed, everything! Not a single weak moment in this cd, the music flows throughout the cd and you never get tired or bored.I couldn't afford a cd n 1999 - 2000 so i posponed this purchase for years and as the times passes by, the musical priority changes a bit too, but never forget the music of this incredible artist and this particular cd.Crystal Planet was a goal to me and i was commited to get a copy sooner or later, no mp3, so, finally put a CP cd in the cart and checked out. Once it arrives i sat down, and totally relaxed i began to hear this masterpiece again and the sensations and emotions or feelings, whatever, where exactly the same, like those felt more than a decade ago.Conclusion, let the music be part of yourself and buy this album. Totally recomended!
W. Jackson
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2009
You can tell from my review title that I am a big Satch fan. I have a very hard time picking my favorite Satriani CD, because I love all 12 of my Satch CD's, but if I had to pick my favorite, this would be it. I've heard some people say that satch is a shredder, that gets my goat. He can play blazingly fast, but he's a lot more than a shredder. Anybody that can listen to his music, and say he's another shredder is deaf as a door nail. The man can come up with some amazingly beautiful music, and when he kicks it in high gear, there is still purpose behind the music, not like shredders that just go fast for fast sake. The man's a Genius in my book.
C. Milton
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2006
I've owned this CD for quite a while and I have to say it is definitely one of my favorite CDs(even when compared to CDs with vocals). Like a previous reviewer said Satch's music doesn't need vocals to convey the emotion of the music across. He does an awesome job of that with his catchy riffs and screaming solos.Although Satch's level of mastery of his instrument is nothing short of amazing not all of his music is that great. This CD has best mix of rock and slower songs. I myself love all things rock so this CD sits better with me than some of his other work(included his newest Super Collosal).If you are intested in getting into the world of Satch this is a great place to start. All the songs rock(especially my favorite Train of Angels!). Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Scotty
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2006
After Satriani's self-titled, very different-sounding 1995 album, he released this dazzling effort. Crystal Planet is his second-greatest album, right behind Surfing With The Alien, which is THE perfect guitar album. CP has so much magic to it, so many hits, I don't know where to begin. House Full Of Bullets is fun and funky, Crystal Planet breaks the sound barrier, and Love Thing is such a beautiful love song. Anyone who thinks a song has to have vocals to it to get a message across obviously has never heard any of Joe's music. I love everything on here, but my favorite song has to be Raspberry Jam Delta-V. I've come to associate this song with my little girl. This song is playful, spirited and very energetic, just like her. No skips on this one; every song is a gem. Anyone just getting into Joe's music, get Surfing, Super Colossal (his latest) and this masterpiece. Then sit back and enjoy the magic.
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