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Joe Stump
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Jonathan Mariante Shredmeister Joe Stump has unleashed his fifth (all instrumental) album onto
the world. Joe, for those unfamiliar with him, is an Yngwie-style guitar
hero. This "Odyssey" leads off with the title track, an extended guitar solo
which, in Joe's own words, is "six minutes of unadulterated shred in its
purest form." Joe is all over his guitar in this one! Next up is a little ass
kicker called "Bullet Train". Very appropriately titled! This tune is as fast
and hard-hitting as its namesake! After this comes "Nocturne", a majestic,
atmospheric, emotional number, all guitars and keys, which is followed by a
cover of the classic "Still I'm Sad, originally done by the Yardbirds, and
later Rainbow. This is followed by "The Haunting", which is quite heavy and
features some nimble-fingered playing from Joe. "Big Bad Groove" is
next, another aptly-named tune. This is a bad-ass boogie number
that reminded me of Joe Satriani. The title is even a nod to him, as
Satch once did a song called "Big Bad Moon." Another extended guitar solo
is next, with "Partita No. 1 A Minor," which is more classically oriented.
The next two songs also reminded me of Satriani; "Tear It Up" and "Shredding
In Shuffle City." The latter is recorded live, and is the faster of the two
songs. Two more live songs are next, "Psycho Shred Shuffle", a galloping
tune, which leads into the albums closer, "Guitar Cadenza No. 2", both of
which are similar to Yngwie. Joe is a very good guitar player, and he's
turned out a solid album here. He does borrow a lot from the "usual suspects"
for guitar heroes (Yngwie, Hendrix, Vai, Johnson, David Chastain (who owns
the label this is released on), Jeff Beck, Schenker, etc.), but he is very
talented, he knows his way around the fretboard, and his songs rock! Joe can
shred with the best of them! He no doubt has learned a few tricks from
his mentors, and anyone interested in guitar could learn a few tricks
from Joe. Anyone into guitar, or who just appreciates good guitar
playing, should get into this album.
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