The Extremist

JOE SATRIANI The Extremist (Relativity) Actually, the title of guitar conquistador Joe Satriani's fourth album is misleading: He did not get here via extreme virtuosity or outrageousness. No, Joe won the hearts of guitarniks everywhere because, with his second album, Surfing With the Alien, he somehow found a way to make musical the rude, pretentious art of extreme noodling. On The Extremist, Satriani retreats, wisely, from the singing that marred his last album, Flying in a Blue Dream. Satriani's metal edge is never sharp to the touch, and his creative mettle is modest, but you've gotta love his bounding enthusiasm and heartfelt bag of riffs. B -Josef Woodard