Category Archives: 5 For The Weekend

Sound Proof (Greg Howe ‘Sound Proof’) Greg is really, really good on this album. I really enjoy his playing and he’s actually got some great videos up on his website you should check out where he makes everything look so freakishly easy. There’s some brilliant stuff all over the record but possibly the pick is… continue reading

Anesthetize (Porcupine Tree ‘Fear of a Blank Planet’) I listened to this album every minute for months when it first came out. It took a while to find my way in and take it all in but once I was in there was no escape! This is an 18 minute PT masterpiece and I actually… continue reading

Erm… I have been through everything I own and I can’t find a single track for 2004! Someone please enlighten me with something! So… moving quickly onto 2005…

Summer Jam (Eric Johnson ‘Bloom’) Goddamn it takes this boy a long time to make records! I thought I waited a long time for Venus Isle after Ah Via Musicom! However, there’s some amazing guitar playing all over the album as you would expect. He’s refined his guitar tones even further and maybe even expanded… continue reading

Level Five (King Crimson ‘The Power to Believe’) I love this track. It has everything that defines the modern King Crimson era and sound. And that to me is great so I’m never going to complain about that! Robert’s solo is one of the more memorable guitar solos I’ve heard in some time. So simple… continue reading

Innamorata (Al Di Meola ‘Flesh on Flesh’) After the incredible 2000 release, The Grande Passion, what more could Al Di do? That’s right, more of the same! And when it’s music as stunningly moving as this I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with an expansion of more-of-the-same. The video clip is from what is personally… continue reading

Nadia (Jeff Beck ‘You Had It Coming’) This is a cover of Nitin Sawhney’s beautiful track from the 1999 album Beyond Skin. Nitin Sawhney is definitely one of my favourite artists, I adore his work. And in fact he’s one very, very fine guitar player too and he nearly made it in to one of… continue reading

Misterio (Al Di Meola ‘The Grande Passion’) Misterio is awe-inspiring. Al Di is awe-inspiring. He seems so rejuvenated with such incredible inspiration at this point in his career. Double Concerto, Al’s interpretation of the Astor Piazzolla composition is absolutely astonishing and quite possibly the most expressive thing I’ve ever heard in my life. The way… continue reading

The Deception of the Thrush (ProjeKct Four ‘King Crimson The ProjeKcts’) Having been fortunate enough to have witnessed a mesmerizing live performance of this piece I can honestly say there’s nothing quite like it. Absolutely astonishing, jaw dropping, emotive, colourful art at it’s very best. There isn’t a single riff, hook or pentatonic lick in… continue reading

Crystal Planet (Joe Satriani ‘Crystal Planet’) On this album Satch seemed rejuvenated by the success of the G3 tours. It was definitely his best effort for a number of years. Obviously with a Satch record there’s a lot of great guitar playing but in 98 we were wondering whether he had anything new to offer.… continue reading