Engines of Creation is the eighth studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released on March 14, 2000, through Epic Records."Engines of Creation". satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-18. The album reached No. 90 on the U.S. Billboard 200"Engines of Creation - Joe Satriani | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-03-18. and remained on that chart for three weeks,[ "Joe Satriani - Chart History"]. Billboard. Retrieved 2014-03-18. as well as reaching the top 100 in three other countries."Joe Satriani - Engines Of Creation (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-02-18. "Until We Say Goodbye" was released as a single and received a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2001 Grammy Awards,"43rd Grammy Awards - 2001". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-03-18. Satriani's tenth such nomination.

Release and tour Mixing for Engines of Creation took place in June–July 1999Satriani, Joe (1999-06-24). "News" . satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22. and the title was revealed on December 13.Satriani, Joe (1999-12-13). "News" . satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22. A limited edition EP, Additional Creations, was released free of charge alongside the album in some stores."Additional Creations". satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-18. Worldwide touring began in the U.S. in April–May 2000, followed by Europe in June–July, Central and South America in August, and concluding in the U.S. in December."engines of creation 2000". satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-24.

Style and composition In a unique and notable departure from Satriani's usual style, Engines of Creation mainly features experimentation with electronic and techno music"Fire up your Engines: Joe Satriani, The Master of Creation" . guitar.com. 2000. Retrieved 2014-03-19. rather than the straightforward instrumental rock heard on his previous albums; Satriani has described the album as "completely techno."AskMen Editors (2002). "Interview: Joe Satriani" . AskMen. Retrieved 2014-03-18. With the exception of "Until We Say Goodbye", all tracks were made using guitars recorded and mixed non-traditionally on computer platforms, as well as being digitally manipulated using synthesizers and computer software.

Critical reception

Steve Huey at AllMusic gave Engines of Creation three stars out of five, calling it "the biggest stylistic shift [Satriani has] made yet" and "a brave and sporadically successful experiment". He suggested that longtime fans of Satriani's regular material may be disappointed, as well as those who dislike electronic sounds in guitar-based music, but praised Satriani for challenging himself to "find ways of coaxing totally new sounds from his guitar", and that "his melodies and main themes have rarely been this angular and off-kilter, meaning that exploring this music has indeed helped Satriani refresh and re-imagine his signature sound."

Track listing

Personnel Joe Satriani – guitar, keyboard, programming, arrangement, production Eric Caudieux – keyboard, programming, bass, arrangement, editing, engineering, mixing, production Anton Fig – drums Pat Thrall – bass Enrique Gonzalez – engineering assistance Mike Pilar – engineering assistance Mike Fraser – mixing Howie Weinberg – mastering Kevin Shirley – production

Charts Chart (2000) Peakposition

Sales

Awards Event Title Award Result2001 Grammys"Until We Say Goodbye"Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceNominated

References

External links In Review: Joe Satriani "Engines Of Creation" at Guitar Nine Records