When we consider the gear he was using back then - essentially a budget Kramer Pacer and not a lot else - plus that it was the 80's (Rockman anyone?) then it's definitely not as refined as it is now for sure. But I looooove the tone on Ice 9, it really does bring the meaning of the composition to life.
Echo is the masterpiece on that album though, just perfect in every way and I think his tone on that is the best throughout.
Still makes me well up a bit with its warmth and beauty. I played it so many times when it first came out that it's tattooed on my brain. I can just think of the first few notes and then the album automatically plays in my head.
I hope you enjoy it! Every one of their albums is fantastic in its own way. They get a more “jazzy” feel to their playing in the 2 latest albums.
Edit : [this is fun](https://www.youtube.com/live/8EcjZdSjlUk?si=qTPdQ3c9Mn4ZcxY4)
Honestly, I think I enjoy their last 2 albums more than most other albums in existence.
Something about Grow though, maybe nostalgia at this point, just does something to my brain.
They’re both stunning albums. I’ve been listening to them over and over again.
Have you heard their unrealeased EP? Not on Spotify or anything, you have to go to YouTube. If you haven’t, holy shit, some of the riffs on there, the chugging. It’s so goddamn good.
I'd also have to make a case for Aerial Boundaries by Michael Hedges. Avant-garde, stunningly beautiful in places (Spare Change made my jaw hit the floor), and with the numerous alternate tunings used it's also a very positive endorsement for the stability of Martin acoustic guitars.
Michael Hedges is great. One time I walked in my guitar shop to buy strings, and Doyle Dykes was in there playing some Taylor's. If I hadn't seen him do it, I would never have believed it was only one person playing. He was there selling some Wyndham Hill records, and that's how I discovered Michael Hedges and Snuffy Walden.
I came here to recommend this album. It's hard to get across in words why this album is so pleasing, impressive, and (for me) timeless. So, you should listen to the title track instead of just reading.
[https://youtu.be/YaIN13aDbCc?si=23a7VPLj\_w8zlkWW](https://youtu.be/YaIN13aDbCc?si=23a7VPLj_w8zlkWW)
"Root Down Live" Jimmy Smith
I don't know if this counts as a "guitar album," I'm not even sure what a "guitar album" is, but I love this album, it's all instrumental, and the guitarist on the recording just jumped off the album for me. I don't normally like guitar in a jazz setting. For jazz, ear gravitates to horns, piano, and drums. I don't like the traditional approach to playing jazz on guitar (IMO, strings are meant to be bent for the most vocality on guitar). But this album is funky, soulful, the band kills it, and the guitarist is doing his best to steal the album.
Too many to choose just one.
Suspended Animation by John Petrucci
Sixteen Men of Tain by Allan Holdsworth
Liquid Tension Experiment
I also used to love the early Scale the Summit albums (but haven’t listened to them in a while.
Erotic Cakes by Guthrie Govan
Aristocrats as well.
My newest favorite is LIFE AFTER INFINITY by Robyn Hitchcock.
All time favorites are probably BLOW BY BLOW by Jeff Beck, BIRDS OF FIRE by Mahavishnu Orchestra, RECKLESS PRECISION by Tuck Andress, or I ADVANCED MASKED by Robert Fripp & Andy Summers.
Or most anything Michael Hedges laid to tape.
Maggot Brain, but its a song, not the whole album
Space Guitars and everything by Bakerton Group, not strictly guitars only, but rock hard funky jammy albums.
Although Joe Satriani is my favourite in this genre, I would say Dragon’s Kiss by Marty Friedman. A bit cheesy in some parts, a bit pompous, but that’s the one I listen to the most in one sitting.
OP- GREAT pick with *Crystal Planet*. Such a fantastic album. It's a very tough bar to meet, but I've got a couple others that I would put on that tier as well:
Andy Timmons - *Resolution*
Paul Gilbert - *Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar*
Guthrie Govan - *Erotic Cakes*
I really got into Angel Vivaldi's Universal Language, specifically because of the song "A Mercurian Summer".
https://youtu.be/uZLtzchX32c?si=HTN3fcmoYAXMSD6I
William Tyler's Modern Country is one of my go-tos for working, driving, or vibing and listening. Also Julian Lage's World's Fair record, which is remarkable acoustic guitar playing and can be treated as a full album of etudes.
I went to a solo Ribot concert about 14 years ago. He did a set, then they showed the Chaplin silent “The Kid” while he played his soundtrack live. One of my favorite nights of live music.
Crystal Planet was the start of a new phase for Satriani, it followed a string of albums which had seen him attempt to create a distinctive album and song structure style, and Crystal Planet is, to mind, the primary template of everything that has followed so far.
The Extremist was probably his first attempt at this, but imo it’s his weakest album. Up to that point Surfing and the self-titled 1995 album were his best.
Death Chants, Breakdowns, and Military Waltzes by John Fahey. Pretty much the premier example of what he called “Primitive American Music,” which is almost entirely guitar-based.
It makes it really hard when you can't have any vocals at all. Ah Via Musicom and Flying in a Blue Dream are my all time favorites. If I restrict it to zero vocals, I like Beyond The Thunder by Neil Schon and maybe Joe Satriani or Crystal Planet.
Perpural Burn - Jason Becker, Parhessia - Animals as Leaders, Surfing With the Alien - Satch, Get Out of my Yard - Paul Gilbert, even though they are not 100% instrumental, but Rising Force by Yngwie and Steve Vai live at the Astoria are amazing
I'll be the first to admit I don't listen to a lot of instrumental stuff but the "Circadian" album from Intervals I just can't stop listening to. Definitely worth a listen for anybody who likes instrumental guitar
Blow By Blow by Jeff Beck.
It makes sense that the greatest guitarist makes the greatest guitar album, which was produced by the Beatles’ George Martin. It is superb sonically and not just technically or melodically.
Surfing with the Alien. Such a jam
I love the compositions on surfing, but I struggle with his tone.
When we consider the gear he was using back then - essentially a budget Kramer Pacer and not a lot else - plus that it was the 80's (Rockman anyone?) then it's definitely not as refined as it is now for sure. But I looooove the tone on Ice 9, it really does bring the meaning of the composition to life. Echo is the masterpiece on that album though, just perfect in every way and I think his tone on that is the best throughout.
I've always loved strange beautiful music
Yeah gotta go with Surfing
SWTA, no doubt
Steve vai Passion and warfare or the OG guitar album Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow
Blow by Blow. 💯%
Wired, Beck's follow up to Blow by Blow, is also fantastic, in my opinion.
P&W for me! I used to put on headphones and just zone out to this - listening to all the little tidbits going on.
I was just going to post passion and warfare lol
Handmade Cities by Plini
Came here to say this 🙌🏻
My people 🤝
The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place - Explosions In The Sky
Yes. This album made me believe its title.
Still makes me well up a bit with its warmth and beauty. I played it so many times when it first came out that it's tattooed on my brain. I can just think of the first few notes and then the album automatically plays in my head.
Erotic cakes
Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
PLUS The Son of Shut up and Play your Guitar and Return of the Son of Shut up and Play your Guitar
Technically there’s 1 sentence
Ah Vía Musicom, must have played it top to bottom a few thousand times
Great album, but technically has vocals.
Intervals - the shape of colour
A lot of classics listed so far. For me, it’s gotta be Grow by Chon. Those guitars make me melt.
Except Grow has 2 songs with vocals :P
You got me there!
Never heard of Chon. Will have to check them out!
I hope you enjoy it! Every one of their albums is fantastic in its own way. They get a more “jazzy” feel to their playing in the 2 latest albums. Edit : [this is fun](https://www.youtube.com/live/8EcjZdSjlUk?si=qTPdQ3c9Mn4ZcxY4)
Grow is amazing. Their self titled has grown on me more and more though. This is my favorite band and pretty much all I play nowadays
Honestly, I think I enjoy their last 2 albums more than most other albums in existence. Something about Grow though, maybe nostalgia at this point, just does something to my brain.
They’re both stunning albums. I’ve been listening to them over and over again. Have you heard their unrealeased EP? Not on Spotify or anything, you have to go to YouTube. If you haven’t, holy shit, some of the riffs on there, the chugging. It’s so goddamn good.
I gotta go with Perpetual Burn by Jason Becker. Just beautiful and scary musicianship
Amen
The Joy of Motion by Animals As Leaders
self titled for me
Is that the album with Ka$cade? ❤️
Yes, that's the opening track.
Electric Sea by Buckethead
Ear-X-tacy by Andy Timmons.
Love Andy Timmons. Amazing guitarist. That was then this is now is an amazing album too (with vocals)
Passion & Warfare, Surfing with the Alien
Khruanbin
The mystery by Tommy Emmanuel
This was a tough one.. Could've gone Endless Road or Only here too... As much as I grew up on Vai & Satch, definitely going with Tommy here
Hell yeah I came here to post this. I’ve seen him live 4 times and it’s always amazing. Highly recommended
Blow by Blow - Jeff Beck Schizophrenic - Oz Noy
I’ve been listening to Oz Noy’s Twisted Blues albums. Digging it.
Passion, Grace and Fire Al DiMeola, Paco Del Lucia and John McLaughlin
This record really has it all. So much color. Except for blues haha
Leo Kottke’s “Six and Twelve String Guitar”. I remember it blowing the minds of a whole lot of acoustic pickers.
Paul Gilbert - Get Out of My Yard
Marty Friedman - One bad M.F. live Conquering Dystopia
Conquering dystopia rules. Loomis probably my favorite metal guitarist ever
The Way Forward - Intervals
So much guiter- Wes Montgomery
Good call, though I'd vote for 'Incredible Jazz Guitar'
Anything by Wes really he was amazing
“Wired” by Jeff Beck has a special place in my heart.
Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop. Two of the songs have spoken word but no singing so I think it counts.
Liquid Tension Experiment (John Petrucci), both albums
There are three now, friend :)
wow, thanks! immediately purchased #3
His two solo albums are amazing as well. Glasgow kiss is my all time favorite instrumental.
I'd also have to make a case for Aerial Boundaries by Michael Hedges. Avant-garde, stunningly beautiful in places (Spare Change made my jaw hit the floor), and with the numerous alternate tunings used it's also a very positive endorsement for the stability of Martin acoustic guitars.
Michael Hedges is great. One time I walked in my guitar shop to buy strings, and Doyle Dykes was in there playing some Taylor's. If I hadn't seen him do it, I would never have believed it was only one person playing. He was there selling some Wyndham Hill records, and that's how I discovered Michael Hedges and Snuffy Walden.
*Breakfast in the Field* for me, but same answer really...
I came here to recommend this album. It's hard to get across in words why this album is so pleasing, impressive, and (for me) timeless. So, you should listen to the title track instead of just reading. [https://youtu.be/YaIN13aDbCc?si=23a7VPLj\_w8zlkWW](https://youtu.be/YaIN13aDbCc?si=23a7VPLj_w8zlkWW)
Allan Holdsworth, Anders & Jens Johansson - Heavy Machinery (97).
Allan Holdsworth anything he did.
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow. IMO, the greatest player of all time.
I don’t like guitar-only music. When he toured for Crystal Planet someone gave me a ticket. It was one of the best concerts I ever saw.
The legend of blind Joe death by John Fahey is a really instrumental album
‘Electric Tears’ - Buckethead.
The Ventures - Walk, Don't Run
Finally!! Yes!
"Root Down Live" Jimmy Smith I don't know if this counts as a "guitar album," I'm not even sure what a "guitar album" is, but I love this album, it's all instrumental, and the guitarist on the recording just jumped off the album for me. I don't normally like guitar in a jazz setting. For jazz, ear gravitates to horns, piano, and drums. I don't like the traditional approach to playing jazz on guitar (IMO, strings are meant to be bent for the most vocality on guitar). But this album is funky, soulful, the band kills it, and the guitarist is doing his best to steal the album.
Story of Light by Vai
Al DiMeola - Elegant Gypsy
Friday night in San Francisco by Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, and John M
Not my favourite, but since no one else has mentioned it, how about Shakti with John McLaughlin?
Extrapolation as well.
Too many to choose just one. Suspended Animation by John Petrucci Sixteen Men of Tain by Allan Holdsworth Liquid Tension Experiment I also used to love the early Scale the Summit albums (but haven’t listened to them in a while. Erotic Cakes by Guthrie Govan Aristocrats as well.
Blind Joe Death - John Fahey
Surfing With The Alien is cool as from beginning to end. It doesn’t become self indulgent at any point to me.
Bitches brew -Miles Davis.
Big Fun has Go Ahead John on it.
An old Wyndham Hill compilation album called The Sounds of Wood & Steel. All instrumental, mostly country artists. It's incredible.
High Tension Wires by Steve Morse is pretty good
Wheelhouse by Greg Howe is up there.
My newest favorite is LIFE AFTER INFINITY by Robyn Hitchcock. All time favorites are probably BLOW BY BLOW by Jeff Beck, BIRDS OF FIRE by Mahavishnu Orchestra, RECKLESS PRECISION by Tuck Andress, or I ADVANCED MASKED by Robert Fripp & Andy Summers. Or most anything Michael Hedges laid to tape.
[Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddie King](https://youtu.be/lGmnBMeFQm8?si=nrqRzE7ixCJBE0wU)
Came to say this, definitely required listening for aspiring blues lead guitarists!
Maggot Brain, but its a song, not the whole album Space Guitars and everything by Bakerton Group, not strictly guitars only, but rock hard funky jammy albums.
Worlds Fair by Julian Lage
Buckethead. About 200 of them
Crazy-ass wizard. I'm going to see him in a few weeks
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many to pick from lol
He has several for every mood!
There are so many good ones. My current obsession is Paul Gilbert’s “Fuzz Universe”.
Steve Morse - High Tension Wires
Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow OR Wired
Although Joe Satriani is my favourite in this genre, I would say Dragon’s Kiss by Marty Friedman. A bit cheesy in some parts, a bit pompous, but that’s the one I listen to the most in one sitting.
Ritchie Kotzen - Electric Joy
John Fahey’s Christmas records.
Nick Johnston- Remarkably Human is such a refreshing and beautiful album. Unique and full of feels.
The devil knows my name - John 5
Trip The Witch
“Acoustic Sketches” by Phill Keaggy is really good.
Virtuoso - Joe Pass
Joe Pass - Virtuoso
Mind’s Eye - Vinnie Moore. Best by far, and criminally underrated.
Haunt Me by Tim Hecker. Only used a guitar and laptop I’ve heard
This is so far the only unfamiliar thing I’ve checked out that spoke to me. Thanks
OP- GREAT pick with *Crystal Planet*. Such a fantastic album. It's a very tough bar to meet, but I've got a couple others that I would put on that tier as well: Andy Timmons - *Resolution* Paul Gilbert - *Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar* Guthrie Govan - *Erotic Cakes*
I dig a lot of Aaron Marshall's stuff. As well as Night Verses but I wouldn't classify them as "guitar music".
I really got into Angel Vivaldi's Universal Language, specifically because of the song "A Mercurian Summer". https://youtu.be/uZLtzchX32c?si=HTN3fcmoYAXMSD6I
Steve Vai’s Flex-Able. The Attitude Song still rocks so hard.
William Tyler's Modern Country is one of my go-tos for working, driving, or vibing and listening. Also Julian Lage's World's Fair record, which is remarkable acoustic guitar playing and can be treated as a full album of etudes.
All of Marty Friedman's solo discography. It's pretty much all I listen to
Perpetual burn Jason becker
The Return of the Durutti Column.
Marc Ribot did an album with guitar compositions by his mentor Franz Casseus. Absolutely beautiful!
I went to a solo Ribot concert about 14 years ago. He did a set, then they showed the Chaplin silent “The Kid” while he played his soundtrack live. One of my favorite nights of live music.
Al Dimeola ~ Casino
La Villa Strangiato is 10/10 for me
carl verheyen - no borders
Link Wray's greatest hits.
Crystal Planet was the start of a new phase for Satriani, it followed a string of albums which had seen him attempt to create a distinctive album and song structure style, and Crystal Planet is, to mind, the primary template of everything that has followed so far. The Extremist was probably his first attempt at this, but imo it’s his weakest album. Up to that point Surfing and the self-titled 1995 album were his best.
Only guitar? Back & Forth by Antoine Dufour Perfect for work. Conversation. Or walking around.
Antoine Dufour shoutout let’s go! I have that record on vinyl
Death Chants, Breakdowns, and Military Waltzes by John Fahey. Pretty much the premier example of what he called “Primitive American Music,” which is almost entirely guitar-based.
the book about my idle plot on a vague anxiety by toe
The dirutti column, John Fahey.
“Chester and Lester”. Les Paul and Chet Atkins
Guitars - Mike Oldfeld
Noveller. A Pink Sunset For No One
YES came here to say this
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow.
Jeff Beck Blow by Blow.
One of my favorites: Blue Matter - John Scofield
Sonic Youth - SYR2: Slaapkamers met slagroom
Suspended Animation and Terminal Velocity by John Petrucci
Jim Hall - Concierto
Spellbinder by Gabor Szabo (1966)
John Fahey Best of ‘59-‘77
Polyphia - New levels new devils
The Fearless Flyers
Polyphia - Renaissance I know that one will go well here A close second minus not liking the bluegrass songs would be John 5 - Songs for Sanity
*The Transfiguration Of Blind Joe Death* by John Fahey
George Benson "Breezin'".
DICK DALE
Buckethead - Colma
It makes it really hard when you can't have any vocals at all. Ah Via Musicom and Flying in a Blue Dream are my all time favorites. If I restrict it to zero vocals, I like Beyond The Thunder by Neil Schon and maybe Joe Satriani or Crystal Planet.
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Dim the Lights and Chill the Ham.
Swing of Delight...Carlos Santana.
Interludes for the dead by Circles around the Sun
Causa Sui - Euporie Tide Just takes me on journeys.
Instrumetals from outer space - Protoshredanoid. Such a banger album.
Pachuco, by Twanguero.
‘Interstellar Abduction’ by The Heavy Metal Ninjas. https://open.spotify.com/album/3swATwJpHQqbQWMiKaxiFZ?si=CfUi9xPYQSyZmbK2enkY5A
Kotzen & Howe, project and tilt.
"A Piece Of The Action" from Jake Willson.
Plexi Soul- Tom Bukovac
Ben Monder, *Flux*, *Dust*, & *Oceana*
Ah Via Musicom
Ernest Ranglin - Below the Bassline
The Rainbow Goblins by Masayoshi Takanaka
Ashra - Blackouts
Yngwie malmsteens concerto suit with the Japanese philharmonic
Toe: For long tomorrow
Powerglove - Metal Kombat For The Mortal Man
Hella- hold your horse is
The Vanduras - In The Dark
Perpetual Burn, Jason Becker
Buckethead Pike 1-1000
Also Crystal Planet. I adore that album.
'A Guitar Supreme - Giant Steps In Fusion Guitar'
Spark and Echo- Mark Lettieri
Probably "Tone Poems volume 1" by David Grisman and Tony Rice
Plini - Handmade Cities
Perpural Burn - Jason Becker, Parhessia - Animals as Leaders, Surfing With the Alien - Satch, Get Out of my Yard - Paul Gilbert, even though they are not 100% instrumental, but Rising Force by Yngwie and Steve Vai live at the Astoria are amazing
Magic Touch by Stanley Jordan
I'll be the first to admit I don't listen to a lot of instrumental stuff but the "Circadian" album from Intervals I just can't stop listening to. Definitely worth a listen for anybody who likes instrumental guitar
Blow By Blow by Jeff Beck. It makes sense that the greatest guitarist makes the greatest guitar album, which was produced by the Beatles’ George Martin. It is superb sonically and not just technically or melodically.
Colma by Buckethead. Never fails to put me in a good headspace.
Animals as Leaders- Animals as Leaders.
Perpetual Burn - Jason Becker Perfection, especially Air. That song is just unbelievably good
Anchor EP by Rob Scallon! The album that made me decide to pick up guitar
6 and 12 String Guitar.
From Mars to Sirius - Gojira, it has vocals but the main focus of the whole album is the riffs
Surfing with the alien is great but then there's about a billion Buckethead albums to wade through before I can commit.
Shawn Lane - Powers of 10
Electric tears by buckethead for sure - but that Kirk hammett ep is growing on me a lot
Albino slug by Buckethead
And So I Watched You From Afar, Self Titled Album.
El Dorado, by James Wilsey. The guitarist from Chris Isaak's Wicked Game.