Description
Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting – Compact Disc
Joe Satriani’s Shapeshifting is his 17th studio album, released on April 10, 2020 through Sony Music/Legacy Recordings. It’s a good “late-catalog” Satriani record to point people to because it’s explicitly designed as a style survey—not a concept album, but a set that moves quickly between tones (hard rock, blues-rock, melodic instrumental rock) while keeping the same high-level guitar identity throughout.
A big part of the album’s character comes from the production team. Satriani co-produced the record with Jim Scott (a long-established rock engineer/producer), and it was recorded at PLYRZ Studios in Valencia, California. The standard album runs 46:23 across 13 tracks, which is long enough to feel substantial but still paced like a classic instrumental-rock CD—no filler “sketch” sections, just compact pieces with clear hooks and arrangements.
The rollout also tells you what Satriani thought the album was. The first single was “Nineteen Eighty” (released ahead of the album as the lead preview), which leans into a punchy, nostalgic rock energy rather than pure shred-showcase. Another highlighted track was “Big Distortion,” which is basically the title in sound—thicker, heavier, and more aggressive than the smoother melodic side of the record. The official tracklist includes titles like “Shapeshifting,” “All for Love,” “Ali Farka, Dick Dale, an Alien and Me,” “Teardrops,” “Perfect Dust,” “All My Friends Are Here,” “Spirits, Ghosts and Outlaws,” “Falling Stars,” “Waiting,” “Here the Blue River,” and “Yesterday’s Yesterday.”
Personnel-wise, Shapeshifting isn’t just “Satriani over a backing track.” Alongside Satriani (guitars plus additional instruments/overdubs), the album features Kenny Aronoff on drums and Chris Chaney on bass, with additional contributions including Eric Caudieux (keys/percussion/sound design) and Lisa Coleman on piano on select tracks—giving the record a more band-like feel and more tonal variety than some pure solo instrumental albums.
It also marks a small but real turning point in his discography: Shapeshifting is commonly noted as his last album released through Sony Music, before he moved labels for his next studio album, The Elephants of Mars (2022). And on the chart side, it performed strongly in several UK categories at release (including high placements on Official Charts’ sales/physical and rock & metal lists), which is notable for a 2020 instrumental guitar record.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Shapeshifting
Big Distortion
All For Love
Ali Farka, Dick Dale, An Alien And Me
Teardrops
Perfect Dust
Nineteen Eighty
All My Friends Are Here
Spirits, Ghosts And Outlaws
Falling Stars
Waiting
Here The Blue River
Yesterday’s Yesterday
