Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, harmonica, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, bass, hand claps); Eric Cadieux (keyboards, programming); Stuart Hamm (bass); Eric Valentine, Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion, hand claps); Rhoades Howe, Elk Thunder (percussion); Mike Manning, Mike Fraser (hand claps).

"A Train Of Angels" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

On CRYSTAL PLANET Satch provides his fans with exactly what they've come to expect: crunching riffs, soaring melodies, chord changes and solos from heaven. He deviates little from such past releases as THE EXTREMIST and SURFING WITH THE ALIEN, and as the saying goes: "if it ain't broke". That's not to say he doesn't stay contemporary, as "Raspberry Jam Delta-V" effectively dabbles in electronica as subtle background noise.

"Love Thing" is a beautiful ballad and potential single, and Satch is able to make the guitar "talk". There are also elements of funk ("A Piece Of Liquid") and metal ("With Jupiter In Mind"). But his skills shine through the most when he shreds, and nobody does it better. Quite simply, the man is a virtuoso and probably one of the most influential Instrumental Rock artists of his generation. He shows he can play at the speed of light while fitting all these speedy solos into the context of the song. CRYSTAL PLANET continues the legacy of a man who shows that no matter how much technology advances, there is no substitute for a wailin' guitar.

Entertainment Weekly (3/6/98, p.80) - "...innovation is moot: Satriani is an old-fashioned guitar hero, and antic wailer, and a romantic at heart."

- Rating: B