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John Petrucci
Suspended Animation (Sound of Music)
John Petrucci is easily one of the more remarkable players post Vai/ Satriani at the turn of the century. It wouldn’t be too far fetched to cite Petrucci as the catalyst who reignited the waning interest in guitar inclined music that went into slumber in the 1990s, thanks to the grunge movement which propagated a minimalist approach to guitar playing.
The Petrucci school of guitar playing is all about timing. This is evident in Suspended Animation; passages were meticulously penned to fill a calculated arrangement which makes the overall playing very mechanical. However, this excessive motorized vibe is the very strength of this release. Track after track, we would be awed by the consistent placements of each & every idea generated, backed by a stunning showcase of technical prowess. The very statement of intent here is the attestation that Petrucci can play very well & tastefully at that.
Suspended Animation was made enjoyable by the various elements present; from the initial greeting of heaviness (Jaws of Life) which tastefully veered into a more programme/ sample laden territory (Tunnel Vision) before cascading into lush settings (Wishful Thinking et al).
However the tunes on offer here sound somewhat familiar because they are adaptions to what we have already heard in Petrucci’s Dream Theatre/ Liquid Tension Experiment materials. Instead of reinventing his playing, Petrucci has opted to refine his signature finger gymnastics.
Tone purists will be interested to know that the guitar voicing in Suspended Animation is a propulsion of clarity, less the initial two tracks; the solos there could have been better in terms of the aforementioned concern.
All in all, this album is a fine offering by a guitar powerhouse who did well in maintaining a tasteful stroke throughout the release. It’s a highly recommended listening to anyone looking forward to a great guitar laden album; an impressive effort to say the least.
