***** The Introduction by Steve Morse – I Still Can’t Decide who I Like More Steve Morse or the Dregs

The Introduction sounds like Steve Morse’s southern rock version of Joe Satriani.  At about the time that this was released, there was a lot of speculation in the genre which might be called Guitar Virtuoso.  Bands like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Yngwie Malmsteem had all shown the record industry that this genre did have some promise.  So, that is where the Steve Morse band comes in, and I have no problem with this album being essentially a follower rather than a leader in the genre.  Ultimately, what is good is good, such that I am not very worried about the chronology nearly as much as what is specifically on the album.

My favorite Joe Satriani album is Surfing with the Alien.  I would say that The Introduction is just a tad shy of being just as good.  Both albums have lots of flashy guitar.  Steve Morse, not unsurprisingly includes a lot of mysterious quick chord and key changes during probably every song on the album.  If Southern Folk where known for their brains, this album would have made Steve Morse a household name (in the South).  That is because a part of me knows that lots of city slickers won’t appreciate this style of Southern Guitar Virtuoso nearly as much, as when you hear it you might expect to see chickens come out barn, while there is a cow mooing in the background.