"Venus Isle"-Eric Johnson This album has been a long time coming. There is a lot of superb guitar playing with some beautiful tones (Eric Johnson is without doubt one of the best electric guitar players there is). The songwriting isn't as strong as on Ah Via Musicom and the record sounds a shade over produced but it is still a stunning guitar album. I think a lot of Johnson's fans would like him to make the next album more quickly with a raw live band sound, having said that there are some cracking guitar tunes on Venus Isle: SRV is a cool tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan with brother Jimmie Vaughan contributing a solo and Manhattan is a Wes Montgomery style tune with Eric soloing over the changes with a hot Hendrixy tone. Outstanding tracks: SRV, Manhattan. Overall: Beautiful.
"Guitar Stories"-Keith More Keith More has been a star on the British session scene for years contributing great guitar playing to many hit records but this is his first solo outing. The album opens with Keith laying down cool Lydian lines on acoustic guitar over an orchestral arrangement, leading into the best tune on the album with a great riff and melody on electric guitar. "Self Inflicted" has a really fierce rock/fusion riff and some cool Wah stuff. "Angeline" has a delicate acoustic melody played over a John Barry style progression and features a really nice Bebop syle acoustic solo. "Farewell Bop" is full on Jazz on electric guitar and "The Rascal" has a cooking wah riff and a searing solo. Outstanding Tracks: "Unopened Book", "Self Inflicted", "Angeline". Overall: Very Cool.
	"Stress Fest"-Steve Morse Steve Morse is an outstanding musician and his experience as an instrumental artist really shows in the writing on this record. The tunes vary widely with rock, country/folk and classical influences. There are singing electric melodies and acoustic passages, fast picked lines and ZZ Top style boogie riffs. Overall there is a definite Aaron Copeland influence which glues the albums disparate elements together into a very attractive whole Outstanding Tracks: The album feels like one track with many outstanding moments. Overall: Deep.
"K"-Kula Shaker Kula Shaker is one of the best bands to come out of England in years, they mix 60's style British rock with great Hendrixy guitar and great songs. Sometimes sounding like The Small Faces or Humble Pie sometimes like Jimi they also throw in Indian influences a la George Harrison. Personally I think they are at their best playing straight ahead British pop music (pop doesn't get any better than "Hey Dude"). Outstanding tracks: "Hey Dude", "Grateful When You're Dead" and most of the rest. Overall: A breath of fresh air.