Mike Shouse The virtuoso returns with colour, character, and serious guitar firepower

Review By Glen Parkes

After 15 years away from releasing new music, guitar maestro Mike Shouse returns in style with the vibrant new video and single “Smiley Faced Emoji,” taken from his long-awaited album Jaded. It’s a bold, playful track that reminds listeners exactly why Shouse became a respected figure in the world of instrumental rock.

Born in Jackson, KY and a graduate of Hollywood’s famed Guitar Institute of Technology, Shouse has spent decades shaping his craft. His earlier albums — Enter the Soul (2001) and Alone on the Sun (2010) — earned international praise, TV features, and compilation placements. But Jaded marks a true rebirth, and “Smiley Faced Emoji” is its energised heartbeat.

The track is a sharp burst of creativity, blending Shouse’s melodic sensibility with his unmistakable technical precision. There’s a freshness here, a sense of renewed purpose that cuts through every riff and run. Backed by an all-star lineup — including guest solos from Michael Angelo Batio, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Tony MacAlpine, plus powerhouse rhythm work from Charlie Zeleny (drums) and James Amelio Pulli (bass) — the song is executed with flawless production courtesy of Nashville legend Billy Decker.

Critics worldwide are calling Jaded “a technical marvel,” “a sound fresco both technical and visceral,” and “a monumental return”, and “Smiley Faced Emoji” captures all of that spirit in one punchy, expressive burst of instrumental storytelling.

A colourful title, a killer performance, and a triumphant return — Mike Shouse is well and truly back.