Trey Gunn is undoubtedly a guitar master. Having played with artists as varied as the mythical King Crimson and industrial uber-drummer Bill Rieflin, Gunn's innovative approach can create some astonishing sounds. On this instrumental release, he uses his 8 and 12 string touch guitars to paint stylish fusion portraits. Avoiding the masturbatory overindulgence of Steve Vai and the self-conscious perfection of Pat Metheny, Gunn's trio comes off more like Miles Davis with African drums. Not surprisingly, Gunn sheds traditional song structures, which is both a blessing and a curse. For a dedicated listener, the song movements are marvelous and celebrate the calculated precision pioneered by King Crimson. Others, however, may find that the meandering songs leave them a bit lost and lack emotion. If you are willing to put the effort into it, The Joy of Molybdenum will pay off in spades, but if you prefer something a little less cerebral, you'd be better off elsewhere.