Search - Paul Gilbert :: Alligator Farm

Diverse, entertaining, fun

DesmoBob | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has an almost experimental feel to it. It goes in many different directions, even has some Ramones and Cheap Trick vibe in spots. Some punk, some blues, some pop, some jazz. A lot of different influences show through.



If you just want full on, pure shred, this is NOT the CD for you. Paul shows he's a musician FIRST, shredmaster second. Of course, there is a little bit of it, like in "Let The Computer Decide." But remember, the album as a whole is a showcase of many different styles.



Some people didn't like the Spice Girls cover, reviewing it at face value. Fair enough. But I did catch the humor in that song, Paul even lays Jimmy Page's Stairway solo in there, and made it fit perfectly! I seem to recall much later in a guitar clinic, that Paul thinks the Spice Girls song makes for a nice study in chord progressions.



One of my favorite tracks is the jazz fusionesque "6 Billion People." The lyrics are light hearted and whimsical, but the true brilliance is in the beautiful underlying chord structure and the odd scale he uses for the jazzy & melodic lead. Another reviewer said he repeated this song over and over in his CD player, and I admit I have done the same.



I also find this CD very good for days when I'm really grumpy, or just having a crummy day altogether. Paul is genuinely a good hearted guy, and in this particular album, it really shines through with Paul's upbeat and fun songs. It's hard to stay grumpy with this in the CD player."