Customer Reviews

Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll be honest...I have always admired Paul as a briliant guitar player and I have always bought his solo material. It was always a spiritual experience.

This CD is simply amazing...I agree with the other opinions posted here...but I just want to add that as an purely instrumental CD...this is the most lyrical PG has been without singing a single word. The emotion and feeling behind every note is simply brilliant.

Long live this CD and I would have to say probably my favorite CD of his.

If you love PG's previous efforts...this one will make you jump up and down in excitement, laugh, and cry.

NOW GO BUY IT!

There is so much to like on this CD for any guitar nut. While Get Out Of My Yard was impressive from a "blazing chops" standpoint, I honestly thought of it more as "Paul jamming" than really flexing his compositional muscles. Apparently he saved that for this one, because these songs are interesting - brilliantly composed, and as others have stated, very lyrical in their themes. And don't worry shred-heads: he still rips it up as well - even moreso than Get Out Of My Yard... this album sounds to me like "what Paul Gilbert does after going on tour with Satriani and Petrucci." Seriously - a tune like "I Cannot Tell a Lie" is a beautiful solo guitar ballad that could easily find room on a playlist of Satch's best guitar ballads... meanwhile "Gargoyle" (and most of the rest of the CD) can sit alongside anything Petrucci has ever come up with, which is saying a LOT for me because I happen to think Petrucci is the most "complete package" guitar player in the world today, combining arguably the most skillful playing with arguably the most daunting compositions AND playing stuff that's listenable. Paul is the only other guy who brings everything together like that.

It also helps that the bassist and drummer on here absolutely play the snot out of their instruments also: this is some excruciatingly difficult stuff and the guys are right there with Paul all the way through. Excellent!

What a great breath of fresh air... one thing he does better than Petrucci is HAVE FUN. Amongst the 8 billion notes that still shines through. Bravo Paul! Keep 'em comin'.

This disc just kicks major butt. From start to finish this is an unbelievable guitar instrumental cd.

Gilbert, one time guitarist of Mr. Big and Racer X, is one of the best guitarists out there and with this disc he proves it.

I saw him last year on the G3 tour with Satriani and John Pertrucci and he's just amazing live. He played the crap out of his guitar, but at the same time, by the look on his face, he was having fun and obviously loves what he does.

Go out and buy this disc, you won't be sorry.

This is my first Paul Gilbert cd, so I didn't know what to expect before I bought it. Based on the reviews here, I bought it sound unheard. Overall, I am not disappointed. Mr. Gilbert is an incredible technician and a generally superior song writer. If you like Marty Friedman, Satriani, Vai, Eric Johnson, Vinnie Moore, Eddie Van Halen, Rush, Jeff Beck, Joey Tafolla, George Lynch, even Carlos Santana, you'll like this CD because it has shades of them all. Which makes this a unique CD among instrumental guitar rock/shred albums. Lots of rock musical influences seem to have been put on display here--almost as if Gilbert were paying tribute--and blended in an original, highly skillful way. That feature is also my only real criticism of this CD (tho it's a small one): I am left with an unsure sense of Mr. Gilbert's own melodic style. Or perhaps this ecclectic fushion blending IS his style. Certainly, I've never heard anything like it on any instrumental guitar rock/shred album. This CD definitely makes me want to go out and check out his other stuff!

Another thing about this album: Gilbert's melodic compositional quality is so high that you almost expect these tracks to become guitar solos going with vocal rock songs. Probably the best blend of technical prowess and melodic sensibility that I've ever heard in this genre, with perhaps the exception of Vinnie Moore (neoclassical shred, Mind's Eye), Marty Friedman (Dragon's Kiss) or Eric Johnson (Venus Isle).

The Album:

Track 1: shades of Rush, George Lynch (excellent)

Track 2: shades of Eddie Van Halen, NeoClassical shred (excellent)

Track 3: shades of Rush (very good)

Track 4: shades of Marty Friedman, '80s Guitar rock (good)

Track 5: shades of Satriani (good)

Track 6: shades of Led Zeppelin/Jimmy Page; '70s funk/Beck (very good)

Track 7: attempts an Eric Johnson impression--Johnson is better (this is my least favorite track)

Track 8: neoclassical shred--better than MacAlpine/Malmsteen, about as good as Vinnie Moore, with a kick that's all Gilbert (excellent)

Trck 9: shades of Santana

Track 10: shades of Vai, Eric Johnson, Satriani, Tafolla; '70s funk (excellent)

Track 11: shades of Rush, Friedman, Beck, even a little Aerosmith (excellent)

I only give five stars if I like all tracks. But that's just me.

... as the previous reviewer stated, "amazing as always"...

I was a fan of Racer X and Mr. Big back in the day, but I'm only recently discovering Paul's solo work, thanks to a friend. Man, have I ever been missing out!

This stuff is just freaking great. I can't remember the last time I got THIS excited about a new (to me, as far as solo work) artist. Eddie comes to mind when I try and think about the last time I was this excited about a guitar player.

I rushed out to get this on my lunch break today, and I've been slowly purchasing his back catalog of solo material. And I LOVE every one instantly.

I am quickly realizing you don't need to read reviews of Paul's albums before you purchase them, because you just know they will be killer... which is why I ran out and got this one today without hearing a word about it...

So... YOU HEAR ME!!??... STOP READING THIS REVIEW.... YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME WHEN YOU COULD BE LISTENING TO THE ALBUM... GO BUY IT NOW AND ENJOY!!!

Imagine being able to take the BEST of Satriani's soul and lyricism, Vai's inventiveness and modalities, Malmsteen's classicism, Johnson's impeccable technique, and Petrucci's progressiveness, and mix them together in just the right proportions. Add in Paul's own fire, originality and sense of fun -- and you have this CD. I bought it yesterday based purely on the reviews I read here on Amazon (I had not heard a note of it), and I listened to it end-to-end during my morning commute today. It is absolutely, positively stunning. The clasically-inspired end-section of "Eudaimonia Overture" practically moved me to tears, it was so brilliant and perfectly executed. Throughout, you can tell that Paul loves to ROCK, has a great sense of humor, truly loves what he does, and most importantly -- has taste in his compositional approach. As an example, the neoclassical diminished arpeggio runs in the middle sections of "Norwegian Cowbell" are there to support the song, as they should be. When you listen to this, and compare it, say, to a Malmsteen piece in which ALL THERE IS is a mindless series of identical diminished arpeggio runs, you truly appreciate the difference between a great composer and a pure technician. Gilbert proves on this CD that he's a great composer and arranger -- who, by the way, happens to shred, rock, and OWN so many stylistic techniques that there is not enough space to list them here, or anywhere. BUY THIS CD!

This album was my first exposure to Paul Gilbert.Being a guitarist of 40+ years myself and an avid Joe Satriani/Steve Vai listner/fan,I was more than surprised and satisfied with the excellent quality production,great licks/riffs and great melodic playing incorporated by Paul into this album.I just ordered several more albums by Paul.Well worth the listening.

How amazing is it that Paul Gilbert can create music with or without vocals and still be totally entertaining. He is just that talented. This is an amazing CD. This grabs my attention when I'm listening and I get enveloped in the music and not distracted by anything else. It is a great 'getaway'. If you love guitar, and not just shredding, but melodic guitar, great riffs and different musical styles, buy this. The band plays great together, you won't be disappointed.

As always, Paul Gilbert gets better with each album he puts out. But this instrumental CD goes way beyond expectations, w/11 amazing tracks that wind and bend in and out of genres, complex times changes, and breathtaking solos. It seems Paul has been woodshedding a little harder these past months since 'Get Out Of My Yard'(a great album as well...), especially in the bending/vibrato department. But the compositions, guitar tone(so many great and varied ones...), and amazing soloing make for something even better; Heavy on both technique and feel, Paul captures the mood perfectly for each song. And while many songs changes gears quickly, nothing ever seems forced or out of place; Everything sounds like a natural transition, and Paul sounds as though his playing is effortless. Truly jaw-dropping as well as inspirational. Great drums and bass, too.

This CD reminds me why Paul Gilbert is one of the best electric guitarists of our time.

On this album he seems to move further into new territory in terms of melodies and scales/modes so that I almost hear a small, small bit of Steve Vai type vibes sprinkled in here and there.

It is interesting that after so many albums, he can still dig down into the well and come up with fresh sounding stuff.

I may actually prefer this over last years GOOMY.

Paul Gilbert has had a successful career, but is not as well known to the general public as one would expect.

That is a strange thing about the entertainment industry...... talent is not an accurate predictor of widespread success.

There are EXTREMELY talented people who only are known by a small select group of the general public....... on the other hand, there are mediocre talents who become multi-millionaire household names.

Interestingly enough one of the first things I noticed on this CD was a different guitar tone........ then I read the label and saw MARSHALL MODERN VINTAGE amps........ Hmmm, I guess Paul moved away from LANEY after many, many years.

This new tone is less "metallic" and "modern" and has more midrange warmth..... kind of like a "Hot-Rodded 1970s tone".

The only thing about Paul Gilbert I dislike is he makes me want to give up playing guitar altogether after I listen to him (smile) HA

Great job Mr. Pablo Gilberto !!!!