MERCURY JAPAN PHCR-83
OVERALL: 85%
Produced by: Paul Gilbert
OVERALL: 85%
Produced by: Paul Gilbert
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MERCURY JAPAN PHCR-83 OVERALL: 85% Produced by: Paul Gilbert | ||||
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Despite the obvious plethora of releases over the past couple of years I was really sorry to see Mr. Big call a break. Hardly surprising though. But it hasn't been all bad news, as the guys are all still recording, and we have had a very smooth Eric Martin solo record and Billy Sheehan has returned to his roots in Talas. Then there is Paul Racer X Gilbert. With all due respect to Paul, he has provided me the biggest surprise as a solo artist. Not that it was expected that his guitar playing and song writing wouldn't be impeccable, but the quality of his vocals and the pure tongue in cheek good fun of his solo debut King Of Clubs was simply brilliant. If you haven't heard it yet, read my original review for it and try and find a copy. Great stuff. So it has only been one year later and here we are with Paul's second solo record Flying Dog. Where will this one take us? It certainly retains the same feel and style of the debut, but takes up where it left off and moves further on. It is a more freewheeling and looser album than the debut with more improvising and impromptu solo. it has a very live feel, while it is also a little heavier than the debut. Get It is a solid opener and is an uptempo mix of acoustic and electric guitars, a little solo and a good melodic chorus. Girl Crazy is a moodier and heavier tune with the best vocals I have heard yet from Paul. The chorus and bridge are pure AOR anthems. | ||
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Hooks all round! Great track and easy single. Be My Wife is heavier again, with a moody ballad type intro that fires up the song ends up being a good hard rocker. Mr. Skin has a bizarre intro which could almost be described as psychedelic. The song is much the same, with no formula's being used here! The song swaps back and forth from standard to bizarre, with seemingly impromptu guitar leads heading off in tangents. Good variation. Beautiful Girls Are Crazy starts like a Cheap Trick rocker, but then ends up a mid paced acoustic/electric Beatles influenced pop ballad! Midnight Maryanne is a mid paced pop rocker with stacks of guitar soloing and is generally a good fun track. Heavy Disco Trip has a curious intro to say the least and then living up to it's name has a serious 70's vibe, with heavy and groovy guitar riffs and some different vocals. Very Dweezil Zappa. Kate Is A Star is a very cool melodic acoustic pop ballad with harmony vocals and a relaxed laid back feel. Nice change of pace and cool solo towards the end. Down To Mexico rocks out some more, with a quite heavy mix of bass and guitar. A good uptempo blues rocker. Tell The Truth is another good fun pop rocker that varies it's pave and is a pretty simple track. Towards the end it goes off into another Paul Gilbert guitar session, quite funny. Wrong Man is one of my favorite tracks. A classy ballad that reminds me a little of John Sykes style of balladry. Good ballad with a great lyric. And Gilberto Concerto is pretty much as it says. Six and a half minutes of Paul at his finest. Nice way to finish and a little more restrained than the last album's guitar solo instrumental! The bonus tracks on Flying Dog are contained on a second bonus CD that appears with the first pressing of the album. These two songs are basically really fun stuff. Las Vegas Christmas is very tongue in cheek and takes the mickey out of the established Vegas regulars. Barbie Bang Your Head is similar and is a good time rocker. This is an album that is going to immediately appeal to those charmed by his debut and also offers enough new variations so not to make it a repeat of that record. I should also mention his backing band which includes long time buddy Bruce Bouillet on guitar and the rest of the guys from the Szuters. A classy album from a very cool singer, songwriter and above all guitarist. Investigate! | PRODUCTION: 88% | SONGS: 82% | VIBE: 83% | ATTITUDE: 85% | ESSENTIAL FOR: All fans of Paul Gilbert and guitar players, some Mr. Big fans |