Paul Gilbert // WROC // Album Review

The one and only Mr Paul Gilbert is back with his new album WROC, arriving this coming Friday courtesy of Music Theories Recordings. WROC, which stands for “Washington’s Rules of Civility,” could very well be the guitar superstar’s most outlandish offering to date. Using George Washington’s Rules of Civility as a conceptual homing beacon, Gilbert has dared himself to think outside the box and use an etiquette guide dating back to the late 1500s as his main source of inspiration, and it represents his first vocal album since 2016’s “I Can Destroy.”

The album is packed with thirteen tasty tracks, all filled with Gilbert goodness that any dedicated six-string fanatic will love. I do have to admit that this review will be biased, as Mr Gilbert has a longtime fanboy here. Paul’s influence on my youth was gargantuan from his days with Racer X to his solo work and Mr Big albums. I was there digging everything he did, mind blown by his musicality and frenetic fret work.

From the off with ‘Keep Your Feet Firm And Even’, you know you’re not in Kansas anymore! The glorious solo in the middle and harmonising guitar lines across the song are just classic Gilbert. His choice of note, touch, and technique is so identifiable with his blistering style. Of course, you have to admit Paul’s quirky style when it comes to songwriting, especially on his solo work, where he flexes his musical muscles and goes a little left field with albums such as this, but you cannot ignore his musical brilliance on display; the fusion between lyrics and guitar mastery just has to be appreciated. Is this Mr Big, no, do we have those soft melodic ballads and slamming riffy technical tunes with Billy, no, and yes, there is no shortage of technical brilliance, but all wrapped up in Paul’s creative genius that is just a thing of beauty in its own right.

As a long-time PG fan, I appreciate everything on display here; the riffs are killer and the lead work mesmerising, the melodies rock too, yes, he can turn on a dime as the tracks will take a left turn when he wants them to, and I am sure his band were kept on their toes throughout. You’ll have tracks like ‘Go Not Thither’ that have a frenetic pace and then can mellow in a heartbeat, before it takes off again at 100 miles an hour. It’s funny too as you’ll hear fellow musicians and friend of Paul say how he is obsessive of songwriting and melodic lines, Jared James Nicholls for example would tell stories in interviews I have seen of Paul ‘Trading Licks’ and Jared would day down some thick bluesy run and Paul would hit him up with a melodic vocal line from an old 60’s hit. And you can almost see and hear that in this album, Paul’s mind wanders back to those old songs from his childhood that captured his imagination and made him pick up the guitar In the first place, as a lot of the melodies would hark back to simple melodies that sound familiar to the songs of his youth. Melodies that work like earworms and embed themselves in your brain. So the song’s lyrical content may not be at the forefront of your mind, but goddam those melodies you’ll be humming for the rest of your day.

I could have an album like this on in the background while I work, and it will energise me no end. The solos make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and the melodies are glorious. Paul Gilbert is nuttier than squirrel shit, but I love him to death. He’s one in a million, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

WROC arrives this coming Friday, and any and I do mean ANY Paul Gilbert fan will appreciate this album from start to finish. It is classic Paul Gilbert, mind-blowing technicality of the first degree and dressed in melodic goodness, a wolf in sheep’s clothing if you like. I was a little nervous myself as I approached it to review, but I need not have been. This one is a beauty.

Thanks again, Paul, for a lifetime’s worth of sonic joy.

WROC arrives Friday, Feb 27th, courtesy of Music Theories Recordings.

Pre-Order/Stream HERE

Track listing
1. Keep Your Feet Firm and Even
2. Show Not Yourself Glad (At the Misfortune of Another)

3. Maintain a Sweet and Cheerful Countenance
4. Go Not Thither

5. Orderly And Distinctly
6. If You Soak Bread in the Sauce

7. Let Thy Carriage
8. Speak Not Evil of the Absent
9. Turn Not Your Back (To Others)
10. Conscience is the Most Certain Judge
11. Every Action Done in Company
12. Spark of Celestial Fire
13. George Washington Rules