Alligator Farm

Alligator Farm is a colorful solo album on which Paul Gilbert boldly mixes a vigorous experimental spirit and a catchy song-oriented bent. Not merely guitar speed, but twisted, surprising melody and a light, pleasant rhythm are the songs’ leads. The splendid union of humorous, free ideas and precise, exact playing makes this work truly distinctive. A record where his broad musical range can be felt. From the momentum of the opener “Better Chords” and the catchiness of the title track “Alligator Farm” to cuts like “Individually Twisted” and “Cut, Cut, Cut,” every song is engaging. His playful song choices, such as a bold cover of the Spice Girls’ “2 Become 1,” also shine, while a cut like “Attitude Boy Will Overcome” conveys the work’s appeal. Its appeal is an exquisite balance that greatly widens the former frame of hard rock yet never loses pop accessibility. You can savor both transcendent technique as an outstanding guitarist and rich playfulness as an excellent composer at once. On which Paul Gilbert’s varied, free musicality is in full bloom, it is a powerful, fun, fulfilling work — a record showing the breadth of his talent.