Burning Organ

Burning Organ is a solo work on which Paul Gilbert, while keeping his astonishing guitar technique as a sure foundation, prioritizes above all the pure fun of the songs themselves. High-speed dashing phrases and irregular, surprising ideas are scattered in places, yet a light rock-and-roll feel and overflowing humor flow consistently through every song. A record strongly showing the playfulness of a man known as a technician. From the powerful drive of the opening straight rock hymn “I Like Rock” and the momentum of “My Religion” to the catchiness of “Friday Night (Say Yeah),” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Bliss” and “Suicide Lover” convey the work’s fullness. Its great distinction is that, while a guitar album, sharp riffs, memorable vocal melody and the band’s sure momentum are properly the leads. A record packed throughout with Paul Gilbert’s own sure stance of turning outstanding transcendent technique into the pure joy of listening, never showing it as difficult or stiff. You can savor both guitar skill and the pure fun of rock and roll at once. On which his pop, humorous appeal is in full bloom, it is a powerful, fun solo work — a record full of love for rock.