King of Clubs

King of Clubs is Paul Gilbert’s memorable solo debut, made after leaving Mr. Big, combining nimble, sharp guitar playing and a pop, accessible melodic sense. The outstanding technique cultivated in Racer X and Mr. Big shines vividly in places, yet the songs, by no means biased toward solo showcases, firmly keep the pure fun of light rock. A record inscribing a new starting point as a solo artist. Rather than merely flaunting transcendent fast-picking technique, surprising, expectation-defying developments and a somehow humorous, playful feel are also an important appeal of this work. Content beautifully fusing Gilbert’s sure pop sense and outstanding guitar technique. A pure love for rock and roll fills the whole. A record letting you fully savor Paul Gilbert’s many-sided side, not only as an outstanding guitarist but as an excellent songwriter. His own stance of turning technique into the joy of listening, never showing it as difficult, clearly appears. A powerful, fun rock work that made a promising start to his solo career — a record where his new talent bloomed.