Space Ship One

Space Ship One is a fulfilling solo work on which Paul Gilbert, while firmly foregrounding fluid, outstanding guitar playing, values the songs’ own accessibility. Technical, dizzying solos never disturb the singing but rather all the more powerfully set off bright, catchy melody and light rhythm. A record whose exquisite balance of playing and songwriting feels good. From the momentum of the opening title track “Space Ship One” and the humorous “Every Hot Girl Is a Rockstar” to a cut like “On the Way to Hell,” every song is engaging, while the power of “Jackhammer” and a cut like “SVT” convey the work’s fullness. Hard rock’s power, power-pop’s catchy lightness and a slightly twisted humor coexist extremely naturally. A truly Paul Gilbert-like record letting you fully enjoy both transcendent technique as an outstanding guitarist and a sure pop sense as an excellent songwriter at once. His own stance of turning technique into the joy of listening runs throughout. Uniting guitar skill and catchy songs at a high level, it is a powerful, fun, fulfilling work — a record concentrating his appeal.