Description
Paul Gilbert’s bluesy shred licks have been mainstays of the instrumental guitar scene since the 1980s with bands like Racer X and Mr. Big, and we’re here at his fifteenth solo album to date, Behold Electric Guitar.
Unlike the vast majority of instrumental guitar shred albums, Behold Electric Guitar was recorded live off the floor without a single overdub, giving an incredible amount of vibe throughout. It’s not hard to imagine the musicians getting into a nearly-telepathic headspace throughout the record, playing off of one another’s parts in a very organic way.
There’s a decent mix of styles on the album. The focus is on Gilbert’s bluesier chops, but the set also contains flavours of rock, jazz-fusion and funk. Gilbert’s playing is incredibly lyrical, the melodies standout. While there are many great new instrumental guitar acts out there pushing the boundaries of harmony, rhythm and production style, Behold Electric Guitar shows Paul tapping into the roots of what makes playing the guitar so damn exciting.
