Guitar Pioneer PAUL GILBERT released his new album “Behold Electric Guitar” on 17th May, via Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings!
Watch the brand new video for “A Herd of Turtles” here:
Paul Gilbert on A Herd of Turtles:
How do you know when you’ve gained your producer’s trust?
You ask him this question:
“Hey John, can you set up a vocal mic? I want to recite a poem about turtles in a Ringo Starr accent, and then launch into a ferocious groove with the band, and then back to the Ringo part, and then back to the ferocious part a few more times. We’ll cut it all live too.”
To which John, the producer replies, “Sure!”
I waited until the end of the “Behold Electric Guitar” recording sessions to record “A Herd of Turtles,” as I knew the unusual arrangement might raise some eyebrows. But as I had hoped, the band, my producer John Cuniberti, and I were a tight musical unit by that time, so I knew that a wild experiment might have a chance.
“A Herd of Turtles” is the only song on “Behold Electric Guitar” that is not strictly instrumental. But instead of singing, I am reciting a poem. My poem is about overcoming challenges. The turtles want to escape a tedious lifestyle. The rabbits want not to be eaten by the fox. And the musician (me!) wants to find a way to play music, even when faced with severe hearing loss. In my poem, we all find a way.
I tried reading the poem in my normal speaking voice, and it just didn’t feel right. My instincts told me that “Ringo” was the solution. And after I put myself in a Liverpudlian frame of mind (and voice), everything worked much better.
The music is the most relentless rhythm groove I could think of. Normally, I can get through a whole show with one guitar pick. But this song destroys a pick in three minutes!
On a more serious note, my challenges with hearing loss are certainly an interesting journey. The surprising upside is that my difficulties in hearing have motivated me to know my guitar fretboard better. My playing has become much more melodic and intentional as a result. My “Inner Melodic Generator” is the best that’s it has has ever been! As I say in the poem, “I listen to the music that I can hear INSIDE.”
“Behold Electric Guitar” Tracklist:
1 Havin’ It
2 I Own A Building
3 Everywhere That Mary Went
4 Love Is The Saddest Thing
5 Sir You Need To Calm Down
6 Let That Battery Die
7 Blues For Rabbit
8 Every Snare Drum
9 A Snake Just Bit My Toe
10 I Love My Lawnmower
11 A Herd Of Turtles
12 Things Can Walk to You
Available Formats:
Standard Black 2LP+MP3
CD digipack
Digital
Guitar Pioneer PAUL GILBERT will release his new album ‘Behold Electric Guitar’ on May 17th via Mascot Label Group / Music Theories Recordings! The album includes 12 new original songs, all with Paul’s most expressive, and inspired guitar playing to date!
Watch the video for “Things Can Walk To You” here:
Paul Gilbert: Yes! I am building a tradition of cantankerous rock songs. “Get Out of My Yard,” “Everybody Use Your Goddamn Turn Signal,” “Enemies in Jail,” and “Atmosphere on the Moon” (a song about moving to the moon to escape from auto-tuned music on Earth) are melodious rants from my past albums.
“Things Can Walk to You” is the closing track on my new album “Behold Electric Guitar,” and although it is performed as an instrumental, the melody is based on my most recent cantankerous lyrics.
Let me tell you the story.
One of my goals in moving to Portland was to live in a neighborhood where I could “walk to things.” I looked forward to getting daily exercise by walking to local restaurants and shops, and getting some fresh outdoor air. I found a website called “Walk Score,” which rated the walkability of any address, and the area where I moved was rated high, and seemed perfect.
It turns out that walkability not only attracts exercising musicians, but also attracts homeless people with their shopping carts, brimming with garbage, and leaving a trail of hypodermic needles.
This led me to comment to a friend, “When you can walk to things… Things can walk to YOU.”
So when you listen to my friendly slide guitar melody, if you want to add a dimension of cantankerous thought, you can hum along with my first verse:
Well, I bought my house for the high Walk Score There’s a café, and a pizza, and a grocery store What I didn’t realize But I’m finding out is true When you can walk to things Well, things can walk to you
Yes, yes. I know that it’s callous to call anyone a “thing.” (Even when they steal your license plates, and smash your car window to steal your son’s backpack.) I’m sure everyone has a story. And not everyone has the good fortune to be able to turn their story into a song. I certainly appreciate my station in life.
So I used the power of music to transform a callous rant into a soulful slide guitar melody, and guitar solo that builds and builds until it earns its place as the closing musical statement on my album.
Some of my other cantankerous songs offer not only a problem, but also a solution.
Problem: People don’t use their turn signals. Solution: Everybody use your goddamn turn signal.
Problem: Auto-tuned music is annoying to me. Solution: Terraform the moon, so I can move there, and get away from auto-tuned music.
“Things Can Walk to You” offers no solution, because I don’t have one. For those who are struggling, I wish I had the answer. If I could help homeless people by showing them how to play patterns with the major and minor blues scales, then I think I could do some good. But I suspect they need help in other areas.
So in the meantime, I guess we’ll all keep walking, and breathing the fresh air. And if it’s blues scales you need. I’m here.”
“Behold Electric Guitar” Tracklist:
1 Havin’ It
2 I Own A Building
3 Everywhere That Mary Went
4 Love Is The Saddest Thing
5 Sir You Need To Calm Down
6 Let That Battery Die
7 Blues For Rabbit
8 Every Snare Drum
9 A Snake Just Bit My Toe
10 I Love My Lawnmower
11 A Herd Of Turtles
12 Things Can Walk to You
Available Formats:
Standard Black 2LP+MP3
CD digipack
Digital
Guitar Pioneer PAUL GILBERT will release his new album ‘Behold Electric Guitar’ on May 17th via Mascot Label Group / Music Theories Recordings! The album includes 12 new original songs, all with Paul’s most expressive, and inspired guitar playing to date!
Paul comments on Havin’ It: “I finally wrote a song with long guitar solos! It took me decades to stretch beyond my pop song structure habits, and it feels great to be FREE, and just play, and play, and play. The song still has melodies and themes, and those were inspired by the idea that when you have something good… You still want MORE. Havin’ it… don’t make me stop wantin’ it!”
Watch the video for “Havin’ It”, here:
After his recent move to Portland, Oregon, Paul set out to connect with the best and grooviest musicians in the area, and record an album in his brand new hometown. Brian Foxworth (drums) and Asher Fulero (keyboards) were both obvious choices to play Paul’s mix of rock, blues, jazz, and pop flavors. When Paul’s regular Portland bassist Kelly Lemieux was unavailable (due to his touring with Buckcherry), Paul reached out to New Orleans bass legend, Roland Guerin. Roland came to Portland weeks before the recording dates for intense rehearsing and arranging sessions.
With the band complete, Paul enlisted legendary producer and engineer John Cuniberti. John is well known for his work with Joe Satriani, but Paul was primarily interested in John’s expertise with “one mic” recording.
Paul explains, “It’s so easy to make albums with overdubbing and editing these days, but I really prefer playing live and just getting the music to sound right because the musicians, the songs, and the performances are good.”
After hearing Paul’s band, John recommended a few more mics, but still agreed that the music worked best as live performances with no overdubs. “There is not one overdub on the record. Everything you hear is four guys jamming, listening to each other, and making room for each other. The music almost mixes itself that way! And it’s just a great mindset to have. When you know that you won’t be fixing or adding parts later… It keeps your mind very active to get things right!”
Paul will be touring with his band this year to support “Behold Electric Guitar”. Make sure to catch him at the peak of his powers! Behold Electric Guitar!
Paul’s extensive tour schedule will bring him to Europe and the US and the dates can be found here: http://www.paulgilbert.com/tour
“Behold Electric Guitar” Tracklist:
1. Havin’ It
2. I Own A Building
3. Everywhere That Mary Went
4. Love Is The Saddest Thing
5. Sir You Need To Calm Down
6. Let That Battery Die
7. Blues For Rabbit
8. Every Snare Drum
9. A Snake Just Bit My Toe
10. I Love My Lawnmower
11. A Herd Of Turtles
12. Things Can Walk to You
Available Formats:
Standard Black 2LP+MP3
CD digipack
Digital
The new album “Triumphant Hearts” from JASON BECKER will be released on December 7th, via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group. The album features Marty Friedman, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, Uli Jon Roth, Richie Kotzen, Gus G., Jake Shimabukuro, and many more.
Watch the lyric video for the stunning ‘Valley of Fire’ ft. The Magnificent 13 here:
The Magnificent 13 are: Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods.
Mascot Records are extremely excited and honored to present the new album ‘Triumphant Hearts’ from Jason Becker, which will be released on 7th December 2018.
Jason Becker’s story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo Cacophony, with his great friend Marty Friedman. In 1989, at only 19 years old and after wowing audiences all over the world, the young virtuoso became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded on his 3rd solo album ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’ and was poised for superstardom when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A fatal condition with a life expectancy of maybe five years. Maybe.
That was 29 years ago. He lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. But never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles, magazine cover stories, and an award-winning documentary, Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet.
The album’s 14 tracks showcase Jason’s gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement. Many of the guitar parts are performed by a who’s who of 6-string gods including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. And, in what will absolutely delight his fans, Jason’s amazing guitar playing—recorded in the ’80s and ’90s—features throughout.
The first song to be released from the album is the beautifully mesmerizing 9 minute and 5 second instrumental ‘Valley of Fire’ that features The Magnificent 13 – Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods. A phenomenal cast to feature on a single song.
The album opens with the title track, featuring Jason’s old bandmate Marty Friedman and an astounding violin performance. “I wrote ‘Triumphant Heart’ and it made me feel triumphant,” says Becker. “When Marty found out I was making this album, he told me he would play anything I needed. I sent him this, and his wife, Hiyori Okuda, who is a cellist, also offered to play on it. The great violinist, Glauco Bertagnin, recorded my violin parts in Italy. That fast solo section I wrote is way too hard; I don’t know how Glauco pulled it off. He put so much soul in the whole song.”
‘Hold on to Love’ is the first vocal song on the record, although it didn’t start out that way. “It was going to be an instrumental,” explains Jason, “but after I wrote the chorus with lyrics, I knew I had to tell my story, to explain how I can continue living without feeling hate. I hadn’t written many lyrics before.”
In addition to its beautiful, gospel-tinged choir, the heartfelt song features Bay Area singer Codany Holiday on lead vocals.
‘Fantasy Weaver’ displays the 4-string magic of world-renown ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and harp arpeggios that were written back in his Cacophony days. ‘Once Upon a Melody’ not only features two Jason Becker guitar solos from his Cacophony era, but also audio of him as a three-year-old. The full-circle nature of having little boy Jason, guitar virtuoso Jason, and modern-day composer Jason all on the same song is a breathtaking accomplishment while ‘We Are One,’ features soulful Flipsyde vocalist Steve Knight, and more Jason Becker guitar delights.
Uli Jon Roth appears on ‘Magic Woman,’ along with ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick who counts both Uli and Jason as big influences. Fans of Jason’s work with David Lee Roth will be thrilled by the inclusion of two previously unreleased outtakes from the ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’ sessions, the hard rocking ‘Taking Me Back’ and the blues-infused ‘Tell Me No Lies.’ There are also performances by Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Trevor Rabin, and many others.
“Some people feel sorry for me,” he concedes, “and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don’t miss playing guitar anymore. I’m sure that’s out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music.”
Tracklisting:
Triumphant Heart (feat. Marty Friedman, Glauco Bertagnin, Hiyori Okuda)
Hold On To Love (feat. Codany Holiday)
Fantasy Weaver (feat. Jake Shimabukuro)
Once Upon A Melody
We Are One (feat. Steve Knight)
Magic Woman (feat. Uli Jon Roth & Chris Broderick)
Blowin’ in the Wind
River of Longing (feat. Joe Satriani, Aleks Sever, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse)
Valley of Fire (feat. The Magificent 13)
River of Longing (feat. Trevor Rabin)
Taking Me Back
Tell Me No Lies
Hold On To Love (feat. Codany Holiday) [Chuck Zwicky Remix]
You Do It
The new instrumental album Disney Super Guitar features world-famous guitarists Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Tak Matsumoto (B’z), George Lynch (Dokken), Orianthi, and others performing hard-rocking, virtuosic versions of timeless Disney songs.
With cover art depicting Mickey Mouse “shredding” on an electric guitar, Disney Super Guitar is released worldwide on April 27, 2018 via Walt Disney Records. In addition to the guitar stars already listed, the album also features Phil X (Bon Jovi), Ron Thal (Guns N’ Roses), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob), and Richie Kotzen.
Every song on Disney Super Guitar is a Disney classic updated to appeal to both guitar fans and Disney fans alike, and all songs are powered by a backing band comprising guitarist John Bruno, drummer B.J. Zampa, bassist Chris Vescera, and keyboardist Michael Vescera (Chris’s father), who co-produced the record with the album’s mastermind, renowned producer Death-Rider.
“Disney Super Guitar is a natural follow-up to our first guitar-powered Disney release, which was Metal Disney” says Death-Rider. Metal Disney was released in 2017 and peaked at #1 on Amazon’s Metal chart.
Listen via Spotify here:
The guitar virtuosos on Disney Super Guitar enjoyed re-imagining famous Disney tunes in their own ways. For example, Grammy-winning guitarist Tak Matsumoto, who has sold over 80 million albums with his rock duo, B’z, takes “When You Wish Upon a Star” to new heights with a soaring, overdriven lead guitar rendition of the main theme — a theme that reappears later in the song as a down-home blues epilogue. “Everyone knows this beautiful melody, and I tried to express it in my own way,” says Matsumoto. “I am so honored to be a part of this album. I hope you enjoy the guitar sound from Fujiyama country!”
Meanwhile, Zakk Wylde gives “Beauty and the Beast” a brutal metal touch. “Originally, it was a beautiful, dreamy piece,” says Wylde. “Now, it’s a cruel nightmare. I take pride in that.”
“Hellfire” finds George Lynch performing the song’s main melody note-for-note in some places, yet, at other times, veering off into adventurous guitar approaches. “I mixed in everything from Roy Buchanan and Jeff Beck tricks to pick swipes and vibrato-bar moves,” says Lynch. “I threw in everything but the kitchen sink.”
Paul Gilbert took direct inspiration from the title of the song he chose. “I played electric guitar on ‘Under the Sea,'” he says. “To create an under-the-sea sound, I operated my wah-wah pedal as quickly as possible while playing my guitar parts.”
TRACK LIST
1. Zakk Wylde – Beauty and the Beast [Beauty and the Beast]
2. Paul Gilbert – Under the Sea [The Little Mermaid]
3. Tak Matsumoto – When You Wish Upon a Star [Pinocchio]
4. Mike Orlando – A Whole New World [Aladdin]
5. Orianthi – Someday My Prince Will Come [Snow White and the Seven Dwarves]
6. George Lynch – Hellfire [The Hunchback of Notre Dame]
7. Richie Kotzen – Can You Feel the Love Tonight [Lion King]
8. Jeff Watson – Colors of the Wind [Pocahontas]
9. Phil X – Chim Chim Cher-ee [Mary Poppins]
10. Ron Thal – Reflection [Mulan]
From platinum album sales and number one chart success as a founding member of MR. BIG, to frightening the guitar community with new levels of ferocious picking technique with shred-pioneers RACER X, to exploring punk, pop, classical, blues, jazz, and progressive instrumental styles in his solo career, PAUL GILBERT has recorded a massive amount of stunning guitar music, all while circling the globe to play sold-out arenas from Japan to Jakarta.
His newest record ‘I Can Destroy’ is released on May 27th on earMUSIC 2016 as CD Jewel and digital.
PAUL GILBERT’s style stands out for its rare combination of accuracy, creativity, and power – all which are balanced with PAUL’s sense of humor and pure love of music.
Although PAUL is best known for his work with MR. BIG and RACER X, he has also toured with Joe Satriani’s G3, played in a host of tribute concerts with legendary drummer Mike Portnoy, and been integral in the design of his signature Ibanez PGM and Fireman guitars.
PAUL’s legacy as a guitar instructor began when he was eighteen, when he was hired to teach at Hollywood’s Guitar Institute of Technology. His groundbreaking “Intense Rock” videos and DVDs have inspired legions of guitarists to improve their accuracy, speed, and phrasing. Years as a columnist for Guitar Player magazine, and most recently, Premier Guitar magazine, along with giving countless clinics, private lessons, and serving for five years as the dean of MI Japan, have given PAUL GILBERT deep experience in the art of communicating music to all levels of guitarists.
Over twenty-five years in the music business have only increased PAUL’s passion to explore the possibilities of music and the art of playing the guitar. Whether he’s playing to 10,000 fans or jamming one-on-one with a student, PAUL GILBERT is living his childhood dream of taking the sounds in his head and bringing them into reality – on the electric guitar.
‘I Can Destroy’ is PAUL’s next solo-masterpiece and will be his 18th solo album. The album features 13 very diverse rock-tunes. With Kevin Shirley producing, and an amazing band of Freddie Nelson and Tony Spinner on guitars and vocals, Kevin Chown on bass, and Thomas Lang on drums, PAUL rocks with more power and emotion than ever before.
‘I Can Destroy’ will be available on May 27th 2016 as CD Jewel and digital.
TRACKLIST
1. Everybody Use Your Goddamn Turn Signal
2. I Can Destroy
3. Knocking On a Locked Door
4. One Woman Too Many
5. Woman Stop
6. Gonna Make You Love Me
7. I Am Not the One (Who Wants To Be With You)
8. Blues Just Saving My Life
9. Make It (If We Try)
10. Love We Had
11. I Will Be Remembered
12. Adventure and Trouble
13. Great White Buffalo (Bonus Track)
