Alligator Farm

What happened in the head of Mr. Paul Gilbert? Did he wake up one morning and said to himself : "I am gonna show the rest of the world that The Offspring's music is easy to write. Plus, I will add some groovy rock part and they will see!". This is what I thought after the first three songs as they are coming straight from Conspiracy Of One (The Offspring) and I had to wait for song No 4, Alligator Farm, to hear some rock 'n' roll stuff. Even though Paul Gilbert is the guitarist of Racer X, there is absolutely no relationship between this Alligator Farm and the last Racer X (Superheroes) ... or Racer X in general. The rest of the record is more rock 'n' roll oriented and less rock/punk. Now that being said, the first three songs (Better Chords 1:03!, Individually Twisted & Cut, Cut, Cut) are masterpiece rock/punk songs. Paul Gilbert delivers here a record (tribute?) to the music he must listen : from rock to punk, mixing the 70's, 80's and 90's, all kind of guitar riffs are fighting each other. The guy is full of talent for sure and know how to play guitar. I can't really say the same for his vocals. Don't misunderstand me here: Paul knows how to sing, but I prefer not to imagine what would have been this album with another singer (Racer X's Jeff Martin is only playing drum here ... and some backing vocal I guess). The production (also done by Paul Gilbert) is excellent. A strange record knowing what is done by the guitarist inside Racer X, but a nice surprise. Here there is no true, thrash, black or power metal stuff. Here we are talking of rock 'n' roll coming straight from the US, straight from California and this piece of rock reminds me also The Beatles here and there. Great job!