I just love Paul Gilbert

Bucket

Obviously we all know he can shred like few others on the planet, but what's been getting me recently is how, unlike almost any other super-virtuoso guitarist I am aware of, he has such an interest in writing songs, even simple songs, with lyrics that he writes and vocals that he sings. He has a lot of classic pop influence - in fact, it's probably his primary influence, which you might find strange. I hear shades of Cheap Trick, Todd Rundgren, Queen etc. Let's not forget he also wrote the fantastic Mr Big single "Green Tinted Sixties Mind", the closest thing to a pop song they ever had (apart from To Be With You, obviously).

His sense of humour comes through a lot as well, in a lyrical sense but also musically - he'll shoehorn a blazing fast solo into what was a simple, well-crafted pop song, just because he can. I love that. His playing is so much more than just shred as well - he has such a great feel and tone, plays like every note could be his last - and his vibrato is one of my favourites of any player. His voice is pretty good too - and distinctive.

The album "Burning Organ" has some great stuff on it.





There are some great tracks on "Vibrato" as well:





Oh, and he likes his ABBA too, like any right-thinking person should.



What a dude.

CarpeDiem

I agree - he's a talented musician and a versatile player, and seems a genuinely nice guy. He can take some unusual approaches, such as speaking into the pickups or using a drill but he makes it work within the context of the song.

axisus

I've never entirely gelled with his music, but he's a fab guy all round. I saw/met him at a clinic once, I love his version of the Spice Girls 2 become 1 with the guitar solo from Stairway to Heaven!

stratman3142

A great player. I'm as impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of songs as much as his technique. Also, comes across as a nice guy.

But it's as frustrating as hell that I can't get anywhere near his picking skills.

stimpsonslostson

Saw this the other day. I know it's an oxymoron, but tasteful shredding? 

SimonC

The "United States" album he did with Freddie Nelson has some fantastic songs.
It's like a heavier Sheer Heart Attack era Queen.

thomasross20

+1 on United States. 
Burning Organ also awesome. 
I prefer his Racer X stuff - I'm not into his whole blues thing right now. 

digitalscream

Everything he does is awesome, apart from one thing - his genre-definition sucks when it comes to "heavy metal". His definition of such appears to be 80s soft rock.