Gilbert, Paul: WROC

I bought WROC since I was going to see Mr. Gilbert live for the first time. Knowing what a great guitarist he is, I figured I needed to have something in my collection. Little did I realize at the time that this was a vocal oriented album, I figured it would be chock full of blazing guitar instrumentals. But something kept drawing me back, catchy tunes written with lyrics inspired by Washington’s Rules of Civility. I’ve never been a lyrics guy, as long as the vocal works with the tunes. I found this to be quite clever, and it works extremely well over the music. With song titles and lyrics like “Spit Not In The Fire� and “Show Not Yourself Glad at the Misfortune of Another�, I challenge you to make those work in a tune! I’ll admit to pulling out the dictionary more than a few times!!!

Regardless - you get plenty of great guitar work from Gilbert in the context of well-structured rock and at times pop songs. And folks, maybe I’ve turned a corner here regarding vocal tolerance. More than a few people have told me I should hate the vocals on this album, but Gilbert is more than suitable for singing these songs. The choruses are enhanced with good backing vocals.

“Keep Your Feet Firm and Even� kicks off the album with a great riff and excellent soloing, the chorus is a monster hook with the lines “Let Your Countenance, Countenance be pleasant�. Countenance refers to a person’s face or facial expression, so keep a smile on that face regardless of how you really feel. My favorite riff is in “Maintain a Sweet and Cheerful Countenance� which also has a ripping solo with some slide guitar (heard often throughout the album). A serious Allman Brothers Vibe for the opening of “Go Not Thither� which turns into a rocker, but revisits that riff a few times. “Speak Not Evil of the Absent� also has a lick that drips of Allman Brothers, so they are an influence on Gilbert’s playing and writing.

Power Pop bands would kill for a melody like the chorus of “If You Soak Bread in the Sauce� which reminds me of Elvis Costello, or try “Orderly and Distinctly�, these two are full of earworms. Here’s a lyric for you: “If You Soak Bread in the Sauce, let it be no more than what you put in your mouth at a time. The 12-string guitar and slide solo that follows the vocal melody add extra spice to the track.

“WROC� has great tunes, great guitar and is just a lot of fun. Several songs have stuck in my head and refuse to leave, for me, that’s the sign of solid songwriting. There’s no drop off in energy here, upbeat, rocking, a catchy fun album that my wife listened to and enjoyed! That’s a win! Lastly, I guess we could all use a brush-up lesson on manners, etiquette, and civility!

Favorite Tracks: “If You Soak Bread in the Sauce�, Keep Your Feet Firm and Even�, “Spark of Celestial Fire�

Track Listing
1. Keep Your Feet Firm and Even
2. Show Not Yourself Glad (At the Misfortune of Another)
3. Maintain a Sweet and Cheerful Countenance
4. Go Not Thither
5. Orderly and Distinctly
6. If You Soak Bread in Sauce
7. Let Thy Carriage
8. Speak Not Evil of the Absent
9. Turn Not Your Back (To Others)
10. Conscience is the Most Certain Judge
11. Spark of Celestial Fire
12. George Washington Rules

Added: May 19th 2026
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Paul Gilbert online
Hits: 27
Language: english

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