KAVIAR: THE KAVIAR SESSIONS

I find it hard to understand the low rating for this album. Granted, it's not particularly "PROG", but seriously, who is kidding who? I read the reviews and the general genre is now so broad that penalizing a recording because it isn't "PROG" is ridiculous. This is a fine album and extremely entertaining. Kevin Gilbert was as twisted an individual as he was talented. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but it seems fairly obvious to me that we share the same cynical view of human nature as is evidenced in this collection of recordings. I will freely admit this is not music for everybody, but these are all very well written tunes with decisively poignant lyrics, some bordering on the limits of decency. But this is where Kevin excelled, expressing the flawed nature of humanity. "Death Orgy 9000" pokes fun at the entertainment industry, in particular the tastes of the easily distracted masses that are excited by "monster trucks, demolition derbies, and sensationalism". How many of us can still hear the shout of "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!" ? "Picnic", a request for a date- possibly a first date, with a sicko... "you're the perfect girl and I'm the perfect man..." "Pretty", the self worth associated with attractiveness, self doubt, and suicide. A very catchy tune, you may find yourself singing "if you don't think I'm pretty, I'm gonna kill myself" without consideration of the gravity of the statement. "Indian Burn", the term for an annoying behavior along the same lines as the pulling of hair or pinching, is actually about the treatment of Native Americans. "Making Kristy Cry", seems to be about a boyfriend that can't keep himself from causing his girlfriend emotional pain. "Broken" is absolutely brilliant. Beginning with an angry voicemail from a girlfriend, it proceeds with an ever increasing list of excuses as to why he is failing to hold up his end of the relationship. "Single" takes on the blind dating scene and how people tend to misrepresent themselves, complete with the sick voice inside the head of the guy.. A reprise of this appears after the end of the last song in a morphed, almost pornographic form. "The Sultan Of Brunei" is a poke at the ultra-rich. If you're pretty enough, come live a life of extreme luxury as a piece of "living art". "Fall In Love With Me" begins with an ode to "how good you look to me" and the things they can do if she falls in love with him. The song actually ends at about 5:40 and about a minute later the morphed "Single" begins. This is outrageous and definitely not to everybody's taste, but I can't help but laugh every time I listen to this. Oh Kevin, I miss your genius! This album isn't for everyone, but it borders on masterpiece. A fine, dark satire of Kevin's view of humanity.