THUD

Thud is an album by progressive rock musician Kevin Gilbert. This is an incredible album that is different than anything a pop, prog, or rock fan is used to. It's an excellent combination of the three with superb lyrics from one of the best in the genre.

Thud is a mostly mellow album with acoustic guitars and nice melodies. Don't be expecting any complexity, speed, or other things often associated with progressive rock. This is VERY different from anything you've ever heard, and can only be explained when you hear it, so don't go in expecting Yes or Genesis.

The lyrics are some of the best I've ever heard, and they are really what the album is circled around. From witty humor to excellent analogies and inner meanings, this is really what the album's main focus is. It has some songs about tragedies such as "Song for A Dead Friend", "Tears of Audrey" or "Tea for One". All of the songs I just mentioned are some of my favorites from the album. The melodies are absolutely beautiful, and the arrangements are perfect. It can be argued that many of the songs are pop, but who really cares? This is some of the best music I've ever heard!

"Joytown" has the best lyrics of all. It's about a place where everything is just absolutely perfect, with nothing wrong. So without further adieu I must quote some lines from this song:

"Senator McCarthy enjoys a book by Marx And people tear down parking lots So they can build more parks And Jimi plays the perfect note that never seems to end and Martin Luther King has got a blond white girlfriend"

The music on this track also seems to build incredibly without even noticing it. You almost get in a trance with the unstoppable beat and bassline. Kevin goes from merely singing softly to almost screaming near the end. And all of the songs contain something like that that is intriguing in a way that only few artists can capture.

It's not complex and doesn't have epic song lengths, so how is it prog?

The answer is simple. Progressive rock does not HAVE to be either of those things. If you can hear various influences, and is intelligent music with elaborate compositions and is still more than typical pop music, it can be described as progressive rock.

Excellent music, superb lyrics, and a genius behind it all makes this an excellent album that any prog fan should own. I can't quite get myself to give this five stars, but it is a flawless album that is a true hidden gem.

Rest In Peace Kevin

4.5/5