The Shaming of the True was, arguably, Kevin Gilbert's swan song. Due to Gilbert's unexpected death, Nick D'Virgilio was tasked with finishing the album and had to piece the album together from many sources of Gilbert's past. For example, "Certifiable #1 Smash" had only one full, live performance with vocals, as studio vocals did not exist.
The album never broke into the mainstream, but it is often considered a masterpiece between hardcore prog fans. Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic gave the albu...
The Shaming of the True was, arguably, Kevin Gilbert's swan song. Due to Gilbert's unexpected death, Nick D'Virgilio was tasked with finishing the album and had to piece the album together from many sources of Gilbert's past. For example, "Certifiable #1 Smash" had only one full, live performance with vocals, as studio vocals did not exist.
The album never broke into the mainstream, but it is often considered a masterpiece between hardcore prog fans. Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic gave the album a 4.5/5 stars, citing Genesis, The Who, and Queen as the record's biggest influences. He also went on to praise on the album, stating:
"Gilbert's tale is an epic, sweeping, complete work that is cinematic in its scope. Loaded with both pathos and humor as well as some rock-solid performances, this album is a bittersweet farewell from one of the brightest lights to emerge in the last 15 years."
The album is noted for its snarky commentary on the Music industry, with lyrics such as "Champagne Minds and Cold Duck Hearts /And who knows where the bullshit starts /The biggest grins on the biggest sharks/ In the only pond that pays", digging very heavily into the cynical nature of the "Rock n' Roll" industry. The album also critiques the rock n roll lifestyle, using the character of Johnny Virgil to drive that point home.
Kevin Gilbert might be dead, but his music and wit will live on in the hearts of dedicated fans of his often overlooked body of work. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
