He was an accomplished instrumentalist and composer, who played keyboards, guitars, drums, bass and cellos, as well as singing vocals. His talents also extended to producer. He toured with Eddie Money before winning the Yamaha songwriting competition with his progressive rock group Giraffe. Producer Patrick Leonard was impressed with Gilbert's performance at the competition and invited him to join him in forming a new band which became Toy Matinee. During this time, Gilbert worked on the projects of several established pop musicians, including Madonna, Michael Jackson and produced Keith Emerson's album Changing States.
The lone Toy Matinee album was released in 1990 but effectively shelved by the record company, so Gilbert assembled a new backing band to promote the album, eventually getting two successful singles released: "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" and "Last Plane Out".
Later, Gilbert was part of a songwriting collective (called "The Tuesday Music Club") that met at producer Bill Bottrell's studio in Pasadena, California. After he began bringing his then girlfriend Sheryl Crow to the sessions, the result was Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. Gilbert co-wrote many of the songs on that album, including 1995 Grammy Record of the Year "All I Wanna Do." Crow later acrimoniously split with most of the musicians in the collective and only Bottrell was involved in her follow-up album. Meanwhile the remainder of the collective worked with singer-songwriters Susanna Hoffs and Linda Perry on two more albums.
Gilbert continued to work in television and movie soundtrack work as well as studio work and producing and eventually released his first solo album Thud(1995) as well as partially reforming Giraffe to perform the Genesis masterpiece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at Progfest 94. Gilbert's manager sent a copy of the recording to Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford who were searching for a new Genesis front man to replace Phil Collins. His manager was coming to Gilbert's home to tell him that he had managed to get him an audition when he discovered him dead.
Gilbert's second solo album, The Shaming of the True was released posthumously. The album was largely incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio to complete it based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. A live album (composed mostly of songs from Thud), and a compilation of Giraffe material that Gilbert had been working on and an "industrial" album with Gilbert's latest group, Kaviar have also been released in the years since his death. His estate has promised two more posthumous studio albums and a live performance from Gilbert's promotional group for Toy Matinee.
Discography:
N.R.G. - No Reasons Given (1984)
Giraffe - The Power Of Suggestion (1987)
Giraffe - The View From Here (1989)
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990; remastered & rereleased 2001)
Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
Kevin Gilbert - Thud (1995)
Giraffe - Giraffe (1999)
Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (1999)
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
Kaviar - The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
Kevin Gilbert - Nuts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Bolts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Performs Toy Matinee Live (2010)
Kevin Gilbert - Toy Matinee Acoustic Rehearsal (2014)
From Here to There
Kevin Gilbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we'll look just the same
And I'll teach him the handshake
And I'll teach him the game
And he won't feel empty
And I won't feel ashamed
And I'll find a way back home
And it's two for the show
And it's three to get ready
But there's no place to go
Cause I'm on the move now
But this world moves to slow
I need a way back home
I need a way back home
In Kevin Gilbert's song "From Here to There", the lyrics "And I'll build me a robot, and we'll look just the same, and I'll teach him the handshake, and I'll teach him the game" could be interpreted as the singer's desire to create a version of himself that is more perfect and less flawed. In essence, he wants to create a version of himself that can't be hurt by others and won't hurt others as a result of his own shortcomings. The line "And he won't feel empty, and I won't feel ashamed" could be interpreted as the singer's desire for this perfect version of himself to be as happy and fulfilled as he cannot.
The lyrics "And it's one for the money, And it's two for the show, And it's three to get ready, But there's no place to go, Cause I'm on the move now, But this world moves too slow, I need a way back home, I need a way back home" could be interpreted as the singer's restlessness and dissatisfaction with his current circumstances. He may feel trapped and unable to move forward, even though he desperately wants to. The repetition of "I need a way back home" could be interpreted as the singer's desire for a safe and stable place where he can take refuge from the chaos and uncertainty of the world.
Overall, "From Here to There" is a song that explores themes of self-doubt, restlessness, and the desire for a perfect self that is immune to the pain and suffering of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
And I'll build me a robot
I will create a mechanical being with human-like appearance and abilities
And we'll look just the same
The robot will resemble me physically
And I'll teach him the handshake
I will program the robot to interact with humans using social norms like handshakes
And I'll teach him the game
I will program the robot to play games like humans do
And he won't feel empty
The robot won't feel unfulfilled or purposeless like I do
And I won't feel ashamed
I won't be embarrassed or guilty for building a robot as a substitute for human connection
And I'll find a way back home
I will discover a means to return to a place where I feel like I belong
And it's one for the money
The first step towards success requires financial capital
And it's two for the show
The second step towards success involves putting on a performance or displaying one's abilities
And it's three to get ready
The third step towards success involves preparing oneself mentally or physically
But there's no place to go
Despite these steps, there is no obvious path or destination for me
Cause I'm on the move now
I am constantly in motion or changing my surroundings in search of meaning or purpose
But this world moves too slow
Despite my efforts, progress and change in the world seems sluggish and unsatisfying
I need a way back home
I desperately desire a way to return to a place where I feel like I belong
Contributed by Jacob C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kim Brewer
This is one of the saddest songs. You can sense the despair and frustration.
Rick Venlo
@The Shaming of the True - Tribute now in December 20 20 shows how important it was for you guys to make a stellar effort at acknowledging and reviving Kevin‘s work.
where all of Kevin‘s work with some few exceptions have been removed from the Internet I have protested
To this point to no avail
I’m sure the Kevin wouldn’t be in agreement with it
But he would really be pleased and satisfied and grateful that you have gone about giving the world his
work
Lasst euch grüßen lasst es euch gut gehen und hoffentlich könnt ihr dieses Werk erneut aufführen in den kommenden Jahr
Grüße aus den USA
Kevin Collins
Never fails to give me goosebumps.
Kim Brewer
You definitely nailed it.
The Shaming of the True - Tribute
+kim brewer it definitely is! This is one of the parts of the show I fought very hard not to cry and keep my voice from breaking up...
Daniel Verberne
Love this song, one of my favorite off 'Shaming' on my first listen. Fantastic cover....
Rick Venlo
....and it’s three to get ready.......