The Boston Globe

"With Somerville Live, Gilbert did what only the most gifted and confident entertainers dare: Release one hour-long set as a recording - no retakes, no picking the best several versions, no fiddling with the crowd reactions.

The result is that rare concert record that feels like a concert, full of spontaneous asides and surprise moments. He alternates humanistic anthems and hard-bitten topical songs with ballads that are romantic without ever seeming schmaltzy. Before stepping onto the stage, young songwriters should study this disc the way law students cram for bar exams."