Izvajalec: Kotzen, Richie
Založba: Frontiers Records
Izid: 2006
This guy is an outstanding musician, songwriter, and human being, one who simply has that ideal rock’n’roll touch in his blood, a kind of magic rocker’s wand in his hand. Everything on this album feels so effortless and, in the same breath, so real. Richie serves up an incredibly sensual record that, with short and punchy tricks, nails the listener firmly to the armchair!
Richie is the kind of guy who can play anything your heart desires. Perfect for a studio “session” guitarist, born to be a hired gun. A former Poison guitarist who got kicked in the ass out of there for stealing Poison drummer Rikki Rockett’s fiancée Deanna Eve, and the man who brilliantly filled the void Paul Gilbert left after he walked away from Mr. Big. He’s also known for all sorts of offbeat jam projects, but above all for a heap of refined solo albums.
At moments he’s disappointed and raging, then in the next he fills the room with sensual warmth, longing, and tenderness. A simple modern hard rock album that draws from the foundations of blues and rock’n’roll, plus Hendrix, yet dressed in modern production with a lively, joyful “groove”. The guitar carries a metallic, practically semi-acoustic tone, the solos conjure up a living touch, you can feel and hear the rattling “licks” along the strings and balls-out pull offs. Richie just knows how to work those fingers! The vocal is delivered with feeling and full force, with just the right pinch of bluesy soul feel and manliness! That approach and the very color of Richie’s voice bring in an outstanding contrast that adds dynamic layers to the simple structure of the songs. Kotzen is infectiously accessible and melodic throughout, yet the roots of black blues bring in a good dose of obscurity, and this is probably even the darkest album in Richie’s career.
Richie cunningly skimps on notes and with that limited number plays a hidden poker hand of aces! The guy diligently tames his ego and not at a single point on this album does he give in to random soloistic self-indulgence that would cost the songs’ basic form its integrity. That’s real art. Staying simple despite the wealth of knowledge you possess. We’re talking about a simple-sounding, easygoing album. Even in sound, these are by no means massive Led Zeppelin (“When The Leeve Breaks beat” in the song Fear). It’s a much more sophisticated yet still lively sound with a raw bluesy air. The album continues the path from the point where Richie’s Forty Deuce band stopped, and from there carries on down a road laid out once again in typical Kotzen solo manner. A gorgeous atmospheric soul hard rock album! Easygoing, yet incredibly effective!
Line-up
Richie Kotzen – everything
Production
Richie Kotzen
Track list
1. You Can’t Save Me
2. Misunderstood
3. Fear
4. The Shadow
5. Doin’ What The Devil Says To Do
6. Till You Put Me Down
7. Sacred Ground
8. Your Lies
9. Living In Bliss
10. My Angel
Album length: 44.41
