RICHIE
KOTZEN - Get
Up
Richie Kotzen: Guitars
Get Up is the latest from Richie Kotzen, ex-shrapnel wonderkid, guitarist for Poison and Mr.Big... Here he returns with his 70's injected guitarwork and melodies.
Losin My Mind starts off with the usual dose of energy and 'in your face' sound. Hooky chorus and Richie's distinctive voice are a consistent trademark. The solo is spontaneous and ends up with a whammy pedal rise. If you've listened to Richie's lates works you'll prolly know that he's no more playin' flashy licks all over the place, but he has favoured a more balanced approach, playin' rock songs with a classic feel.
Fantasy is another good song. Unison bends in the chorus and a whammy injected solo.
Remember is a great ballad where Richie can show his love for Prince. Soul aplenty. Great mood and Kotzen's voice is gettin' better and better. This one will stay into your head for quite a lot, believe me. Beautiful solo with great dynamics.
Get Up sounds angrier than the first songs. Sounds like a detuned Strato to me. I didn't check out, but it may be. Unison bends in the verse too. The solo features some of Richie's smooth playin, plus he also switches to a higher gear. But the weakest song so far.
So Cold has a strong SRV feel. Funked up blues with a raw sound. Lovely. I love the solo too, very blues based.
Such A Shame stays in the same lines of the other songs. Hooky chorus again. Funky wha-wha right after the solo, which leads us back to 70s...
Made For Tonight has an Hendrix-ian intro which takes us by the hand to take us into another beautiful ballad. Good work Richie. Beautiful chorus again. Richie's influences are becoming clearer and cleare as the time goes by. He breaks free from the metalhead cliché that prolly encaged him in his earlier years. Beautiful sounds, stripped down solos and plenty of attitude.
Still features again a SRV sound and groove. The solo is classic yet inventive in expression.
Never Be The Same follows in the same footsteps for sound, with a more stripped down approach...
Prince-like feel again for Special. Another soul ballad. The only thing missing is TAFKAP's impossibly high falsetto =) Cool guitar fills too. A lesson on when and what to play. Extended outro with TONS of feel.
Blame On Me closes the album with the same SRV energy in the intro riff. Some talk box too. The chorus is more melodic and is a cool example of how Richie has become able to fuse his models and inspirations.
Mr. Kotzen once again has recorded an album full of great songs, which
will be loved also by non-shred heads.
No technical flamboyance here, just beautiful guitar sounds, feel and
attitude.
If you don't play guitar you'll love the album for the songs, if you
play guitar you'll listen closely to the speakers
to capture Richie's melodies and energetic soloing.
Rating: 9/10
(reviewed by Max)