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Richie Kotzen - The Essential (CD Review)

JULY 30, 2014 MEIRAH WEFING NO COMMENTS THE ARTICLE WAS READ 57

Granted, the name of the American singer and guitarist Richie Kotzen, fall in the German speaking on something. The associations to are not so really great, but ultimately no one can do what for his name.Only look at me, uh listen to what exactly is hidden behind it. Richies in life seems the music at age seven he learns his instrument and developed continuously from then on.At 18, he recorded his first album, which various more to follow, albeit with different bands and projects. Here I've now his latest output is live - "The Essential" which will be released in August 2014. The peculiarity of this double album is the fact that documentsRichie his own personal music history here. It is an arrangement of songs that have developed over decades with different musicians.

Man embarks on a kind of time travel, even at the first bars I feel transported back to the era of classic rock music. What were at that time but for the times when our developed this blend of rock, soul and blues, as nostalgic feelings come up in me. Despite this retro infatuation a gentle music from the present is offered. Richie has its own distinctive style found and I must say, it's fun to listen to.

Press Shot 1 Richie Kotzen - Photo Credit Travis Shinn_LoRes

The first piece, "War Paint" is like the introduction to Richie's music universe, as is already found all that enthusiastic lovers of this genre. The drums, strong but not dominant sets out a brisk pace, beautiful guitar runs and solos, good breaks to Richie'ssoul / blues-heavy voice, all together making a perfect mix. It continues with"Walk With Me", unfortunately I like the vocal part is not so good. Perhaps it is due to the complex subject, there are passages where music and voice not just want to really blend together.The next piece, "Love Is Blind" it sounds a lot of successful, again classic rock at its best, closely followed by "Go Faster", this song is one of my personal favorites on the album.Flott as the title promises, beautiful melody and played again technically clean. "Fooled Again" is to match the title of its atmosphere ago a little darker than its predecessors. This is followed by "OMG (What's Your Name)" and "Help Me" both pieces, which again show the virtuoso skill of the musician. "Bad Situation" has real catchy., Not least by the repetition of entertaining choruses, in this piece you can hear it very clearly, the "weeping"guitar "Lie To Me" is a rock classic and again prior to the next track, "Fear", you have to have no fear, quite the opposite. The calmer piece invites once more to a relaxed listening."You Can not Save Me" - simple guitar playing, clear voice - so an entry like it very much, the song rises but then musically to an outcry à la "You Can not" ... very nice! "Doing What The Devil Says To Do" starts quite blue-heavy and can only be developed slowly in a row.The last piece on Disc 1 is called "Remember (Reprise)" and this ended for the time being stylish outing by Richie's musical cosmos.

CD 2 begins with "What Is", a beautiful melodic piece that his essence (Chorus: What is life, in the hand of illusion, what is life to a man in confusion What is right, for a life did is losin '. , what is time, what is ...) is also musically meet. "High", again very bluesy, here are guitar and vocals at the center. It follows "Change", and it is to actually feel a change in mood. "Special" starts again with rich guitar sounds, the onset of voice then takes the lead. From five to eight pieces, followed by pure acoustic versions of "Paint It On", "Holding On," "Until You Suffer", "Some" and "The Road". Audience as you can get away in a cozy lap, a feast campfire, to the music and makes someone dream of the other to do so. There is something very intimate. The two remaining pieces are taken from his latest project, The Winery Dogs. "Regret" is in style to something quiet, comes with a lot of piano sounds, therefore, during the last part of "Damaged" is again a faster and a little more rock, here are titles and musical interpretation consistent.

Conclusion: A Special Retrospective (2CD + 1DVD) of a particular artist who has remained steadfastly true to his style by fashionable trends. You can feel this (almost)everything comes from one source, music, lyrics yes, the production Richie Kotzen -. A gifted guitarist and singer empathetic, with lyrics that are easy to understand even for European ears. Friends of rock, soul and blues are our lifestyle served here.

9/10 points

Tracklist:
CD 1
01 War Paint
02 Walk With Me
03 Love Is Blind
04 Go Faster
05 Fooled Again
06 OMG (What's Your Name?)
07 Help Me
08 Bad Situation
09 Lie To Me
10 Fear
11 You Can not Save Me
12 Doing What The Devil Says To Do
13 Remember (Reprise)

CD 2:
01 What Is (2014)
02 High (2014)
03 Change (2014)
04 Special (2014)
05 Paint It On (Acoustic Version)
06 Holding On (Acoustic Version)
07 Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice) (Acoustic Version)
08 The Road (Acoustic Version)
09 Regret (Original Demo Version)
10 Damaged (Original Demo Version)

Order Album:
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Release Date: 29/08/14
Label: earMUSIC / Edel
Genre: Rock / Blues / Soul

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