"Electric Joy" was Richie Kotzen's 3rd album for Shrapnel Records in addition to documents his incredible increment equally a musician. The album delivered a collection of master instrumental compositions rich inwards tasteful melodies in addition to contemporary guitar techniques, that farther cemented hs seat inwards the music basis equally a guitarist's guitarist. For the foremost time, Kotzen was inwards the studio producing himself amongst consummate creative control. Since he was preparing a vocal tape for Interscope around the same time, he chose to brand this an all instrumental record. Kotzen's favorite songs from "Electric Joy" are "Slow Blues" in addition to "Electric Toy".
His debut album was a hitting amongst the shredders, but 3 albums in, Kotzen had already delivered 3 completely dissimilar pieces of work. Electric Joy has some of the playfulness of the debut, but is generally a jaw-dropping collection of intricately composed pieces that skirt multiple genres including funk, country, bluegrass, jazz, fusion, in addition to blues. If I had to selection out an influence, I would state that Electric Joy sounds similar Richie had been listening to a lot of the “two Steves”: Vai in addition to Morse. His technique is top-notch.
“B Funk” opens the album amongst some light-speed bluegrass-y licks, but it keeps changing, from a funked upward rocker amongst shredding, to a melodic “chorus” section. Then it’s dorsum to the bluegrass from space.
At this indicate I’ll indicate out that Kotzen plays all the instruments except drums, himself. That’s Richie’s standby Atma Anur on drums. What this way is, that incredibly dexterous bassline you’re hearing on “B Funk” is also performed yesteryear Kotzen! And it’s close every fighting equally stunning equally the guitar!
“Electric Toy” begins ballady, amongst some lyrical Vai-like moments. Of course, Kotzen can’t help but produce what he does, thus at that spot are dissimilar sections, some at lickity-split tempos. This is followed yesteryear “Shufina”, which is essentially a blues jam. Kotzen’s deep bends are appropriate, but earlier equally good long he’s harmonizing amongst himself on some unconventional melodies.
H5N1 smoking hot riff ignites “Acid Lips”, piddling lightning licks flicker inwards in addition to out, but this i has a venture groove. (It can’t move slow grooving amongst yourself on bass.) “Slow Blues” contains some of Richie’s most lyrical Pb work. If y'all tin imagine the Pb guitar taking on the purpose of a singer, thus “Slow Blues” is likely the most accessible vocal on the album.
The adjacent vocal “High Wire” is uncatagorizable, suffice to state that similar all of Electric Joy it combines quirky notes amongst shreddery, funk in addition to groove. My favourite vocal is “Dr. Glee”. It sounds similar it seems it should – gleeful. I abide by this pleasant tune to move rattling summery. Kotzen guitar has thus many dissimilar sounds in addition to shades, fifty-fifty only inside this i song.
“Hot Rails” is some other i that sounds similar advertized…a develop racing downwards the track. Kotzen’s slide operate is anything but simple. This one’s thus fast it’s difficult to move along rails of all the cool dissimilar guitar parts. It close sounds similar Kotzen wrote a blues shuffle, in addition to thus decided to hitting fast forwards on his tape deck in addition to acquire it at that speed!
Electric Joy closes amongst “The Deece Song”, which thankfully is mid-tempo allowing us to grab our collective breath. It’s some other bully performance, similar inwards fashion to “Dr. Glee”. It has its sweeping Satriani moments equally well.
This i is yesteryear far the best Richie Kotzen instrumental album to date. The opener Shufina in addition to the next vocal Electric Toy are plenty to set this album inwards the wishing listing of every guitar lover. The entire album yesteryear the way is extremely consistent from its start to its end. The music is a variety of blues fusion type of thing. There are truthful songs, Richie doesn't exhibit off hither for the sake of. He plays his trademark legato licks amongst pump in addition to heed in addition to the music inwards the halt is genuinely gratifying. There is exclusively i vocal that I don't similar which it happens to move the i earlier the concluding one. Too confused. But apart from this one, a perfect bright album.
I'm a huge fan of technical music. I honey Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Steve Morse, etc. The occupation amongst some of the shredders out at that spot is the music is boring. Not thus amongst this album. Richie sheds his previous neoclassical stylings for a bluesy funk fusion. His tone on hither is superb, in addition to the melodies are great. If y'all similar high calibre guitar playing amongst proficient TASTE, purchase this.
Recorded at Richie`s House in addition to Prarie Lord's Day Studios, Cotati, CA. This fabric was originally recorded on 1/4 inch 8 rails in addition to afterwards transferred to 24 rails for all drum overdubs in addition to mix.
Track listing
All songs written in addition to composed yesteryear Richie Kotzen.
1. "B Funk" 4:18
2. "Electric Toy" 5:01
3. "Shufina" 5:02
4. "Acid Lips" 4:45
5. "Slow Blues" 4:21
6. "High Wire" 5:41
7. "Dr. Glee" 4:11
8. "Hot Rails" 3:34
9. "The Deece Song" 5:12
Total length: 42:05
Personnel:
Richie Kotzen – guitar, bass, tubular bell, arrangement, engineering, mixing, production
Atma Anur – drums, percussion
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