First off, let me preface this entire review by saying I am a Kotzenatic. Along with Jeff Scott Soto, this guy is criminally underrated and, I believe, the world is worse off for not feeling the same way. I will, however, attack this review as I attack all others: open, honest, truthful, and intelligently. That being said, Richie Kotzen wears so many hats and seamlessly blends into so many genres, he can only be described as those that once described Nikola Tesla... A Man Out Of Time.
This collection, in its entirety, was culled together by its namesake. So while many of his fan's favorites may not be represented, the author's affections are. For those not familiar with Richie Kotzen, here's the short and tidy version: he started as a shredder, knew that wasn't his calling, fought for control of his vision, joined Poison (and while his superior talents were wasted, he did pen several popular songs), struck out on his own, joined Mr. Big (which was much more in his wheelhouse and foreshadowed future successes), again struck out on his own, growing with each record, only to recently strike gold as part of The Winery Dogs trio. He is, by all intents and purposes, a musical chameleon, moving effortlessly from funk to jazz to R&B, to rock, to... well, genres that still have no name.
This collection begins in similar territory as his last solo outing, 24 Hours. "War Paint" starts with, dare I say, a country tinged groove, before busting into a very modern-sounding chorus. The breakdown section could easily have been pulled from early 90's grunge.
The next new offering, "Walk With Me", is Kotzen at his songwriting best: simple, hook-laden, and memorable. There are two "stars" in this song: Kotzen's ability to deliver an intimate vocal and the inspired use of a theremin. I find it impressive that a man known for fretboard gymnastics made a conscious effort to learn and incorporate such an obscure instrument. AND make it work.
I could wax poetic on every track here, but who wants to listen to a joe schmo ramble on for pages so I'll grab a few highlights. "Fooled Again", strangely enough, has a hint of Lady Marmalade groove in the verses, making way for a wonderful melody in the bridge. The real highlight of this track is the incredible guitar work, especially the extended outro.
A couple tracks from Richie's 2011 offering 24 Hours are also included and really showcase his ability to cross into other genres. "OMG (What's Your Name)" is a funky, Kool & The Gang romp that's just plain fun. The other, "Bad Situation", is just a straight up, slamming '70's jam, complete with falsetto vocals. Honestly, if you can't dance badly in your kitchen to these two songs, check your pulse.
"Lie To Me" is the kind of mid-tempo jam that Bon Jovi wishes he could write. Laid back, yet with an edge, Lie To Me shows a singer/songwriter comfortable in his skin.
"You Can't Save Me"... First of all, WOW. Obviously, his middle finger to the music business that continually messes with artists. The brooding, deliberate riff/vocal of the opening explodes into a driven chorus, and immediately drops back into the tension of verse two. A superbly crafted offering that showcases the depth of Kotzen's vocal range. And one in which he plays all the instruments, further cementing the underrated status he currently swims in. When I need release, I no longer reach for Metallica. I go to this song and sing loudly and poorly as I cruise down the highway.
I'm embarrassed to say that I came to "Doin' What The Devil Says To Do" later in my Kotzen-mania. And what a mistake THAT was. Another brooding groove, that amazingly, is uplifting at the same time. Phenomenal vocal acrobatics that emotion just oozes from. Check out the live version from Brazil and you'll see what I mean.
One of my favorite Kotzen tracks is "Special" from the Get Up disc. Why, you may ask? I enjoy the Hall & Oates feel & the guitar work is stellar. On this collection, Kotzen adds it as one of the many acoustic cuts and it really showcases his vocal abilities.
"Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)" makes a welcome appearance, with what I believe is the vocal it SHOULD have had on the Poison Native Tongue disc. The intimate nature of the guitar/vocal is almost essential to the message.
I like that Richie chose to make a nod to the incredible Wilson Hawk project he did with Richie Zito. "The Road" not only wrapped up that album nicely, it puts a beautiful bow on the Richie portion of this collection. Honestly, if you've never heard it, look up Wilson Hawk. Damn near perfect side project that can't help but put a spring in your step. Think Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John-like piano.
The last two songs on this disc should be familiar to any Kotzen fan, or Portnoy/Sheehan fan for that matter. "Damaged" was one of the more obvious Kotzen-penned cuts off The Winery Dogs. The version on this disc is essentially what ended up on the Dogs disc, sans some prime additions from Portnoy & Sheehan. I actually prefer the Dogs' version for the melancholy it exudes.
"Regret" may be my favorite song off The Winery Dogs (aside from the exquisite "I'm No Angel") and it really shines in this stripped down format. Open, honest, exposed, this song gained something with the entire band and the gospel tints, but it also shines in this format.
Give The Essentials a try based off this or not, the bottom line is Richie Kotzen is the epitome of an artist: Flexible, talented, expressionist. I don't often leak into hyperbole, but Kotzen is truly a magician. Songs full of heart, feeling, emotion, talent... throw out a word & it probably applies. THIS is greatness and it deserves to be heard. Any emotion you feel, there's a Richie Kotzen song that applies and heals. Bottom line: Do yourself a favor and discover Richie Kotzen.
