Richie Kotzen - "Electric Joy" (1991) @320

"Electric Joy" was Richie Kotzen's third album for Shrapnel Records and documents his incredible growth as a musician. The album delivered a collection of original instrumental compositions rich in tasteful melodies and contemporary guitar techniques, that further cemented hs position in the music world as a guitarist's guitarist. For the first time, Kotzen was in the studio producing himself with complete creative control. Since he was preparing a vocal record for Interscope around the same time, he chose to make this an all instrumental record. Kotzen's favorite songs from "Electric Joy" are "Slow Blues" and "Electric Toy".

I'm a huge fan of technical music. I love Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Steve Morse, etc. The problem with some of the shredders out there is the music is boring. Not so with this album. Richie sheds his previous neoclassical stylings for a bluesy funk fusion. His tone on here is superb, and the melodies are great. If you like high calibre guitar playing with good TASTE, buy this. If you like Vinnie Moore/Joe Stump, stay away. By Comedian.

I wore out the tape I bought in...92? Round about then...so I wore out my casette. I usually get tired of self-indulgent "shredders" (Racer X as really bitchin' for about three days, then...onanism) but RK has real depth and a true sense of timing and melody that make his work stand out from Shrapnel's usual "showcase" artists. By Caster Jack "not him, the other guy".



This one is by far the best Richie Kotzen instrumental album to date. The opener Shufina and the following song Electric Toy are enough to put this album in the wish list of every guitar lover. The entire album by the way is extremely consistent from its beginning to its end. The music is a sort of blues fusion type of thing. There are true songs, Richie doesn't show off here for the sake of. He plays his trademark legato licks with heart and mind and the music in the end is truly gratifying. There is only one song that I don't like which it happens to be the one before the last one. Too confused. But apart from this one, a perfect brilliant album. By Jazzcat "stef".

This all instrumental cd is nothing like his shredding debut. However, that is good. He is treading on newer sounds. This cd is produced, mixed, and engineered by Mr. Kotzen himself! The quality is crisp and clear. He also plays the guitar and bass himself, leaving the drum duties up to the veteran Atma Anur(also played on jason becker cd). Ok, this is rock/fusion and blues all blended into a simple stream of awesome guitar chops. This guy is having fun and playing well....for himself! There are some nice tones on this and the cd flows quite well. No, brutal guitar riffs or thunderous distortion on here. This is simply good playing with out any cover-ups or extra guitars thrown in to fatten it up. This is raw and honest. By Bruce W. Miller.

Richie Kotzen

Track Listing:

1. B Funk
2. Electric Toy
3. Shufina
4. Acid Lips
5. Slow Blues
6. High Wire
7. Dr. Glee
8. Hot Rails
9. The Deece Song

Personnel:

Richie Kotzen - Guitar, Bass, Chyping Chimes
Atma Anur - Drums, Percussion

*Includes full cover and booklet scan*

Related items:

Richie Kotzen - 'Inner Galactic Fusion Experience' (1995)

Vertú - "Vertú" (1999)

Gregg Bissonette - "Submarine" (2000)

Guitar On The Edge Series - Vol.1, No.1 - 4 (1993)

Enjoy!
Link in comment: