Poison, one of the most representative bands of the Glam Rock movement, loved by many and disliked by others due to their ‘softened and effeminate’ style, which contrasted with the ideals of genres like Thrash Metal, among others. For us, an excellent band that has been underrated beyond their hits, some of which have even been used in famous video games.
Guitarist C.C. Deville would be expelled from the band after a disastrous live performance for MTV, where he ended up fighting with vocalist Bret Michaels backstage. To replace Deville, the band needed a guitarist on par with his skills. This is when Richie Kotzen enters the scene, a tremendous guitarist who drastically surpassed C.C.’s technical abilities. This situation is reminiscent of when Steve Vai joined Whitesnake to replace John Sykes on their album ‘Slip Of The Tongue’ (1989). It’s interesting that both album names share similarities.
With Kotzen officially integrated as a member of Poison, they decided to release ‘Native Tongue,’ an album that ended up being completely permeated by Richie’s style and considered one of their best releases. In our opinion, it’s ‘Poison’s last glorious album,’ as subsequent releases like ‘Crack A Smile… And More’ (2000), ‘Hollyweird’ (2002), and ‘Poison’d!’ (2007) did not receive much attention or acclaim.
‘Native Tongue’ would be the only album by the band featuring Richie Kotzen on guitar.
What can we hear?
A tremendous showcase of Richie Kotzen on the guitar, who ‘shows off’ throughout the entire album, a true delight that guitarists reading this will surely enjoy to the fullest. Excellent solos, fantastic riffs, a true guitar madness that exhibits Kotzen as a virtuoso, but the touch of class is heard when we appreciate this musician saving his best techniques for the right moments in the work, without overusing his skills.
Listening to riffs like in ‘Body Talk’ accelerates our hearts with the excitement of the power of Rock. Simultaneously, we hear Bobby Dall complementing Richie’s guitars perfectly with a bass that is very present in tone and form, perfectly produced to the extent that many of the songs don’t feature rhythm guitar during guitar solos. Rikki Rokket’s drums are equally impressive, with those characteristic slow fills that make his instrument feel heavy, somewhat akin to Tommy Lee’s drumming on Motley Crue’s ‘Doctor Feelgood’ album (1989).
We emphasize the guitar solos because they are a marvel, as demonstrated by the solo in ‘Bring It Home’ or in ‘Blind Faith,’ where Richie Kotzen even dares to incorporate ‘sweep pickings,’ or in his acoustic instrumental piece ‘Ritchie’s Acoustic Thang.’ Without a doubt, an album that he truly owned in every sense.
The voices of Native Tongue
Among the novelties of this album is that Richie Kotzen also contributed with his vocals, not just for backing vocals but also for main sections, as evident in ‘Bring It Home,’ showcasing that he is also a great vocalist. His timbre bears a striking resemblance to Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave. Additionally, he exhibits beautiful melismas in songs like ‘Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice),’ suggesting a strong role in the composition, even though all songs are credited to all band members.
On the other hand, Bret Michaels does his part, displaying a classic voice very fitting for his image as an ’80s rockstar. While his vocal range may not have been impressive, he has left a mark in the history of rock as one of the genre’s significant vocalists. We also love the ‘stadium-style’ choruses heard in songs like ‘Ain’t That The Truth,’ complementing a band whose music is truly centered around guitar, drums, and bass, crafting arrangements that make the album sound grand.
Moments of reflection are not lacking in ‘Native Tongue,’ evident in songs like ‘Theatre Of The Soul,’ ‘Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice),’ or the worldwide hit ‘Stand,’ where Poison demonstrates their prowess in ballads. These moments become an important hallmark of the band, making this album more enjoyable and balanced.
The only album whit Richie Kotzen
It’s a real shame that “Native Tongue” is the only work with Kotzen on guitar, as, without diminishing C.C. Deville, Richie’s level is insane. The sad outcome of this lineup was that the latter became romantically involved with the drummer Rikki Rokket’s fiancée, and, of course, he was expelled from the band. But not everything is sad; C.C. Deville returned to the band to continue its legacy.
“Native Tongue” is a different rock album, with a high level and a vibe that uplifts you with its major tones, as in “Ride Child Ride.” Very guitar-driven but at the same time reflective, simply a 10 in our opinion.
And what do you think about “Native Tongue”? Leave us your comments!
