New Smith/Kotzen Song & Video Released

"Black Light" is the new song from Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith. The song is on the upcoming album Black Light / White Noise. To be honest, this one is more of a miss for me. I am still hopeful for the new record because you know I love Kotzen. I just don't like the way his voice blends with Smith's on this record. I've seen lots of mixed reviews online, too. There's definitely a bucket of fans who love this and then there are lots of vocal critics. Thoughts?

Comments

[Him]

Don't really mind the blending of their vocals. I like how they play off each other. Thing is, the song just isn't that inspired. And the video is odd. Not sure about all that DayGlo paint. Perhaps they were excited to be playing together again?

Smith is giving off some "I shop at the Tobacco Connection ('When You Gotta' Habit!') on the seedier side of Boise" vibes. Kotzen looks like he just picked up his kid at school in SoCal in a Chrysler Pacific Hybrid ("DAD!!! Why are you wearing those sunglasses?!?! IT'S CLOUDY!!!").

Final comment: careful, Kotzen. You are starting to give off "Schon-ish" vibes while plucking your twanger. We get it. You're a good player. But enough with the lip puckers.

[stu]

i actually dig the song, very winery dogs. there’s a few spots where kotzen’s voice drowns out smith’s - which is always my issue with smith singing (he just isn’t loud enough). as for the video, csi and those type of shows have ruined black lights for me, just creepy now.

[Metalboy!]

I actually like this because it DOES NOT sound like Winery Dogs!

Way more Pop Metal than that borefest, tho not really diggin’ the split vocal duties.

That never really works in my book, except, well, maybe it did with Coverdale and Hughes in Deep Purple Mark II on songs like “Burn”.

AND to me, Kotzen’s solos are way more rippin’ than on his Whinery stuff.