Native Tongue - Poison > Reviews > Kicking Ass and Paying Dues

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money

Advantages:	Some Great Lyrics
Disadvantages:	Not To Everyones Taste, Not Classic Poison

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Native Tongue is the fifth album from Poison, and their second change of style musically. Mainly due to the departure of C.C Deville, who is replaced by Richie Kotzen on the lead guitar. The album overall has a more slowed blues sound, with subtle splatterings of the classic rock sound, we have come to expect from Poison.

Here's a rundown of the tracks:

1. Native Tongue
The album opens with this instrumental, which likenens to the way that a band would start a gig. Has some good drumming and guitaring which combines well to give you an inkling into how the rest of the album will pan out.

2. The Scream
Has a short drum riff, leading to a high pitched guitar riff. Rhythm is variable and changes tempo a few times, which is cool. Solo is good with Kotzen letting us hear that he can play the guitar, with some quick and slow notes/chords. Lyrics are perhaps a little basic but don't spoil what is one of the better songs on the album.

3. Stand
Perhaps the most recognisable song from the album. Starts with a very high pitched acoustic opening riff, that becomes more subtle, for part of the rhythm, then the tempo changes and you get a slow paced rhythm on the electric guitar. Solo is slightly high pitched, which is both fast and slow and works well in the context of the song. Lyrics are a little repetitive, but not enough to annoy. Overall a good ballad, but not up to Poison's usual standard of ballad writing.

4. Stay Alive
Starts with a lingering note on the guitar, which leads you to a medium paced heavy sounding riff for the main start. The music then progresses using this riff, where the drums and bass add to it for the rhythm. Solo is again high pitched and medium paced, and it works good in the song. Lyrics are good and make this a good, reasonable album filler.

5. Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)
Now this song is worth the album price alone for me. Great subtle opening riff, that doubles as part of the rhythm, subtle acoustic guitar and drumming make the rhythm. Great well written solo that just suits the song magnificently, slow paced, with some quick notes. Exceptional lyrics add to make the song one of Poison's best.

6. Body Talk
Has a medium paced high pitched opening riff that is addictive. Moves to a lower pitched similar paced rhythm, where the lead adds notes over the top. The solo is short, but well composed and works brilliantly in the context of the song. Lyrics are well written, with some good lines. Overall a great song and one of the better songs on the album.

7. Bring It Home
Has a faded in medium paced distorted opening riff, that leads to intermittent rhythm, where the rhythm goes and the singing stops and vice versa, then combining the two. Great high pitched solo, that sounds good in the song. Good lyrics, which add to make the song a good album filler.

8. 7 Days Over You
Has a subtle progressive opening riff. The rhythm is also progressive in which it moves between a slow pace and a medium pace. The solo is well written and doesn't sound out of context with the rhythm. Good lyrics make this song a good addition to the album.

9 Richie's Acoustic Thang
Another instrumental, where Kotzen lets us hear his talents on the acoustic guitar. He does some notes so fast, you probably wouldn't hear if he missed one, but overall you can appreciate his talents from this.

10. Ain't That The Truth
Has a very twangy sounding acoustic opening riff, that leads to some more familiar electric guitar medium paced rhythm. Solo is one of the best on the album, in which it goes up and down, fast and slow, it's brilliant. Lyrics are also great, so this is one of the better songs on the album.

11. Theatre Of My Soul
What a great song. Starts with an acoustic riff, with some subtle lead over the top, which continues as the rhythm, with drumming and bass subtlety playing in the background. The solo is magnificent with some great note/chord selection. Lyrics are powerful and just round the song off brilliantly. This song can be deemed a Poison classic.

12. Strike Up The Band
Has a faded in, fast paced opening riff, which moves to a more heavy, equally fast paced riff. This riff continues to rhythm to keep the song quickened. There is some great drumming and bass included in the rhythm that fits in superbly. The solo is progressive and uses the rhythm well, before going off to it's own sound. Lyrics are provocative and fit the song well. Overall a fast paced rock anthem, that helps to give the album a bit of balance.

13. Ride Child Ride
Has a progressive opening riff, which contains some great subtle drumming. The rhythm is medium paced with subtle bass, that works perfectly. The rhythmic bridge to the chorus is particularly notable. The solo is short but well composed with some quick guitaring. Lyrics are particularly well written and round the song off brilliantly.

14. Blind Faith
The opening riff is a subtle composition with some great bass involved. The rhythm is progressive helicopter sounding guitar, and again the bass should be noted for it's intensity. The solo is high pitched that combines well with the rhythm, and fits in with the song superbly. There are also some great lyrics in to make it a creditable album filler.

15. Bastard Son Of A Thousand Blues
Now we come to the most 'bluesy' song on the album, to finish off the album. Starts off with subtle twangy blues sound for the guitar riff with some harmonica and piano to boot. This sound continues through the rhythm to maintain the blues feel, although the lead guitar is slightly more prominent. The solo is a mixed piano and harmonica rift with the lead coming in over the top to good effect, the guitaring is particularly good, where Kotzen seemingly uses the whole scale of the guitar. Lyrics are extremely well written and work well with the song, with some great lines. Overall a weird, but ultimately good song to round off the album.

This album has been scorned by critics and fans alike, but although it's a definite change of pace and style, you can still hear constant splatterings of the Poison we all know. Bret Micheals great lyrics, Rikki Rockett's outstanding drumming and Bobby Dall's intense bass playing can be heard through this album and although Richie Kotzen ain't no C.C Deville, his guitaring is exceptional in places. Overall this album isn't perhaps as good as 'Open Up And Say Ahh' or 'Flesh & Blood', but it's not totally crap. 'Until You Suffer Some' and 'Theatre Of The Soul' would grace any Poison album. Not a good album to buy if it's your first Poison album, but worthwhile if you already have one or some of their albums.