ALBUM REVIEW: Better Days… And Nights – Smith/Kotzen

As many in the UK are hoping for things to get back to normal after recent events, it is only fitting that the hybrid album Better Days…And Nights by dynamic duo SMITH/KOTZEN drops this Friday. Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith are both rock heavyweights, with Smith best known for being a guitarist for metal icons IRON MAIDEN, and some of Kotzen’s never-ending back catalogue including POISON, MR. BIG and supergroup THE WINERY DOGS having earned him a strong reputation in the industry. Together, the duo form a tour-de-force of talent with a dash of classic rock charm.

Better Days…And Nights follows the release of their self-titled debut album and their Better Days EP that came out in 2021. As could be expected, the Days side of the album comprises the four songs on the EP, with the Nights side featuring live recordings of two songs off their EP and three from their album. Even the track listing of the Days side is the same as the EP, offering no variation. It would have been a lot more interesting to see how the EP could be interpreted in a different order now that the previous release has had time to sink in and receive audience responses.

Though none of the songs are technically new releases, the addition of hearing them live is a great bonus, giving fans the chance to have a taste of the live experience if they were unable to catch their UK/US tour. With backup from bassist Julia Lage and drummer Bruno Valerde, the live versions are fully fleshed out performances with ripping solos and oddly soothing vocals to sound just as good, if not better, than their recorded counterparts. With how great they sound live, it would be unsurprising to see their next tours selling even more than prior.

Unsurprisingly, Better Days…And Nights acts as a love letter to classic rock, with expected nods to Kotzen and Smith’s other bands, and both using the spotlight to highlight and show off their technical prowess and show just how talented they are as a duo. The highlight of the album is Got A Hold On Me in both the studio and live versions; it’s more fun and fresh than the other singles and has that bit more technicality to it – that and the insane guitar solo that Smith unleashes onto the audience.

Though the album overall is an easy-listening addition to SMITH/KOTZEN‘s repertoire, it adds nothing new to their discography other than live versions of their pre-existing songs. The live intros, adlibs and crowd interactions are fun, but they don’t add enough to the record to warrant a torrent of hype their way. As such it’s probably best to think of this more as a remastering than a new release, with the ultimate conclusion that this is more for the record collectors than anyone hoping for some genuinely new music.

Rating: 6/10

Better Days…And Nights is out now via self-release.

Like SMITH and KOTZEN on their respective pages on Facebook.