Best of Richie (post 2000 edition)

Richie has been an amazing guitarist over the years. That's been established. Everybody here could list off many many solos and riffs from the 20th century BJ that were awesome. But since Crush, Richie hasn't been as solo-y. And our number one culprit would be Mr. Jon.

However, there are some gems this decade. Here's my faves.

1. Next 100 Years: end solo. I look at it as the poppy cheerier new version of the Dry County solo.
2. Last Man Standing: the solo and the riff. I could listen to that riff all day long.
3. One Wild Night (album version): solo. It's a cool one. Plus, the guitar work in general is good on this one.
4. Thorn in My Side: solo and riff. The solo is very awesome. The riff is cool and it sounds great live.
5. I Love This Town: solo. I love the song (f**k off ) and Richie's solo is one of the best of the decade IMO. I will admit that this song could be played a little less, though.

What are some of your faves?

He did Denise Richards..........

O....K....?

What a fact-based observation, with no amount of conjecture or hearsay involved at all.

It boggles my mind how anyone can listen to Undiscovered Soul, and interviews with Richie, and not see that he has as big a sensibility for pop, and cares about the band's commercial legacy just as much as Jon does.

Dude!!! Shush it, you might get beaten for that!!!!

Aren't you aware that Richie is a poor abused guitarist? He has no creative control over the song he cowrites and coproduces. Jon just feels compelled to share credit with him so Jon doesn't have to take the blame for all the shit they've produced through the years which, if Richie was allowed to do on his own, would all be brilliant masterpieces.

At least that's the story you get if you drink the Kool Aid around here.

Richies best 2000s moments? A few of my personal faves include:

On Albums
One Wild Night
Neurotica
Right Side of Wrong
I Am/Dirty Little Secret - Not amazing solos but quite fun
When We Were Beautiful
Thorn In My Side
BrokenPromiseland

Live
Any other days extended solo: His rendition of IML live: Singing Homebound Train on the circle tour

But for me the ultimate Richie '00s moment is this, the old stud:

I really wanted to link to BJTV from the Bounce sessions, number 4. It's the only one not on Youtube. I've noted it before but I'd love to physically point out Richie saying "I think we should do it. It might make the melody a little more more poppy", or something alone those lines, when discussing "Everyday". Richie knows exactly what he's doing. He's had a really strong pop sensibility over the last decade. I know I've been talking my head off about that in other posts too, sorry, but anyone who thinks it's Jon holding Richie back from "rocking" needs to really read between the lines.

I think I remember that, but I think the word was commercial, not poppy.....

But I'm also not sure....

Oh, it was definitely poppy. I found it on my computer. I wish it was on Youtube!