Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
|
Live from the Sun Dokken |
|
I've always liked Dokken… I'm not ashamed to admit that I've got "In My Dreams" on a mixed tape I made a while back. I'm also not ashamed to go on record like just about everyone else in thinking "Shadowlife" stunk. I won't begrudge them their attempt at mainstream popularity back in the mid-90's but like the few gutsy attempts by them and others of the like, the material was just plain weak-thus, nothing to be found amidst this live set. "Live from the Sun" features all the classics plus most of the hits you remember from back in the day. Opening the gig with the title track from their last studio comeback which was a definite step in the right direction, "Erase the Slate" storms through valiantly and right off we know without even looking there's not a Lynch to be found anywhere. I also dug George Lynch's guitar playing but thankfully they all found it necessary to trim the fat so to speak and cut him loose-it never would've been the same. Reb Beach of past Winger fame continues to throw his own weight around however, delivering a less flashy, more densely driven style to what amounts to a very bottom-heavy recording here. "Kiss of Death," the best song from "Back for the Attack" is next up and just steamrolls it's way to the forefront… I'm missing a little of the crowd activity here-just how big is this place, The Sun Theatre? I gotta get it out of my head this ain't 1987 and that whole "Beast from the East" thing, where today less is more. And Beach just rips on this fired up version. Uh, there they go… I knew they were out there and all of a sudden everyone just wakes up at the conclusion of the last song going into "The Hunter." Another great tune this time coming from the "Under Lock & Key" classic! "Live from the Sun" comes at a time when Dokken's likely enjoying their first real taste of success since running off to nowhere-land in the early nineties. The one tune from their other credible nineties release, "Dysfunctional" appears in "Too High to Fly" where they really cut the cord from what seems like a miserably dated studio version-and great use of that trademark vocal melody on this one! So what about "Into the Fire?" Scrutinizing listeners will undoubtedly want to pay close attention to the lead break in this one to see how Beach stacks up to the original... well he does, and as if there were any doubts, so does the entire band. I don't think Dokken's voice could sound much better even though at times there is a measure of restraint-keeping in mind however that this is another place and time. They also do "Maddest Hatter" which was the first single from "Erase the Slate" but "Change the World" should also have made the cut as that was right there near the top for that one! I hope these guys can keep it together for a while longer as I think this rebirth of the last few years can really lead to bigger and better things as they continue to rebuild their reputation as one of the melodic metal leaders again-all true talents individually and obviously through the sheer magnitude and power with which they deliver this live performance, as the on again unit that is Dokken! Released in the US on CMC International
Records
|
DOKKEN |
| Looking back toward
1985 I think anyone would be hard pressed to argue as to who indeed
was the "maddest hatter" of them all. Yes, resoundingly Don Dokken
is the answer and here they are again, "erasing the slate", coming
clean in unloading all the excess baggage that's existed in successfully
holding them back for far too long. No one maligned this band more than I did after that disgraceful performance a couple of years back under the guise of "Shadowlife." They know it, you know it and thankfully, the band's moved on and returned to the elite ranks of heavy melodic rock the way that first made them a hit. That last album had Lynch's influence all over it and anyone who's whining over his departure, get over it. It's clear now that he's gone that Dokken is back to where they belong and "Erase the Slate" is representative of the band in their vintage form. Welcome Reb Beach, new guitarist, and though he's no Lynch clone, he brings more to the table than even I thought the former Winger protégé could've carried. The sound's much like you remember it to be with only a streamlined production separating the two eras. The first half of this album is clearly dominant here recapturing an aggressive vibe that led the charge on past hits as "Tooth & Nail," "Under Lock & Key," and "Back for the Attack" with the opening title track. Then, one of the best tracks I've heard out of them in years "Change the World" follows next and gets my vote along with "Voice of the Soul" as the best of the rest. Then of course we have what I referred to earlier, "Maddest Hatter" which could compete well with the previous songs as lead single. "Drown" retains a bit of the focus found on their Alterna-rock sludge, but is simply better-and as well could be a surprise addition to rock radio rotation. It won't be but certainly could. Many of the Dokken strong points make their way in the expected ballads as "Shattered" which is not amongst the strongest here, but rather "Who Believes" and "Haunted Lullabye." and even "In Your Honor" which is the closer and not one of my favorites but fitting nonetheless. They also do a cover of Three Dog Night's "One". "Erase the Slate" represents a new outlook for the band, starting over yet back where they were most comfortable and well received. Now possessing a welcome new addition to the players, and new focus to the music, their new album should bring them back on the road to respectability as little by little the fans start creeping out of the woodwork. Released in the US on CMC International Records Website : http://www.cmcinternational.com Review by Vinnie Apicella. |
|
"Long Way Home" Dokken |
|
You never have a chance to make a first impression, thus put your best foot forward-in this case, "Sunless Days," the album opener and best offering on Dokken's overdue new LP. Welcome aboard again John Norum, worthy successor to Reb Beach, worthy successor to George Lynch. This tune's a quick tempoed hard rocking foot stomper that gets things moving… enjoy it while you can. Fast forward to "Little Girl," "Everybody Needs," and "You," and you in fact have a very versatile Rock record that's convincing early enough that this must've came damn close to being another Don Dokken solo job before they decided to slap on the "Dokken" logo… I will go on record to say the Lynch and Pilson departures should have no bearing on the final outcome here, rather, the existing conspirators, er contributors… and I think we've lost John. Where'd ya go man? Different place, different
time I understand, but the chops were sharper, the urgency, a little
greater, on the Don's Even in full hair-raising glory, Dokken's musicianship and Don's superior singing ability separated them from the rest of the rosy-cheeked road dogs. Since their 1994 comeback,
"Dysfunctional," Dokken, like their peers, has struggled
to maintain credibility amidst One thing in their favor, they released what the band themselves acknowledged as "shit," "Shadowlife," back in '97 and from there, nowhere to go but up. Their "Live From The Sun" record was solid, as was its preceding "Erase The Slate" studio effort where for at least 60% of the time, there was a vibrant pulse. "Long Way Home"
is Dokken's "White" album attempt and while it has its moments
with the driving opening track, fan friendly "You,"
groove-heavy "Magic Road," "There Was A Time"
tearjerker, there's too much filler and fluff for a ten (nine + one
cover) track three year running record that pushes the incoming Norum,
throwaway bassist Barry Sparks, and returning mixologist Michael Wagener,
none of which have the desired impact once the needle Enuff 'Z Nuff already exists…
This record, besides the second to last stunner "Under The
Gun," and in spite of Don's knack for conjuring a few catchy
soap-inspired sing-alongs, is too weary and slow to light the fuse
of fans' expectations. Sometimes it's okay to go home again, even
if temporarily, to regain that sense of security before venturing
back out on your own. Released in the
US on CMC International Records |
