Tag: dokken (Page 2 of 2)

This is the only Dokken album to feature Reb Beach on guitar. The band sort of split in ’89 as Don and George Lynch hated each other. They buried that hatchet (not in each other’s head) and got back together to record Dysfunctional and Shadowlife. Then, George had enough again and moved on, and Reb was brought in.

This is one of the best Dokken albums, as not only does Reb play some killer guitar, but he breathes new life into the band and the songs are really good. The opening and title track is a typical Dokken uptempo rocker with Reb just ripping it up. Change The World has a great groove and main riff, the hook and chorus are so cool. Mad Hatter is another four to floor rocker with a standard Dokken riff, but the chorus and hook are just fantastic, and the solo is insane. Drown slows the pace down with an evil riff, and a killer funky choppy groove. Side 1 closes out with Shattered and it’s a heavy power ballad; the middle eight solo is awesome.

One gets Side 2 under way with an amazing cover of the Harry Nilsson track. I like when bands do unusual choices for covers. Who Believes is ballad city, and is lifted greatly by some Reb Beach wizardry. Awesome intro to Voice Of The Soul that drops into the huge main riff. Crazy Mary Goes Round is such fun track and has drummer Mick Brown on vocals. Haunted Lullabye is a slow brooding rocker with a very cool riff, and I love the solo. The album closes out with In Your Honour and it’s ballad city with a very Beatles sounding middle section. Great album and often overlooked when talking about Dokken albums.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is their third album released in ’85 and the band were flying by this point. They always managed to get the balance between the melody and the crunch just right. George Lynch is one of my favourite players and boy can he write a riff. I know his name is on the cover and it’s his band, but Don is definitely the weak link in the band. He has always struggled with his voice, but his vocal melodies are really good here I’ll give him that. A killer rhythm section in Pilson and Brown – this band should have been bigger.

I always thought that Unchain The Night was a single as the melody and hook are good – but it wasn’t. The singles were The Hunter, In My Dreams, and It’s Not Love. To be honest, there isn’t a bad song on this record. If I’m pushed I would say this is my favourite Dokken record. Not only are the songs strong, but George really plays killer all over the album. This was the record where he really made a name for himself. I never tire of hearing the whole album as it’s class, but It’s Not Love stands out for me – its just the icing on the cake, a superb track. They definitely don’t make albums like this anymore.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This version of Dokken were around since ’81, but there were various incarnations plying around LA maybe 6 years before that. George Lynch had been playing the same backyard parties and clubs as the Van Halen’s were playing in the mid seventies. So that could explain why this album appeared on an unknown French pop label called Carrere Records – they were probably desperate for a deal at that point. For those paying attention, Saxon were also on that label, and yes, I know Electra in the US put out the album. It was super rock producer, Michael Waggoner, that sort of discovered them while they were playing in Germany, and that’s why his name is on here as producer.

I really like this record as the songs are great, and I’m not sure they wrote much better and consistently after this album. Opening track, Breakin’ The Chains, is a great song and shows what a tight band they were. In The Middle is another great tune with a good melody and chorus. Felony is the first killer song on the album with a great riff, and some serious playing from George. I Can’t See You has an almost pop feel to the song – a sort of cross between The Cars and Journey. Live To Rock (Rock To Live) is the last track on Side 1, and is fast paced rocker with some Lynch pyrotechnic guitar as an intro and a great melody, but it’s all about the guitar.

Side 2 kicks off with Nightrider, which is a trademark Dokken tune. In fact they would revisit this type of song many times in their career. Seven Thunders is a great tune with a superb melody and harmonies – and more George, lots more George! The almost Judas Priest riff to Young Girls is awesome, and with a pounding groove that drives it along which makes it one of the best tracks on the album. Stick To Your Guns has a nice bass guitar intro from Juan Croucier – before he upped and left to join Ratt. For some reason I always get this version mixed up with the Crudley Mott version, not sure why, as I like this version a lot more. Last track, Paris Is Burning, was recorded live in Berlin in’ 82, and is another killer track with plenty of George for all you guitar nuts. A friend of mine named their band Paris after this track and this was their theme song.

For a first album this is on the money, and I have a soft spot for it.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.