Dokken – Lightning Strikes Again (Release Year – 2008)
Many of the artists who were highly successful in the 80’s have tried reigniting their careers with sounds that take listeners back to their heyday. Whitesnake, Def Leppard and House of Lords have all released discs that their fans should be pleased with. Dokken tries to recapture the lightning, or sound that once made them famous as well.
George Lynch and Jeff Pilson have long been absent from the band. In fact, the current lineup of Dokken, Brown, Sparks and Levin, is one of the longest running for Dokken, since the bands’ most successful discs from the mid to late 80’s. It is ironic that this lineup, tries to emulate the sound of the Lynch/Pilson era. Jon Levin does a damn good George Lynch imitation, and he really cuts loose on this record. Don Dokken recruited none other than Jeff Scott Soto to sing back up vocals on this record, and it really does make a difference. That unfortunately is where the good ends and the bad begins.
In 2008, Don Dokken has very limited range with his vocals. He doesn’t take the chances that he used to in the 80’s, and that is what made their music interesting, and exciting. I am assuming that Don can’t hit the high notes anymore, as he doesn’t bother to try on Lightning Strikes Again. He stays within his own comfort zone, and as a result, the songs on this disc lack the fire of the band’s earlier material. On certain songs, Don sounds like he strains to hit the notes that he use to hit with ease.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this record, I found the songs limp and uninspiring. There are three or four songs on this disc that are above average, but the majority of the material is sub par in my opinion. The music sounds close to their original stuff from the 80’s, but without the powerful vocals that these songs deserve, they come out sounding somewhat below average. After three lackluster albums since the year 2000, I believe it is time for the band Dokken to hang it up. Lightning did not strike again for this listener.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Standing On The Outside
2. Give Me A Reason
3. Heart To Stone
4. Disease
5. How I Miss Your Smile
6. Oasis
7. Point Of No Return
8. I Remember
9. Judgment Day
10. It Means
11. Release Me
12. This Fire
Dokken is:
Don Dokken – vocals
Mick Brown – drums
Jon Levin – guitar
Barry Sparks – bass
Bruce Kulick - BK3
Stryper - Murder By Pride
Dokken’s latest album has certainly not lived up to the hype created by the band beforehand and it does not explain the many delays it had before hitting the shelves. This is only half useful, some of the songs do get close to 80s standard, but the rest is easily forgotten. Levin is good, but maybe he lacks his own identity as a guitarist, I agree with those who say “Erase The Slate” was the last great one. The cover is the best bit, truly classic! Shame then that the album doesn’t quite make it to the finishing line. Great fun watching’em last year though!
I’m listening to it as I type this, I’m blown away how much Levin sounds like Lynch! Dons voice is gravely and low end. There’s really nothing grabbing me by the balls about this album. Maye it’ll grown on me. Kinda sounds like Don stayed up too late partying and screaming the night before recording, lol, but overall, it’s a very listen-able album.
Overall I would buy this album..its better than the crap most radio is playing nowadays like Weezer..omg!
This album won’t change your mind Steve. Even with Jeff Scott Soto singing backups on this CD, it is severely lacking.
I agree with you. Erase the Slate was the last good Dokken CD.
I have this album on order, it’s the Frontiers version with the extra song.
I really want to like this album when it gets here but a lot of reviews are killing it. The missing piece isn’t Lynch, it’s Jeff Pilson. Pilson used to enhance the vocals so Don sounded good and he used to have a hand in the writing. The last good album the band did was ERASE THE SLATE in ‘99.
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/
I totally agree with your assessment of this new album. The album isn’t bad, but it isn’t great. Jon Levin sounds so much like Lynch it just is eerie and unsettling!
You know what..overall its not a bad album..Rob is right about Dons vocals…but some people lose it over time. Standing on the Outside (first single) is a pretty good song…8th most requested song on 97underground.com
Jon Levin does sound EXACTLY like Lynch. But composition wise, very weak record. Don should just quit, especially because the live performances are becoming quite embarassing. He just cannot sing anything above the range of this record anymore, ie: all of the older songs that make Dokken famous.
Trust me when I say that Jon Levin is not the problem here. Jon Levin sounds great, but Don’s vocals are lacking. If you really take the time to listen to each song, you can hear him straining. He doesn’t even try to hit the upper range anymore.
I’m not a huge George Lynch fan, but it is hard to imagine Dokken making a good record without him.