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
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Dokken will always be one of my favorite bands. But I completely agree with the review. I felt the same way after I listened to it. The music is good but I agree that the vocals really hold it back. Don was one of the best rock singers back in the 80’s. Totally disagree with the comment that said this is the best album since Back for the Attack. I think the best Dokken album since Back for the Attack is Erase the Slate. Now that album kicked!
I am Don Dokken fan ive seem them in jaxx Spring Field Va ever time hes been there i can think of.
He kicks ass and get others to join in his music.
I am glad he still tours but being older he needs cut the date farther out becuse he did blow out his voice last year on tour with Posion.
One the few singer i will pay for and keep seeing worth ever buck i forked out for him. Keep Rocking With DOKKEN
I am Dokken fan 100 percent i hope he keeps riping them out
lynch is my favorite musician lynchpilson was absolutely amazing but i must admitt differences, yes, but levin has a “dokken sound” the album itself i own and like best since lynch left don sounds better than most singers on a great day maybe a back-up vocal like jeff pilson would send tis album way “up the charts” agreed but even like it is it is worth owning if u r a dokken fan
I am not Anti-Dokken at all. Dokken’s old style no longer works with Don’s current vocals range. With Don’s diminished rage, he needs to find a way to make the music work around him. Either that or he needs someone in the band who can sing background vocals with a higher range than his own. I saw them live in 2008, and seeing him trying to recreate his past hits was painful.
Ouch! Sensing a little anti-Dokken bias here no ? Weak songs ? Great album! Don’s vox have ‘aged’ but he can still sing and write better than the majority of the gutless wonders in the genre.C’mon…
Call me old school, but to me Dokken’s best stuff was “Its Not Love” and “In My Dreams”.I never thought Don was a strong vocalist.Then again, I never found myself jammin out much Dokken anyway.
So we all agree that that this album is just “ok”.Don needs a Lozenge, and Levin creeps us out with his “Lynch like” playing. With that said, Its still worth a spin. It really sounds like the album Dysfunctional put out in ’95. My fav though will always be Tooth and Nail. This album is 10 fold better than alot of recent efforts by 80’s rockers.
I agree than Don might not hit the highs like he did 20 , yes 20 YEARS ago, But as far as I’m concerned this CD ROCKS. When you compare Dokken to other 80’s bands that are still making music, Dokken at least has not gone country as say Bon Jovi , and even Leppard had Timmy McGraw sing on their new CD, PLease!! ROCKIN with Dokken still holds true. I have to say this is the best stuff since Back for the Attack!!
Keep Rockin Don and Hope too see on the road soon!!!!!!!!