OT: Dokken's "Lightning Strikes Again" Advance Rev

[venomnation]

I just 'acquired' my advanced copy of "Lightning Strikes Again" from 80's legend Dokken....gotta love friends at radio! (and as of about three minutes ago, you can now get it at ilovetorrents.com too!) I must say....it's DAMN good....DAMN GOOD. I don't care for the way they put it out to Radio (if that's how it was intended, or maybe just the way my friend got it)...a a lot of the tracks have a surly british voiceover on them...indicating what you're listening to. I'm told that this is common among rock radio releases NOWADAYS, because a lot of times the station will play the whole album straight through with no commericals....or rather...no DJ interaction....and that's to let people know what their listening to. I don't recall it being that way ten years ago, but...It's okay....but it's taken the "great" out of a few tracks on the album. Sounds to me more like someone passed it to him from online....or wherever they got it..at any rate...the review...

Don Dokken's Vocals are a little rougher than we're used to hearing, but they do sound very very cool. I'd give him props for being better at this stage of the game than many of his contemporaries of the same era (I'm itchin to see if Vince Neil can do it again..).

Jon Levin is in GREAT form on this album. Gets down and dirty and really covers every end of the spectrum (or rather the fretboard) on this album. Some killer licks here..still kinda miss George Lynch though..but then again, that's a natural thing for someone familiar with the back catalogue

Wild Mick Brown is as great as ever. Keepin that beat like he's never lost a step...

And Barry sparks does a fine job with the low end.

As for the tracks...

Standing on the Outside - Got a neat little guitar effect going there at the beginning, almost "Schon-esque" in my opinion, then they rip it wide open and it sounds like Dokken. Kinda "Ballad-y" but then it goes BttW and you feel it.

Give Me A Reason - Acoustic start to the song is really misleading...as that chooglin guitar that undertones so many of dokkens songs is very evident within the first 20 seconds of the song...When you hear the harmonies...you're gonna go "Is that Jeff Scott Soto". Actually...yes it is!

Heart To Stone - This one kicks hard and kicks right with Mick Brown's drums and pretentious, continuous hi-hat runnin strong, but wait...ahhh...there it is...that squealing guitar lead....that's what I'm lookin for. It's becoming evident on tracks like this that Dokken is having hard times hitting high notes...but he still sounds very very good..

Disease - They (the band) say this album is a "return to the classic dokken sound" - This one sounds like a "New Age Motley Crue" to me..that's not a bad thing....it's a great sound...but the vocal effect sounds like Don's singin through a megaphone. I could pass this up for other songs...

How I Miss Your Smile - There's the pre-requisite ballad I was waiting for. Eh....how do you review something like this other than to call it a 'buzz-kill" with a great solo..

Oasis - How do you recover from the aforementioned buzz kill? With a great guitar intro....this one's got it...and it's also got that slowed down, deep guitar tone, and a very subtle harmony vocal that makes this one a sleeper on this album. I'd call this a highlight...

Point Of No Return - Now THIS is the classic Dokken sound. Yes Sir! That's what I'm Talkin about. Speed drummin. Speed axe-in. Harmony vocals held for five bars....AWESOME......Yessa...and if you can't Hear Soto's background vocal on this, turn it up and get a hearing aid!

I Remember - Ever heard "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd? Same tempo, sounds like a similar guitar sound, etc. But, uniquely Dokken in its own way....and you hear that at about the 1:00 minute mark....it's a little ballad-y for me, but they did say "the classic dokken sound" so I can give it to them...they more or less got it here..

Judgement Day - This one's got that classic sound they're talkin about....rockin out from beginning to end...and it ends with that squeal I love so much...THIS is a rock song.

It Means - Low point on the album. Production wise...this one's just missing something. It's filler at best....it's good rockin filler..but it's filler. Sounds like he's trying to be Queensryche....or something similar...not sure.. But the british voiceover guy was a welcome change on this one..

Release Me - Ooooh......a darker song...Steve-O LIKE! I actually boosted the volume on this one a little....this one's highlight reel content for SURE...

This Fire - By far the standout track on the album...great vocal...great harmony...great musically....and the best Dokken's voice has sounded through the entire album.....I can see this one being the single..

All things considered, I'd say this one's worthy of a purchase, or at LEAST a digital download.

[Rip Rokken]

Great review, Steve!

I've been enjoying the album, too, and unless Journey really pulls one out of their hats with Revelation, this will probably be my pick for best melodic rock release of 2008. I actually do really enjoy every song on the album, with only "How I Miss Your Smile" being one that I can pass over -- it just sticks out in tone from the rest to me. With each listen, I'm finding something new to enjoy about one of the songs. I can literally pause on any other song on the album and really get into it (even "Disease" or "It Means").

Yes, Don's voice has really changed on this one, but he gives it all he's got, and I've pretty much gotten used to the new roughness in his vocals. Actually sounds pretty cool!

It's definitely mostly comprised of the classic Dokken sound, and for that -- I'm grateful! Very nice riffs, very nice hooks and harmonies -- everything you could expect.

DOKK ON!!!

[Rip Rokken]

I don't care for the way they put it out to Radio (if that's how it was intended, or maybe just the way my friend got it)...a a lot of the tracks have a surly british voiceover on them...indicating what you're listening to. I'm told that this is common among rock radio releases NOWADAYS, because a lot of times the station will play the whole album straight through with no commericals....or rather...no DJ interaction

I remember this being done many, many years ago... a station would play a new album completely uninterrupted, and occasionally there would be a voiceover telling the listener what they were hearing. The voice I heard on this one sounded more German to me, though. Anyway, it was definitely a special format that they created for stations to play uninterrupted -- would be great to actually hear it on terrestrial radio, but that probably won't occur. Even people in the Dokken camp are predicting it will mainly be a hit on Internet and Satellite radio. With the Clear Channel Virus going around in terrestrial radio, that's not surprising. If they won't play new Springsteen, they sure aren't playing new Dokken.

It's DEFINITELY worth a purchase by the way -- please support the bands you love!

[weatherman90]

I just ordered my DON DOKKEN autographed poster - I am pumped!

Get yours before they are gone....

http://www.rhino.com/artists/dokken/

[Rip Rokken]

Weatherman -- I did the same! I actually cancelled the CD I had on order thru Amazon so I could order it thru Rhino and get the signed poster. Now check this -- a friend of mine on the Dokken site ordered her import version thru Frontiers -- and received it TODAY! Nine days early!

[weatherman90]

Weatherman -- I did the same! I actually cancelled the CD I had on order thru Amazon so I could order it thru Rhino and get the signed poster. Now check this -- a friend of mine on the Dokken site ordered her import version thru Frontiers -- and received it TODAY! Nine days early!

Very nice...I'm just hoping the poster arrives in good shape so it can go right up on the wall.

Standing on the Outside - all I can say is WOW here!

[JohnH]

Yes, Don's voice has really changed on this one, but he gives it all he's got, and I've pretty much gotten used to the new roughness in his vocals. Actually sounds pretty cool!



DOKK ON!!!

hmm his voice changed, looking at your icon no need to guess why. Singers that smoke are idiots.

John

[Pelata]

I like Dokken...I liked then when a bunch of others didn't...I thought 'Dysfunctional' was a fantastic album right out of the gate...since then, they've continued to have at least 3 or 4 good songs on each record.

Now, what I've heard of the new album (MySpace) sounds very, very promising. Levin is as close to Lynch as any mere mortal can get...they've nailed the style of the first 4 records...but it all sounds so sleepy & weak. Levin is on fire, the rest of the band is not. Don, bless his soul, sounds like the weakest link in the chain as far as performing these songs. What I've heard of 'Solitary' does his current voice WAY more justice than the new Dokken songs. He sounds tired, uninterested & straining.

Just my opinion...doesn't count for much...but I still LOVE older Dokken...and I'm sure if I hear the whole new album, some of that will grow on me as well...it all just sounds so "phoned in"...

[Rip Rokken]

Hey, Pelata - Don has admitted that he completely lost his voice before recording was supposed to have begun, and it delayed the album. Still, this new texture on this album has grown on me with repeated listens. He still reaches every note he's been reaching since "Erase The Slate", but just has a coarser tone to his voice. My favorite vocal moments on the album are probably on "Point Of No Return", where he really unleashes it at spots -- absolute fave is near the end where he belts out with maximum Dokkitude, "... the point that releas-A-a-A-a-A-a-A-s all our fate"

[Pelata]

Like I said, I'm sure there are some good moments on the album...but as much of a fan as I once was, it pains me that I'm not all that interested...

[JohnH]

Like I said, I'm sure there are some good moments on the album...but as much of a fan as I once was, it pains me that I'm not all that interested...

My thoughts are the same as yours...I heard the previews on their site a while back....I heard no fire at all. I want it to kick my ass, like Erase the Slate did.

John

[Rip Rokken]

Like I said, I'm sure there are some good moments on the album...but as much of a fan as I once was, it pains me that I'm not all that interested...

My thoughts are the same as yours...I heard the previews on their site a while back....I heard no fire at all. I want it to kick my ass, like Erase the Slate did.

John

I know not everyone will care for LSA, but I think you are looking for something that you won't see on every Dokken album (even Lynch-era). If you think of it, Erase The Slate opened up with a killer, balls-to-the-wall title track that was chock full of energy. That song kicked everyone in the teeth. Up-tempo songs like that give first impressions that stick with you, and tend to effect your opinion of the entire album. The third song, "Maddest Hatter", also stands out in a league of it's own. But overall, those kick-ass tracks are balanced out with several slower tempo songs (including two ballads), 1 cover song, 1 tune sung by Mick Brown, and 1 short instrumental closing out the disc. ETS is an excellent album, no doubt, but I feel LSA overall contains a higher ratio of straight-up rockers than ETS, and certainly Long Way Home and Hell To Pay. "Point Of No Return" is the expected up-tempo entry, as is "Sunset Superstar" (bonus track on the import version). Other than two ballads, the rest are straight-up mid-tempo rockers, to a song, with excellent hooks. Speaking for myself, I can pick any random track on the album (except for the first ballad) and jam out on it.

Anyway, again, I know not everyone will care for it. That's to be expected. But there are several Dokken fans, including myself, who feel it's the most solid straight-up rocking Dokken album in a long, long time. I'm not saying it will kick anyone in the teeth... LOL! I'm saying it's an excellent melodic rock album.

[weatherman90]

DOKK ON!!! The CD has arrived...I'm popping it in as I write this

[weatherman90]

These first three tracks are absolutely awesome with the classic Dokken sound - I love it so far.

[DerriD]

Was in the middle of reading this thread, saw the poster offer, left the site and immediately ordered from Rhino Records...yes support the artists if you don't you're a cheap bastard.

Gonna get my tickets to see them at Amo's in Charlotte this summer too.

Can't wait!

[ProgRocker53]

Getting LSA this weekend.

Pumped.

I have the new Whitesnake and Asia records coming too.

[Gordon from Edinburgh]

[quote="venomnation"]I just 'acquired' my advanced copy of "Lightning Strikes Again" from 80's legend Dokken....gotta love friends at radio! (and as of about three minutes ago, you can now get it at ilovetorrents.com too!) I must say....it's DAMN good


I truly loved this band - but i hear tired formula and a desperate attempt to clutch old glories - much like the new ~Asia album and Def Lepp album....and too many ballads...

[Rip Rokken]

I just 'acquired' my advanced copy of "Lightning Strikes Again" from 80's legend Dokken....gotta love friends at radio! (and as of about three minutes ago, you can now get it at ilovetorrents.com too!) I must say....it's DAMN good


I truly loved this band - but i hear tired formula and a desperate attempt to clutch old glories - much like the new ~Asia album and Def Lepp album....and too many ballads...

Too many ballads? There are only two... LOL!

Anyway, I just got my U.S. release CD from Rhino yesterday, but have been jamming on the European import version for over a month, and the preview copy for a month before that...

Now, if anyone gets the Japanese import, there is another bonus track on it called "Leave Me Alone" which is the darkest song Don has ever penned... it's cool!

DOKK ON!!!

[Rocker Chic]

Do any of you know if Jeff Scott Soto does vocals on just those two songs or is it the entire album?

I distinctly hear him on few songs, but I'm not sure if my ears are hearing him correctly or not. I not only hear him in the background vocals, but also layered with some of Don's lead vocals.

Thanks!
Debbie

[Rip Rokken]

Do any of you know if Jeff Scott Soto does vocals on just those two songs or is it the entire album?

I distinctly hear him on few songs, but I'm not sure if my ears are hearing him correctly or not. I not only hear him in the background vocals, but also layered with some of Don's lead vocals.

Thanks!
Debbie

I know he's on several -- many more than two -- but I haven't really analyzed them yet. I personally hear him on at least 3 songs, "Heart To Stone", "Point Of No Return" (very prominent on both), and he confirmed that he was subtly blended in on Oasis. I'm waiting for Andrew to jump in any time and say that JSS covered all the high notes as well... LOL!

JSS was brought in to add more texture to the vocals on those songs -- that came from the original announcement of his involvement.

[Rocker Chic]

JSS was brought in to add more texture to the vocals on those songs -- that came from the original announcement of his involvement.

Oh, "add more texture"... Is that what they're calling it now? IMO, he made them sound much better! I'm glad I'm not the only one that hears Jeff on quite a few of the songs.

BTW, do they give Jeff any vocal credit on the album or just the mere mention of his name (from what I hear)?

Debbie

[bluejeangirl76]

Hey Rip - if only you were coming in a few days earlier, we could have caught Poison / Dokken in Peoria.
I almost got tickets, but I asked several different people and one really wanted to drive to Peoria.

[Rip Rokken]

BTW, do they give Jeff any vocal credit on the album or just the mere mention of his name (from what I hear)?

Debbie

Yes, he's credited, or thanked, actually in Don's personal credits. It says, "Don would like to thank: Tommy Clifetos and Jeff Scott Soto"

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

Great review, Steve!

I've been enjoying the album, too, and unless Journey really pulls one out of their hats with Revelation, this will probably be my pick for best melodic rock release of 2008. I actually do really enjoy every song on the album, with only "How I Miss Your Smile" being one that I can pass over -- it just sticks out in tone from the rest to me. With each listen, I'm finding something new to enjoy about one of the songs. I can literally pause on any other song on the album and really get into it (even "Disease" or "It Means").

Yes, Don's voice has really changed on this one, but he gives it all he's got, and I've pretty much gotten used to the new roughness in his vocals. Actually sounds pretty cool!

It's definitely mostly comprised of the classic Dokken sound, and for that -- I'm grateful! Very nice riffs, very nice hooks and harmonies -- everything you could expect.

DOKK ON!!!

i have never listened to Dokken before this release. i don't know what he sounded like before but he sounds good to me right now.

I might have to change my screen name to (Crazy)Dokken Lady.
(I think Rip just fainted)

[Rip Rokken]

Hey Rip - if only you were coming in a few days earlier, we could have caught Poison / Dokken in Peoria.
I almost got tickets, but I asked several different people and one really wanted to drive to Peoria.

Shoot! I should have thought of that.... I'm flying up Friday, I think. Earlier this year I mentioned the Peoria gig to St. John, but he was going to be gone. I forgot about it!

[Rip Rokken]

Hey, you know, I don't see the Peoria gig listed anymore, though they have an 8/3 gig in Chicago.

[bluejeangirl76]

Hey, you know, I don't see the Peoria gig listed anymore, though they have an 8/3 gig in Chicago.

I just looked up tix 2 days ago. The show is still on, and it's on both Poison's & Bach's schedules.
Maybe Dokken dropped off some of the dates, not sure. Didn't check.

I was trying to win tix off the radio the other day for 8/3.

[Rocker Chic]

BTW, do they give Jeff any vocal credit on the album or just the mere mention of his name (from what I hear)?

Debbie

Yes, he's credited, or thanked, actually in Don's personal credits. It says, "Don would like to thank: Tommy Clifetos and Jeff Scott Soto"

That's what I heard! Damn, couldn't they give the guy some credit, instead of a brief and lame "thank you"???? That just plain sucks! I guess they didn't want everyone to know who was making Don sound so good.

Debbie

[Rhiannon]

Hey, you know, I don't see the Peoria gig listed anymore, though they have an 8/3 gig in Chicago.

Why did I know this was going to come up.

...Sigh, fate just keeps leading me to Dokken shows.

[Rhiannon]

I asked several different people and one really wanted to drive to Peoria.

Wonder why.