Post by Erik Rupp on Aug 15, 2009 11:38:29 GMT -5
Dokken - Shadowlife (1997)
Dokken is not a, "Seattle band." Nor are they a band of the 90's (originating in the 90's, anyway). So why they decided to try to reinvent themselves as a 90's era Seattle-type band is the big question.
From what Don Dokken has been quoted as saying, George Lynch did not want to do an album that sounded like Dokken from the 80's, and actually refused to play anything even close to that style. That would certainly explain why the band moved into territory better left to bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and (prior to Cobain's demise) Nirvana. Precious few of the songs on Shadowlife have a memorable hook or a solid riff. After Dysfunctional's effective blending of 1980's style Dokken with 1990's down-tuned, darker sensibilities, Shadowlife was a HUGE disappointment.
The production on Shadowlife is also fairly poor. Muddy and murky, the album sounds as crisp as an old piece of cardboard. The production does, however, come close to matching the muddy, murky nature of the songs, so maybe that's appropriate.
Some of the songs are interesting though, and, "Sky Beneath My Feet," is a very good song that actually approches Dysfunctional territory.
Shadowlife certainly was an ambitious album, even if it was something of a failure both commercially and artistically. From this experience it became clear that Don Dokken and George Lynch could not effectively work together in the same band anymore. Shadowlife's failure also paved the way for the return to classic Dokken form on their following album, Erase the Slate.
If you want a solid (some might say great) new(er) Dokken album then Dysfunctional, Erase the Slate, and especially Lightning Strikes Again are the kind of Dokken albums you're looking for.
If you are interested in hearing something experimental, then you may just find Shadowlife interesting, or even enjoyable. Probably the former more than the latter, though.
(Review originally written on April 13, 2000. Edited/Updated on August 15, 2009.)
2/5
Dokken is not a, "Seattle band." Nor are they a band of the 90's (originating in the 90's, anyway). So why they decided to try to reinvent themselves as a 90's era Seattle-type band is the big question.
From what Don Dokken has been quoted as saying, George Lynch did not want to do an album that sounded like Dokken from the 80's, and actually refused to play anything even close to that style. That would certainly explain why the band moved into territory better left to bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and (prior to Cobain's demise) Nirvana. Precious few of the songs on Shadowlife have a memorable hook or a solid riff. After Dysfunctional's effective blending of 1980's style Dokken with 1990's down-tuned, darker sensibilities, Shadowlife was a HUGE disappointment.
The production on Shadowlife is also fairly poor. Muddy and murky, the album sounds as crisp as an old piece of cardboard. The production does, however, come close to matching the muddy, murky nature of the songs, so maybe that's appropriate.
Some of the songs are interesting though, and, "Sky Beneath My Feet," is a very good song that actually approches Dysfunctional territory.
Shadowlife certainly was an ambitious album, even if it was something of a failure both commercially and artistically. From this experience it became clear that Don Dokken and George Lynch could not effectively work together in the same band anymore. Shadowlife's failure also paved the way for the return to classic Dokken form on their following album, Erase the Slate.
If you want a solid (some might say great) new(er) Dokken album then Dysfunctional, Erase the Slate, and especially Lightning Strikes Again are the kind of Dokken albums you're looking for.
If you are interested in hearing something experimental, then you may just find Shadowlife interesting, or even enjoyable. Probably the former more than the latter, though.
(Review originally written on April 13, 2000. Edited/Updated on August 15, 2009.)
2/5