Search - Dokken :: Shadow Life

A Very Bad Idea

Erik Rupp | Southern California | 04/24/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Dokken is not a Seattle band. Nor are they a band of the 90's. So why they decided to try to reinvent themselves as a 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 DYSFUNTIONAL's near-perfect blending of 1980's style Dokken with 1990's down-tuned, darker sensibilities, SHADOWLIFE was a HUGE disappointment. Some of the songs are interesting though, and "Sky Beneath My Feet" actually approches DYSFUNCTIONAL territory. If you want a great new Dokken album buy DYSFUNCTIONAL or ERASE THE SLATE. If you are interested in hearing something experimental, then maybe SHADOWLIFE is what you're looking for."

Dokken goes grunge (Yes, it's as bad as it sounds)

Erik Rupp | 09/19/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Here Dokken jumps on the grunge/alternacrap bandwagon, with amazingly bad results. A bunch of boring, depressing songs with no real melodies or energy.
This is George Lynch's last album with Dokken, but any studio hack could've played guitar on this and we wouldn't have known. Gone is the screaming Mr Scary Lynch style, and in its place is this half baked effort.
Listen guys, people that like grunge (why, I don't know) aren't going to buy a Dokken album, and those of us that like good music don't want to hear the much detested "Seattle sound".
Stay away from this if you like earlier Dokken."

A waste of money

Erik Rupp | 12/10/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Having enjoyed all of Dokken's previous albums, I wasted no time plunking down my money to pick up "Shadowlife." Big mistake. The songwriting is horrible, and the production is even worse. If you're expecting to hear the same great, catchy songs that made "Under Lock and Key" and "Back for the Attack" classics, you won't find them here. This is just plain bad."