Customer Reviews

Dusk

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just found out this disc was available in the US and...boy is it worth every penny! First of all, the sound quality is much better than both the debut and Voodoo Highway! This thing was recorded live to tape in the studio and it is raw and crisp (did I mention incredible)! All the songs are well written and the playing is inspiring, some of the tightest music I've ever heard. Ray Gillen never sings better and you can hear almost a sort of soul searching on such cuts as Healer and Lord Knows. There is not a weak cut here, standouts include Healer, Tribal Moon, The River, Dog, Fat Cat and Lord Knows. I've had this dics for almost a month now and it has been cranked almost every day(so far). Ray is at his best, Jake just literally shreds (case closed), Greg Chaisson is one helluva bass player and I really like Jeff Martin's drumming here, the guy has really good timing and he thumps. This is a must for any true rocker, it does cost a bit but it is a must buy!! Hail to Badlands for giving us one last rock masterpiece!!!Thanks Ray....

This is Raw, Heavy And bluesy with Melody! This is quickly becoming my favorite cd! You wont regret this, It's a mixture of the first 2 albums but with a heavy edge to it. Everyones playing on this is amazing!

Thank goodness this album finally got released! This is the "lost" Badlands album, recorded in 1992 before the band split up. Ray Gillen's voice is very powerful, truly one of rock's underrated singers. The rhythm section of Greg Chaisson and Jeff Martin are slammin' and Jake E. Lee retains his guitar-god status. The album is more "unproduced" than their two previous releases, almost to the point of sounding like expensive demos. The overall feel is darker, much like their self-titled debut. The songs are very riff-oriented with no other outside instruments and very few overdubs. Two of these songs were performed by Jake's project Wicked Alliance on their 1994 tour. "Sun Red Sun" and "Walking Attitude" sound alot fuller(and better vocally in case you heard Wicked Alliance 'singer' Mandy Lion!) "The River" was later released on Greg Chaisson's solo album with additional lyrics. "Lord Knows" was played on Badlands first tour but for whatever reason didn't make it on CD until now. The real prize is getting to hear Jake's playing; full of fire,passion, and enough tone to make up for all the albums that didn't have it in the 90's. Since Gillen passed away in 1993, we won't see a Badlands reunion. That's unfortunate, after hearing what they still had in 'em!

Being a blues rock purist, I found this disc most refreshing, sadly it was the last that we heard from Ray Gillan, due to his untimely passing. Jake and the boys really turned down the lights and cranked up the amps on this record. Granted it is not as stellar as the first album, but there are some great blues rock gems on this disc, especially Fat Cat. If you are a fan of Jake E. Lee, then you need to add this to your collection.

Adios from the Texas Coast

Craig Williams

I coulndt belive when this actually came in the mail, i got home from work and there it was!!!!!If you love those songs they wrote together on the first 2 albums then just buy it.Ray and jake together again,.....its a beautiful thing.Its raw and bluesy, alot of feeling in these songs, a little like the voodoo highway stuff.If they stired you inside before theyll do it again on this one!!! JUST BUY IT!!!!.....R.I.P. RAY! We love ya and miss ya!

I know, opinions are like a*#holes but it still makes me wonder what the people that gave 'Dusk' a lousy 1-star rating are smoking! How can you love 'Badlands' and 'Voodoo Highway' and NOT like this album even a little?! - Although these recordings were merely meant as demos, tracked live in-studio by the full band with no or minimal overdubs, the quality is never in question and the writing is consistantly strong. The vibe on 'Dusk' is somewhat darker and more brooding that especially the debut but once again Jake, Ray, Jeff and Greg create the perfect marriage between muscular, melodic hard rock, raw-yet-soulful blues, and groovin' 70's white boy funk that takes you back to the likes of Trapeze, James Gang, Zep, and Bolin-era Purple. And 'Healer', 'Tribal Moon', 'Walking Attitude' and 'The Fire Lasts Forever' (how appropriate a song title!) deliver in spades! And if you thought '3-Day Funk' was funkay wait until you put on 'Fat Cat' - pure joy! Also of note - 'Dusk' features the original version of 'The River', a beautiful, introspective ballad Greg Chaisson re-did on his 'It's About Time' solo album (w/ the Riversogs' Rob Lamothe on vocals; Rob coincidentally was also BADLANDS' first choice to replace Ray when he quit the band in '92), and 'Sun Red Sun' is a song Jake later re-moded E-Z-O-style for Wicked Alliance (where's the album, guys?) as 'Blood Provider'. It's also great to see the band finally put the epic 'Lord Knows' to tape after kicking it around for the debut album but ultimately deciding against it. Bottom line: There is A LOT to love here and I consider this album an unexpected gift from the rock gods as it gives us one last chance to hear the brilliant Ray Gillen do what he does best with the greatest 80's band to never attain superstar status. What a curtain call!

Hey opinions are opinions, and that's cool... but to say the drummer drops the beat all over the place is just an ignorant statement. The comments he lists as to why the disc is "terrible" are not based in any reality. The band sounds tighter than either of the previous two discs. Dusk has some serious Stanky-groove going on and will be one of those records that the few who were fortunate enough to pick up on it will cherish as a "must have". If you enjoyed the first two Badlands discs at all then you will enjoy this supreme effort. The tones are thick and the playing is top notch. It is depressing that there wont be any more Badlands but we can celebrate their giving's with multiple spins of what they did give us.

I just discovered that Badlands had a third album! I saw Ozzy at Ft. Bragg, NC back in 1986 with Jake E. Lee on guitar. Since then, I've been aware of Jake's path in life. I saw Badlands in Chicago in 1991. They, to me, are the ultimate merge of blues and rock (metal). Coverdale/Page come in second. Jake comes from metal, but understands the blues. This means a lot because, "The blues had a baby and they called that baby, Rock 'n' Roll." The blues is subtle. If you notice Jake doesn't go crazy. He uses his guitar power sparingly. But, he hits you between the eyes with guitar electricity if you wait a while. Check out the Cult tribute, "Fire woman." Jake does "American Horse." Enough about Jake. Ray Gillen is gone. Let's appreciate him. Listen to Jake's new CD "Retraced" and compare the vocalist to Gillen. Need I say more? Ray can match any stud guitarist, anyday. I love Ray's "Yeaaaah, yeah!" If you are another guy in the 80's, like me, who discovered "Badlands" and thought there must be some mistake, then get their final album. It's better than the first two. BUYER BEWARE, if you get the Z-Records version, you won't be able to read the lyrics on the CD booklet. Might as well splurge for the Japanese version instead.

Let me begin by saying that I believe that Badlands 2nd album "Voodoo Highway" may be one of the best (and most underrated) albums of all time. The songwriting is superb, the musicians are in top form, and the production is top notch. The album is raw, aggressive, unflinching blues based hard rock, complete with a remake of James Taylors "Fire & Rain" that gives you chills every single time you hear it.

That being said, Dusk does not quite reach as high as Voodoo Highway did. I suppose my exceedingly high expectations for this album were fueled by years of searching for and not finding it. On first listen, I felt disappointed. BUT, after listening again, and again, and again, ... I am now enjoying this final recording by Jake E. Lee & Co.

Here are the downsides:

1. The vocals are very strained. Ray Gillen seemed to be losing his range and raw power by this time. Given that he passed away shortly after recording of AIDS related illness, that comes as no big surprise.

2. The guitar sounds very "thin". I am not sure if this was to compensate for Gillen's weakened vocals, or if it is the product of weak, or little to no, production, but given that Voodoo Highway had such a meaty, high octane guitar scream this albums more subdued, restrained sound is bound to be a letdown.

Now the upsides:

1. Just like Voodoo Highway, the songwriting is excellent. It is obvious that this foursome was really clicking as a group at this point, and the songs show it. The lyrics are solid, and each musicians influence is heard in the fluid way each blend their individual talents together into a single, very tight package on each track.

2. The rhythm section is exceptional on this album. Fans of Badlands were probably drawn in by the fame of guitarist Jake E. Lee, but I am sure many are pleasantly surprised to hear such phenomenal work by bassist Greg Chaisson. Chaisson takes his strong performance on Voodoo Highway to a completely new level on Dusk, showing how truly talented he is. Powerful without being overbearing, Chaisson's bass lines are unequaled here. Chaisson lays down a thunderous undercurrent that replaces the missing rhythm guitar track normally recorded under Lee's lead guitar. At times you catch yourself following the the bass lines and and ignoring the leads. Complimenting Chaisson is another decent performance by (Racer X) vocalist turned drummer Jeff Martin. Martins work is a bit "loose", to the point some consider it sloppy, but his style fits the music they are playing perfectly and ends up feeling genuine, and enjoyable.

It's too bad this album appears to suffer from abysmal production. It is fairly obvious that this album was released to cash in on the desire of fans to hear one last set of tracks from the late Gillen, and get their hands on one more album from a truly amazing, highly under-appreciated, band. With a little professional attention, this album could have sounded much better. This band should reunite and record again with a new vocalist. If you like Badlands, or like your hard rock with a heavy dose of the blues, this album is decent, Voodoo Highway is genius.

I love both of Badlands other albums and they were a seriously underatted band that was very tight. Jake E. Lee was/is still one of my favorite guitar players and "Badlands" and "Voodoo Highway" are still some of my favorite albums. If you find either of those albums dont hesitate to buy them they are well worth it. This one is good, but a little raw and trite. Still considering we have very few albums/ and songs from this band, you should get what you can. Keep it up Jake we are still listening. God bless Ray.