Customer Reviews

Shadow Life

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I listened to this one twice before relegating it to the dust bin. It almost hurts to listen to it -- especially for old Dokken fans. Even George Lynch isn't impressive.

My friend Mike was dead wrong when he told me to buy this. Save your money and buy the Greatest Hits (which hopefully no songs on this disk appear).

This Album was a great disapointment for me. It has nothing to do with albums like "Under look and key" and "Tooth and Nail". "Dysfunctional" was still Dokken but this kind of music has nothing more to do with the music and the sound of the 80's Dokken. Dokken's last chanche:"Erase the Slate" (I heard it's more better then Dysfunctional and Shadow life.I Always hate Grunge and i hope nothing more to hear about this music from this Band

As good as Dysfunctional was, I had hopes for more of the same on their new release. Boy, was I disappointed. The whole album seems thrown together and not thought out. Lots of noise, with bad lyrics sung painfully. I agree with the previous reviewer - SAVE your money. I can only hope the new release due soon (with Reb Beach) is more in the Dysfunctional style.

Dokken is an awesome band. Shadowlife was an awful cd. I can say no more.

While it's not my favorite Dokken album, I would have to say it's my favorite grunge album. If the grunge bands could actually play their instruments, and could halfway sing it might sound a little bit like this and could probably be tolerable. I can understand why Lynch did not want to do the same Dokken sound though, the songs were starting to all sound the same. If you are looking for the same Dokken grind as always this is not for you by any means. But, if you are willing to hear some true musicians tackle the grunge era and make it sound pretty good, then give it a whirl.

WOW! Some people don't look outside the box. This box needs to change with the times. I thought this was a great CD. They changed with the times and will keep changing. I can listen to this CD a few times. I love Warrents Belly to Belly too. I love them in the 80's and now. Def Leppard Slang is great. Don't Forget the Crue. Open your mind. If you want the old school keep listening to in and live in the past. It is fine because the US does the same.