Best Dokken albums are Under Lock and Key, Back for the Attack and Don’s first solo record Up From the Ashes. This new album surprised me how good it was given the decline in his health and voice. I feel studio knob twiddling and overdubs are the primary reason why Don sounds so good. He still has a lot of soul in his voice when he hits the right note. Don has become the Steven Hawkins of Hard Rock, His brain is still working, his will and desire is still there and he knows exactly what he wants to do, but he needs to rely on technology to do it. I liked this album and I wish Don all the best forever.
Great album, outstanding guitar work by Jon and Don's voice holds up well. Lyrics and production I feel are outstanding. Agree much better than expected but I think Santa Fe is actually cool and done well!
I'm with you 100% on Lynch last two drops. The production quality was not good, the mix was God awful to say the least. I really did love the Heavy Hitters II though, and I assume Pilson mixing it is why. So my issue is, Don trash talking Lynch in the last few weeks. I really appreciate him as an artist, but that trash talk is totally unnecessary. I haven't listened to this album just because of this alone. Anyways, great review. I'll give it a spin in a few days. Just wish Don would take the higher road.
BTW, I do agree, everything Levin does is absolutely fantastic. The guy can clone Lynch, or go off on his own thing, which keeps the sound authentic and fresh.
Really good, honest review. I don’t always love review videos like this. But this was good. Maybe because I mostly agree with every word you said. The only disagreement would be your comments about the sound and production. This is really important to me and I thought the album sounds great. Everything is punchy and crisp compared to some recent Dokken efforts and I enjoyed it.
I think it’s a pretty decent album, it’s got a little momentum. But it doesn’t compare to the nail, under lock and key, back for the attack or don Dokken first solo album. Basing it on the Music, it’s not even close.
I give it a 7/10. Its good but to much slow songs on the album, all the heavier songs are great. Don Dokken studio vocals are good same than Ozzys studio vocals on his last album. But studio and live is not the same! If you compare this album with the new Lynch Mob album you are absolutly right. Lynch mob has no good songwriting, and good riffs and solos is not everything. And the songwriting here is much better only for me to much slow paiced.
Long time dokken fan ..and i love all the dokken albums with jon levin .and in a time where i needed a new album to listen to. The new dokken comes out. To be honest im loving it and i really do think its some of dons best songwriting to date . levin sounds amazing as always .all together its a really good album
Really like this album it's up there with the classic stuff from the 80s for me .I'm surprised how much I like it. I wasn't expecting much .A 4.5 out of 5 for me
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the album was a mixed bag. The first few tracks were very exciting, but then the energy level dropped. Obviously if it stayed consistent, it would have gained more favor. Still there are some great moments throughout. Credit to Don Dokken for his effort and strong motivation in pursuing this later project.
I just finished listening to it full length. It isn't bad. It's easy to recognize his voice. Will definitely pick up a copy. Sadly I read that Don stated this will be his last piece of music.
I was enjoying your review but you lost me on one point... i know its all opinions fair enough . Over the mountain is definitely NOT a dip in quality. It has the pace and energy that type of lyrical content needs....now the vocals on lost in you do waver ever so slightly but doesn't kill the album. The only knock i can find on this album is i needed More of it! It's done too soon...this is a label marketing decision though to cut 4 tracks so as to not hamper the vynl i guess ( you could've put everything on a double vynl and one CD though really so poor excuse from the record label) I liked santa fe for what it is a look into Don being introspective about this stage of his life and career.... needing a change and seeking it, accepting the change, embracing it. I give this record 8.9 out of 10 for me.
At 70 no body should expect him to sing like he did when he was 25 or 30,Jon Levin sounds awesome on this album I figured it would seen them in July they were great
Don is 70 his voice will not be the same as in 85 not many singers from that era voices are a good shape I see so many gig in the 80's the concerts were insanely loud there was no ear monitors they had to scream over the amps imagine doing that during a whole tour, record is a mix bag of nuts for me , some songs are good and some well I tried, I loved Dokken back in the day this one just does not do it for me ,
I heard a couple of live performances from recently and found them awful, songs are played slower and Don often misses the tone or talks instead of sings. Respecting age, injuries and business shit going on my expectations were low, so the first 3-4 songs were a pleasant surprise! But after that the album slips away for me, low energy and interchangeable. Santa Fe isn’t really Dokken for me, he should have ended the album with a bang. Production is ok for me, but just average, imagining at this late stage of career the budget is quite limited. If this was his last album I wish him well.
This album was a disappointment, especially after an eleven year period in between albums. First two singles are strong and kick off the album right; after that it's plodding mid-tempo tracks with lackluster choruses and vocal delivery that could have been stronger even with the limited range. Jon's guitar tone sounds very good and that is probably the single strongest thread weaved through what are mostly fair at best songs. Don said ahead of time that half of these tracks were uptempo in the mold of Tooth and Nail and that only applies to the first two songs and nothing else. That's still fine if the songs themselves are great, but in this case most of these songs are just above filler level. I'd say a 6.5/10 for now.
Best Dokken albums are Under Lock and Key, Back for the Attack and Don’s first solo record Up From the Ashes.
This new album surprised me how good it was given the decline in his health and voice.
I feel studio knob twiddling and overdubs are the primary reason why Don sounds so good. He still has a lot of soul in his voice when he hits the right note.
Don has become the Steven Hawkins of Hard Rock, His brain is still working, his will and desire is still there and he knows exactly what he wants to do, but he needs to rely on technology to do it.
I liked this album and I wish Don all the best forever.
I've listened too the album multiple times already.
Great album, outstanding guitar work by Jon and Don's voice holds up well. Lyrics and production I feel are outstanding. Agree much better than expected but I think Santa Fe is actually cool and done well!
I'm with you 100% on Lynch last two drops. The production quality was not good, the mix was God awful to say the least. I really did love the Heavy Hitters II though, and I assume Pilson mixing it is why. So my issue is, Don trash talking Lynch in the last few weeks. I really appreciate him as an artist, but that trash talk is totally unnecessary. I haven't listened to this album just because of this alone. Anyways, great review. I'll give it a spin in a few days. Just wish Don would take the higher road.
BTW, I do agree, everything Levin does is absolutely fantastic. The guy can clone Lynch, or go off on his own thing, which keeps the sound authentic and fresh.
Thanks for the review! I’d give it a 7.5!
Really good, honest review. I don’t always love review videos like this. But this was good. Maybe because I mostly agree with every word you said. The only disagreement would be your comments about the sound and production. This is really important to me and I thought the album sounds great. Everything is punchy and crisp compared to some recent Dokken efforts and I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the comments mate. Glad you enjoyed it
I think it’s a pretty decent album, it’s got a little momentum. But it doesn’t compare to the nail, under lock and key, back for the attack or don Dokken first solo album. Basing it on the Music, it’s not even close.
I give it a 7/10. Its good but to much slow songs on the album, all the heavier songs are great. Don Dokken studio vocals are good same than Ozzys studio vocals on his last album. But studio and live is not the same! If you compare this album with the new Lynch Mob album you are absolutly right. Lynch mob has no good songwriting, and good riffs and solos is not everything. And the songwriting here is much better only for me to much slow paiced.
Long time dokken fan ..and i love all the dokken albums with jon levin .and in a time where i needed a new album to listen to. The new dokken comes out. To be honest im loving it and i really do think its some of dons best songwriting to date . levin sounds amazing as always .all together its a really good album
Great review I like a lot Lost i You, but I understand the low energy stuff
Levin a monster ; totally satisfied with album in entirety
Great Album! IMO yea can’t sing falsetto anymore but he’s older, Levin is great
Really like this album it's up there with the classic stuff from the 80s for me .I'm surprised how much I like it. I wasn't expecting much .A 4.5 out of 5 for me
Good album
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the album was a mixed bag. The first few tracks were very exciting, but then the energy level dropped. Obviously if it stayed consistent, it would have gained more favor. Still there are some great moments throughout. Credit to Don Dokken for his effort and strong motivation in pursuing this later project.
I just finished listening to it full length. It isn't bad. It's easy to recognize his voice. Will definitely pick up a copy. Sadly I read that Don stated this will be his last piece of music.
I was enjoying your review but you lost me on one point... i know its all opinions fair enough . Over the mountain is definitely NOT a dip in quality.
It has the pace and energy that type of lyrical content needs....now the vocals on lost in you do waver ever so slightly but doesn't kill the album.
The only knock i can find on this album is i needed More of it! It's done too soon...this is a label marketing decision though to cut 4 tracks so as to not hamper the vynl i guess ( you could've put everything on a double vynl and one CD though really so poor excuse from the record label)
I liked santa fe for what it is a look into Don being introspective about this stage of his life and career.... needing a change and seeking it, accepting the change, embracing it.
I give this record 8.9 out of 10 for me.
It's a cool thing that everyone has a different opinion/perspective on things. Love the fact that so many fans are enjoying the album as well
At 70 no body should expect him to sing like he did when he was 25 or 30,Jon Levin sounds awesome on this album I figured it would seen them in July they were great
I agree under lock And key my favorite,vocally he sings really good on this album
I really dig this album. If this is gonna be their last one, kudos to Don
I like the album greats songs, thanks Dokken
Great Final Album as well as Lynch Mob
Don is 70 his voice will not be the same as in 85 not many singers from that era voices are a good shape I see so many gig in the 80's the concerts were insanely loud there was no ear monitors they had to scream over the amps imagine doing that during a whole tour, record is a mix bag of nuts for me , some songs are good and some well I tried, I loved Dokken back in the day this one just does not do it for me ,
Average lightning strikes again better but give it a C
I heard a couple of live performances from recently and found them awful, songs are played slower and Don often misses the tone or talks instead of sings. Respecting age, injuries and business shit going on my expectations were low, so the first 3-4 songs were a pleasant surprise! But after that the album slips away for me, low energy and interchangeable. Santa Fe isn’t really Dokken for me, he should have ended the album with a bang. Production is ok for me, but just average, imagining at this late stage of career the budget is quite limited. If this was his last album I wish him well.
This album was a disappointment, especially after an eleven year period in between albums. First two singles are strong and kick off the album right; after that it's plodding mid-tempo tracks with lackluster choruses and vocal delivery that could have been stronger even with the limited range. Jon's guitar tone sounds very good and that is probably the single strongest thread weaved through what are mostly fair at best songs. Don said ahead of time that half of these tracks were uptempo in the mold of Tooth and Nail and that only applies to the first two songs and nothing else. That's still fine if the songs themselves are great, but in this case most of these songs are just above filler level. I'd say a 6.5/10 for now.