Dokken - Broken Bones

The new incarnation of Dokken has been together now, for about 4 years or so, and they seem to be gelling.  Broken Bones is the 2nd with this line up in tact.  We were teased with the potential of a Dokken reunion, before the release, but as always, we were let down at the last minute.  Seems like once the rumors died, this record was released. Broken Bones picks up where Lightning Strikes Again left off, but fortunately, with stronger material.  Lighting Strikes Again was okay, but not as in your face as the new disc is.  Don't get me wrong this one, ain't that in your face, like back in the day, but it just sticks with you more. 

The songs on the new disc have more substance and stay with you.  It's obvious that Don can't hit many of the notes anymore, but he does a nice job not pushing his range.  Anything that Don lacks vocally is picked up by guitarist Jon Levin.  Levin is a bad ass, and even though he is very Lynchy, I think he has carved in his style a little more on this release.  The CD is mainly full of midtempo rockers, with a ballad and a couple fast ones, thrown in for good measure.  The vibe of the record is subdued and comes off like a 2nd rate Under Lock And Key, which is not a bad thing.  There is some strong material on this release, which gets better with every spin.

Bottom Line:  Don and the boys showing they can still do it after 30 years.  The new line up proves that they can put out solid music, without tarnishing the Dokken legacy.

Standout Tracks: Best of Me, Blind, Burning Tears and Empire

-Ragman thinks that the next release may be even better, with the chemistry these guys are forming.

Podcast #144: Loss

Sure he's one dreamy Canadian, but the guy can sing his ass off too. Who is more important in the band, the guitarist or the vocalist and what happens if one leaves? Could the drummer or the bassist have the same impact? Join Genghis and Ragman as they discuss who's more critical to a lineup as well as what's currently going on in the hard rock/heavy metal world. Next, Harry Hess (ex-Harem Scarem) checks in to discuss his latest offering Living in Yesterday, and discusses the irony - or lack thereof - of recording with the majority of the HS lineup again.

DVD of the Show:  Stratovarius - Under Flaming Winter Skies

1st Beer of the Show: Lips of Faith - Peach Porch Lounger (New Belgium Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"This brew accompanies the blues while eradicating them at the same time."

2nd Beer of the Show: Dragoons Dry Irish Stout (Moylan's Brewery)
	"Don't know if the beer went bad in the bottle or if there's a market for mediciney beer..."

Featured Tracks:  Charm City Devils - Unstoppable; Stratovarius - Uncertainty; Dio - Black and Electra; Lion - Powerlove; Dark New Day - Come Alive; UFO - Mr. Freeze; Dokken - Best of Me; Lynch Mob - World of Chance; Harem Scarem - Saviors Never Cry; Hess - What If, Living in Yesterday, Don’t Leave Me; Harem Scarem - Warming a Frozen Rose; Hess - It’s Over, Harem Scarem - Hope

Ragman Pick: Vision Divine - Mermaids From Their Moons

Genghis Pick: Swallow the Sun - This Cut is the Deepest

Classic of the Show: Doctor Butcher - The Altar

Genghis Pick of the Show: Gypsyhawk - Frostwyrm

Ragman Pick of the Show:  ZZ Top - Chartreuse

- Ragman wants to know if someone said supersize?  If so, check this out.

Podcast #144: Loss

A Whisper In The Noise - To Forget

This Minneapolis-based alt rock duo sound more like they should be from Washington, circa 1990...Art rock implies a lot of things that are kind of antithetical to most heavy metal bands, leaving out the more progressive of the lot. But it's not all bad haircuts and self-loathing nihilism.

Of course, I say this as the guy that mostly ignores lyrics in favor of the musical vibe at hand; and that natural inclination is probably bolstered by my recent reading of Daniel J. Levitin's This Is Your Brain On Music (check it out, it's brilliant). And in the case of A Whisper In The Noise (AWITN), they actually make it pretty easy to ignore the lyrics with their ethereal crooning so heavily processed; it's like the soundtrack to a seance.

On the plus side though is the music itself. While nothing at all like the heavier stuff I tend to listen to, AWITN makes some very compelling and moody music. The beats sometimes remind me of Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks soundtrack work in their dreamy, haunted retro-hipness.

The Bottom Line: Imagine the setting of a Stephen King novel with its tarnished nostalgia against the backdrop of a forgotten, cold, and windy Northeastern town; a once beautiful and familiar sight now mired in fear and regret. This is the soundtrack.

Tracks to Make You Cry for Laura Palmer: Black Shroud, Mayas Song, Your Hand

- Genghis is trying to remember some really good ghost stories now...

The Doors - Live at the Bowl '68

It goes without saying that The Doors were the blue print for most of the decadent bands from the 70's and 80's.  These guys pushed the envelope every time that they hit the stage.  The band lived hard, but were able to get it together for live performances, at least some of the time.  One of their stronger performances was captured at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968.   This film footage from Live at the Bowl '68,  has been released over the years, but was just recently, given the royal treatment.  Thanks to the folks at Eagle Rock Entertainment, the show, for the first time, has been restored in its entirety, and was recently released on Bluray.

The audio and video for Live at the Bowl '68 has been restored and remastered, and looks amazing.  Due to issues back in the day, previous releases didn't include Hello I Love You orThe WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat).  This Bluray shows the band on top of their game even though Morrison looks incoherent at times.  The video of the Bluray looks clear and smooth.  The audio is mixed well too.  If the show ain't enough, then there is more!  Check out the bonus material of some rare performance footage of the band; Which includes performances from The Smothers Brothers Show and The Jonathan Winters Show.  Good stuff.  All in all, an enjoyable watch.  Classic rock lovers will froth at the mouth for this one.

Bottom Line: A solid performance from an iconic band.  A great representation of how good these guys were.  Too bad they let substance abuse get in the way.

-Ragman is feeling psychedelic.

Dio - The Very Beast of Vol. 2

The Dio releases still keep coming, even after the legend passed just over 2 years ago.  The latest is a best of, release called The Very Beast of Vol. 2.  The first best of came out in 2000 and covered the Vivian Campbell years, for the most part.  This second volume, covers the best tracks from the latter period of the band.  The cool thing about this compilation is that you get 3 bonus tracks.  The bonus tracks included are: Electra (Magica 2), Metal Will Never Die (David Rock Feinstein) and The Prisoner of Paradise (Master of the Moon).

Beast of Vol. 2 is a nice representation of the post Vivian Campbell era.  (Lets be honest, that is the era that Dio had his most success, as a solo artist.)  This compilation will hopefully open the ears of those that didn't get past Sacred Heart.  The work Dio did with guitar phenom Doug Aldrich on Killing the Dragon was solid, as well as the darker period with Tracy G.  These are great tunes that need to be spotlighted and heard.  I was especially impressed with the inclusion of the live version of Hunter of the Heart from the Tracy G era.  This track is from the very rare live record they did called Inferno - Last in Live. (If you can get your hands on a copy, I highly advise it, because it is awesome). A very nice mix of tunes from some of the lesser known albums from the great one.  Essential for Dio fans.

Bottom Line:  A great compilation of tracks from Dio's lesser know material. 

Standout Tracks: Hunter of the Heart (Live), As Long As It's Not About Love, Metal Will Never Die, One More for the Road and Killing the Dragon.

-Ragman is glad that Tracy is finally acknowledged.  It is about time, damn it!