Up From the Ashes

This 1990 debut solo offering from Don Dokken is perhaps the softest, most middle-of-the-road collection in the singer's long melodic-rock career. Fans of '80s hair metal certainly count the band that carried Dokken's name as one of the premier outfits of the decade. But when their guitar-slinging histrionics, sad-faced ballads, and colorful outfits became highly unfashionable, the group couldn't sustain themselves through the constant fighting between the singer and guitarist George Lynch. The on-again off-again relationship was off for five years during the early '90s. Lynch made some noise with his own band, Lynch Mob (proving that he could write decent songs without the help of Dokken), and Dokken released Up From the Ashes, a pale collection of forgettable near-balladry. Joining the vocalist on this disc are guitarist/songwriter John Norum (most notable for his work with Europe), guitarist The Billy White, bassist Peter Baltes, and drummer Mickey Dee. Only fans of the mellowest pre-solo Dokken material will have any chance of enjoying this collection. The record is well-produced, and the performances (especially Norum's soloing) are quite polished, but the songwriting and lyrics are standard at best, and pretty out of date by the time this offering hit record store shelves. Even staunch-'80s rock supporters probably won't enjoy Up From the Ashes, as the record exudes nothing close to the fire of Dokken's original band.