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Artist: Dokken

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Dokken Homepage

CD Title: Dysfunctional

 

Category: Hard Rock

Year: 1995

Label: Columbia

Catalog Number: CK 67075

Personnel

Don Dokken lead vocals
George Lynch guitar
Jeff Pilson bass, backing vocals
Mick Brown drums, backing vocals

Tracks

1.	Inside Looking Out	4:08
2.	Hole in my Head	4:33
3.	The Maze	4:50
4.	Too High to Fly	7:10
5.	Nothing Left to Say	4:30
6.	Shadows of Life	4:33
7.	Long Way Home	5:12
8.	Sweet Chains	5:46
9.	Lesser of Two Evils	4:03
10.	What Price	5:45
11.	From the Beginning	4:12
Total Running Time:		54:42

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular Dokken CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from Dokken are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

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Existing comments about this CD

From: 3rd_rail@37.com	Date: March 13, 2001 at 20:00
oh ouch!!! DOKKEN IS MY FAVORITE BAND BUT THIS IS THERE WORST EVER I WAITED AND PRAYED FOR A REUNION THEY DID AND LOOKED WHAT HAPPENED DONT GET ME WRONG HERE THERE ARE A FEW ROKKEN ONE'S LIKE SWEET CHAINS-TOO HIGH- LESSER OF 2 EVILS ARE MY FAVES THE COME BACK WAS GOOD ENOUGH

From: larry wilgus	Date: May 10, 2001 at 19:33
I love DOKKEN, all of their stuff is great they are one of my favorite bands, keep ROKKEN DOKKEN!!!!!!

From: TIM	Date: June 13, 2001 at 15:41
This album is worth getting just for 'Too High To Fly.' George Lynch is amazing. It may not be Dokken's best album, but it's definately worth buying.

From: MelodicBoy	Date: August 31, 2001 at 8:13
Terrible album, but you can't say it's their worst ever until you've heard 'Shadowlife'. That makes this sound like a masterpiece (as amazing as that seems).

From: metal_man73	Date: October 31, 2001 at 18:03
Hey melodic boy, what is 'Shadowlife'???LOL. This one did suck in my opinion. Lynch is great and talented but this was so far from Dokken it made me sick! Sorry guys.

From: Dario	Date: November 5, 2001 at 10:41
I don't think this album is so terrible;Ok, it doesn't sound so much like Dokken, but 'The Maze' is a great song and 'Nothing left to say' a inspired ballad.But of course,their old stuff is better!!

From: dokken6008	Date: June 27, 2002 at 4:17
Dario, isn't that the way with almost every single band on the face of the planet (?)....

From: booper71	Date: July 13, 2002 at 3:39
Title of disc lives up to the feuding of the band members, I bet they faxed in their demos and it all was mixed together, they lost the plot with this one and shadowlife.

From: J Scott	Date: November 1, 2002 at 20:38
Definately not Dokken's best. Only a couple really good songs of note. Too high To Fly is an awesome song and the ballad Nothing Left To Say is pretty cool too.

From: Jay	Date: November 2, 2002 at 4:42
This CD is dead boring, actually I thought that they lost direction...only a couple of good songs, the latest CD is quite good actually, Its not 'Tooth n nail' but its pretty good

From: Jason	Date: November 28, 2002 at 16:25
This cd could have been better. Way too alternative but it definately sounds much better than Shadowlife which made me sick to my stomach.

From: dokken6008

Date: December 13, 2002 at 9:13

Hear ye, hear ye. This is what I think (concerning this record). This is my favorite alternative cds of all-time. This ain't 80s rock. This is Beatles-inspired alternative rock 'n' roll. It fit in with the times ('95), but took a lot of music cues from the 70s. The modern production values of this recording are fantastic. Most of the songs are quite interesting. Note that Mick's best Dokken drum tracks are on this album, and George's guitar tone (for the most part) is very dry and distorted.

From: dokken6008

Date: December 13, 2002 at 9:20

The opening track, 'Inside Looking Out', shows much promise throughout the song except the chorus is pathetic. The verses are very John-Lennon-'Tomorrow-Never Knows'-like and the bridge is great, too. But the chorus? 'Not good' doesn't describe what a failed attempt it is. If the rest of song sucked, then I would understand. Best tracks: 'Hole In My Head', 'Shadows Of Life', 'Sweet Chains' and 'The Maze'. Of course, 'Nothing Left To Say' is a wonderful ballad. The last TRUE Dokken album.

From: MALLORCA´S ROCK	Date: December 30, 2002 at 14:15
Joder vaya mierda!!

From: Gar	Date: January 7, 2003 at 22:53
I didn't think this cd was bad at all. True, their best work was in the 80's. But they made a decent attempt to update their style to the 90's. 'Too High to Fly' is a brilliant song. The others vary in quality, but nothing struck me as being a bad song. SHADOWLIFE on the other hand...

From: Swede	Date: January 11, 2003 at 12:06
When Dokken decided to make a comeback I don't think this was the album that the fans were looking for. Weak songs, less than average guitar playing etc...What happend to the good song writing that Dokken used to have?...In recent years they have been looking like a joke with albums such as Shadowlifa and Long way home...A total breakdown to say the least...

From: JC	Date: April 10, 2003 at 13:41
I consider this album to be kinda like Warrant's 'Ultraphobic,' not too glam, but not quite grungy, just right in-between as they still used elements of hard rock along with elements of grunge. But just like Warrant, the real crap did not come until 'Shadowlife.' I give it an 8.

From: Dani	Date: June 7, 2003 at 11:15
It sounds alternative!!!!! Puaj!

From: RR-Finland	Date: August 30, 2003 at 7:43
Bollocks! I bought it and send it HELL. I don´t even remember how it sounded! Don´t waste your money if you like first 4 albums!

From: keebler	Date: October 8, 2003 at 1:22
i like this cd i know it's darker but i think it still rocks.

From: Rocker76

Date: October 24, 2003 at 10:05

Any fan of Dokken up to this point should leave well enough alone and be content to remember them how they used to be. This album is so disappointing. I don't expect bands like Dokken to reproduce the same stuff from the 80s - but hell, it couldn't hurt to throw a little nostalgia into the modern era!! I saw Dokken in a club about 2 years ago and luckily they pretended like they never recorded Dysfunctional (or Shadowlife for that matter). Both are piss-poor efforts from a killer band.

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Whiplash1972	Date: November 8, 2003 at 1:27
Hey,the 'Dysfunctional' Dokken family is back together. While this disc falls well short of such efforts as 'Back For the Attack' and 'Tooth and Nail', it's not a bad disc at all.'The Maze', 'Too High to Fly', and 'Nothing Left to Say' are great songs,AND, this disc features probably the second most under-rated Dokken song of all time (just behind 'Night By Night')'Lesser of Two Evils'...that song just plain freakin' ROCKS!!

From: ashman	Date: November 8, 2003 at 2:08
In a word- contrived. It's kind of like when everyone 'in fashion' had to wear a polo shirt with the little alligator on it... I agree w/booper71- I doubt these guys were even together in the studio for this 'effort'. If you have to possess everything Lynch ever recorded, then buy this, otherwise, go dust off 'Tooth...' and be satisfied.

From: Fat Freddy

Date: January 5, 2004 at 12:06

When I first got this CD I thought 'Aaaah, it's OK,' put it on the shelf and forgot about it for over a year. Then I picked up the ONE LIVE NIGHT CD and the live versions of 'The Maze' and 'Nothing Left To Say' on there prompted me to pull DYSFUNCTIONAL out again and it grew on me from there. Obviously this isn't a Cd that's an immediate 'WOW' that grabs you from the first listen, it needs some time to gel. Now it's one of my favorites in the band's catalog. Worth getting.

From: pablo	Date: January 12, 2004 at 11:05
Aun distando mucho de sus obras maestras de los 80 no es un mal disco ni mucho menos teniendo en cuenta que se grabo en plena grunge age 6,5 /10

From: Rocktron

Date: April 27, 2004 at 7:39

The album cover picture and the title gives us a deeper incite into the bands performance. They are pictured separately and looking grimly serious. No smiles, unity and togetherness. They were truly 'dysfunctional' at that stage and it showed in this album. I love the earlier Dokken albums as much as you guys, but this one is entirely forgetable. I cannot believe that musicians who created the superb earlier albums can produce such disjointed material. Save your money. Rocktron from England.

From: Rockhead	Date: April 27, 2004 at 9:10
'Too high to fly' cranked up is one of the BEST tunes ever. I love everything about it and the drums espeically rock hard. If ever an album had a redeeming feature this track is it!!

From: TIM	Date: April 27, 2004 at 9:49
I agree Rockhead. I like the guitar, drums, bass, and vocals from that song. If turned way up, it's great just as you mentioned.

From: jack

Date: April 30, 2004 at 5:41

whats up with chAnge in music? Dokken has totally betrayed the hard rock/metal legacy. THis album is so much of the alternative element(crap!). Their early album(1983-85)used to be so good compared to this one. this is the reason why i lose some respect for dokken. LOok at cinderella's still climbing:it is pure hard rock/metal and got none of the alternative crap inside. THAT IS WHY CINDERELLA DESERVE FULL RESPECT WHILE DOKKEN DON'T AND THE REASON WHY CINDERELLA IS BETTER THAN DOKKEN.

From: run2u

Date: May 14, 2004 at 13:00

Aprovecho este disco para exponer una teoría.Nunca me apasionó el grunge,o las tendencias de los primeros'90...pero con el paso del tiempo,creo que algunos grupos de rock'clásico'hicieron maravillosos discos en aquella época.Probablemente debido al esfuerzo del renovarse o morir.Este es un de esos casos:la primera parte del CD es absolutamente PERFECTA:contundente,actual,bien compuesta...'Inside Looking Out','The Maze','Too High Too Fly',JOYAS.Y Lynch?Genial,como siempre. run2u69@hotmail.com

From: koogles	Date: June 25, 2004 at 12:14
Listen to this while gettin a blow job... that way, you won't feel ENTIRELY awful.

From: Dean	Date: June 25, 2004 at 15:20
The only problem with that, Koogles is this, having to listen to this disc again would probably make ME dysfunctional.

From: Rockhead	Date: June 25, 2004 at 17:52
When being blown it is advisable to turn the volume down on TOO HIGH TO FLY cos when those drums kick in yegads-instant circumscison!!

From: Marla *MJ*	Date: June 25, 2004 at 20:33
LMAO, Rockhead!!!! You're gonna make me pull this out and listen....JUST for 'Too High To Fly' now!!! (Actually the whole disc....but guess which one first!!! )

From: Big Papa K	Date: June 26, 2004 at 1:21
Decent comeback album. At least Dokken try something different in updating their sound, but still retaining key elements of the past (something that would not happen with 'Shadowlife'). 'Inside Looking Out' and 'The Maze' are my favorites. 6/10

From: Rocker76

Date: June 26, 2004 at 10:10

I have to disagree with you Big Papa K. I thought this album was absolutely horrible. Not much of a comeback in my opinion. I admit that I am stuck in the 80s (especially w/ Dokken) but I did give this a try and just did not like it (Shadowlife was even worse). Even a Lynch/Dokken reunion couldn't save this terminally ill record. But I was glad to see Dokken just release new material throughout the 90s. At least then, they can tour & play the classics!

From: jack	Date: August 11, 2004 at 6:49
Big Papa K,Its amazing that you find this album a liking cause even as hard as i try to like it,its like trying to like a nirvana's album. Of couse they are ten times better than those crappy nirvana,but i still think this album is too alternative and deserve to be labelled as crap

From: AOR freaky	Date: August 11, 2004 at 8:02
It's a pity, but I have to agree with the rest of you : this is crap ! And the Nirvana comparison is not that crazy ! As a Dokken fan, it's hard to admit this is so bad !

From: Rockhead	Date: August 11, 2004 at 9:03
Jack your true f**Kin ignorance has finally reached new heights. You quote this album is crap and yet the Dokken album almost as good as Cinderella's Still CLimbing-They are the same album you moron!! how can one be crap and the other good? Do you actually listen to the tracks or just jump on the bandwagon?

From: Slik Vicc	Date: August 16, 2004 at 7:49
Nirvana...seriously!! I don't know what you people are actually listening to, either you've never heard Nirvana or never heard Dysfunctional! Do you think that Cinderella's 'Still Climbing' is just a Mudhoney clone? Anyway in reality this is one strong album, Too High To Fly is simply a great f**king song.

From: Geoff

Date: August 16, 2004 at 20:46

Although I must agree that Cinderella never sold out, and 'Still climbing' is as much in the Cinderella mould as any of their CDs (Still 100% hard rock) I must also say that I actually quite like this Dokken album. Excellent - no! Awful - no! Pretty cool modern hard rock album with a few good songs - yes! As Dokken it is not good, but taken as a modern hard rock by a different band it comes off sounding okay. If you can separate it from 80's Dokken it's okay. Just dissapointing.

From: Slik Vicc	Date: August 17, 2004 at 19:47
Just one problem with this release, 'What Price' is a ridiculous rip-off of The Doors classic 'The End' I can only assume its an intentional homage, otherwise they should be ashamed of themselves.

From: sdfhlakj	Date: September 9, 2004 at 22:45
Missing a track called If the Good Die Young which totally kicks ass. The song should have been put on the album.

From: Propane	Date: November 30, 2004 at 10:58
Good one for the collection, but George seems to be wanting another direction. I think he's keeping the group back.

From: edwin	Date: December 21, 2004 at 15:04
soy colombiano y me gusta dokken thanks...

From: AHUEA	Date: January 14, 2005 at 10:28
not the best comeback, but shadows of life, nothing left to say and too high to fly, are great tracks.

From: Remastered Reason

Date: January 16, 2006 at 22:48

Uh, Yeah. At the time, high expectation had been looming prior to this release from these 80's rockers. Hard to believe one was capable of living through such shock after listening to this when it first came out. To this point, this was the worst album the band had done & somebody had to go. However, ten years later, this cd has become listenable compared to the dung Dokken has recorded since. Warning: Proceed with extreme caution if exploring Dokken post 1995.

From: rick kerch vzla

Date: December 22, 2006 at 11:41

Let's see how do i start this...hmmmm...I have always said that this album along with "Shadowlife" are the weakest releases by Dokken.I mean this Dokken meets Seattle or perhaps Dokken ala Pearl Jam-with all my respect 4 the Pearls-but it wasn't necessary that Dokken had changed musical direction just to try to get to new audiences at the time being.Anyway some were dissapointed some were not about this one.Lucky they have regained their credibility with their latest albums.

From: Clayton77	Date: January 6, 2007 at 19:10
I think this album is crap and nearly most Dokken-Fans were disappointed. Lots of Nu-Metal and Alternative-Sounds...a pity!!

From: Rambo Rockerman	Date: January 20, 2008 at 10:38
It's a good CD,but nothing compare to their old ones,still worth getting if your new to the band.

From: hair metal again	Date: July 7, 2009 at 14:07
this is just another masterpiece in dokken history.excellent songs,great performing,abit of dark atmosphere though.don has never been akind of "party"guy and he always showed that in his music.the japan edition has one more gem"if the good die young" worth listening.anyway this is an awesome release and in no way "modern" or "alternative"

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: April 21, 2011 at 22:00
Didn't have the chance to talk about the songs of this record way back in 2006...yeah,pretty grungy ones...some highlights or acceptable moments could be "Inside Looking Out","Hole in My Head","Nothing Left To Say","Shadows Of Life","Lesser Of two Evils" & "What Price"(this one rocks good)...if you are looking 4 the classic Dokken sound shamely skip this one....82/100

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: January 26, 2012 at 16:03

Being one of the first of the big '80's bands to break up, it's only fitting that Dokken were also the first to reunite, beating even Ratt and Quiet Riot by a couple years. If you're looking for a continuation of the classic '80's Dokken sound, youwon't find it here, which is probably the biggest reason so many people hate this disc. Which is unfair, and taken on its own merits, it's not a bad album, and has quite a few good tunes on it. Heavier in places than their classic stuff, but also lighter in other places. For once, you can actually hear the bass, George seems to have discovered down-tuning, and Mick Brown finally lost that outdated '80's drum sound, and overall, the songs have a muck darker feel, and the lyrics seem more personal and reflective. "The Maze," "Shadows Of Life," "Nothing Left TO Say," and "Sweet Chains" are all good songs, but "Too High To Fly" is the obviously standout, heavy and rolling.

From: MetalPete1031

Date: September 11, 2013 at 9:21

Listening to this album again, I think I understand now that I DO like it, particularly tracks "Too High To Fly", "Shadows of Life", "Nothing Left To Say" and some others. However, it is worlds apart from tunes like "Sleepless Night" and "Breaking the Chains". Rather, this is Dokken in the 90's -- and with this here album, they'd have fit right in touring with King's X. The choruses on this are VERY much like King's X. Also the more mature subject matter and reflective tones. I think the band is tight, the tunes engaging - just not in the more simplistic and forceful way we may expect from older Dokken material. A good album, but requiring an adjustment to expectations. Much like the lone Motley Crue album with Corabi ---extremely good, but not what you expected.

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: November 6, 2022 at 17:55

This is one of those mid-'90's albums that a lot of fans had to catch up to. Now that I'm at the age Don was when Dysfunctional was released, I think I understand it better. Face it, Dokken never were the most "fun" band of the hair-metal era, with even most of their party jams having an undercurrent of melancholy. I wonder if that may have been partly because Don, as main songwriter, was a little older than many of his peers. The three mid-'80's albums are always going to be at the top of the heap, but I would put Dysfunctional at a close fourth, and it's held up quite well over the years. Honestly, it sounds less like an artifact or a museum piece than some of the earlier stuff. Don's voice is different, but especially when combined with Mick and Jeff, those signature harmonies still ring out. I just think a lot of the fans were younger and still in party-rock mode when this came out, and we couldn't appreciate Dysfunctional yet at that point in our lives.

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