Lynch / Pilson - Wicked Underground (2003)

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Lynch Pilson
Wicked Underground
2003 Eagle Rock Entertainment

61K3uA4SsML._SS400_.jpg

George Lynch - Guitars, Background yells
Jeff Pilson - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
Michael Frowein - Drums​

1. Breath & A Scream
2. Beast In The Box
3. When You Bleed
4. Vaccine
5. River Higher
6. Zero The End
7. The Evil That You Are
8. Awaken
9. Cromaniac (Instrumental)
10. Goodbye Utopia
11. Inner View
12. Closer To None

In general I get the impression that Wicked Underground is a very under appreciated and underrated album among most music fans except for a certain number of die-hard old school Dokken and George Lynch fans.

I'm not going to do a track-by-track breakdown of this album. Instead I'm going to report on my overall impression.

I didn't instantly warm up to Wicked Underground the first time I listened to it. But then that could be OR for you. Perhaps I was a bit overwhelmed by the music sounding a bit different, more "modern" and slightly outside even my rather large box. With this being a George Lynch and Jeff Pilson effort I was really wanting to like this album. I listened to Wicked Underground a few more times and the next thing I knew I was compulsively wanting to listen to this album over and over, almost like an addiction.

This album is the first time I heard Jeff Pilson handling lead vocals and in my humble OR opinion I feel Jeff is quite a good singer. Now why couldn't he have been the singer in Dokken? One of the main reasons why I haven't explored Dokken more is frankly, strictly my humble OR opinion, I can't stand Don Dokken's vocalizing and is a bit hard to get past or tune out to appreciate the work of the other band members. Knowing that Jeff can play several musical instruments and is very engaged with his music I am sure that besides playing bass and keyboards on Wicked Underground that he likely had a great deal of input in the songwriting.

I think George Lynch's guitar playing on Wicked Underground sounds great, is in a very good place and stays there. You can hear his distinctive playing style and what I figure his fans refer to as his "TONE". From my descriptive point of view I would call it more evolved than his guitar work with Dokken which I guess would be expected but is still very cool to hear.

The music has a very modern vibe to me and in a good way - modern to me being, ok, it doesn't sound retro and I don't relate it to any rock music from the 60's, 70, and 80's that I am most familiar with. The music is very forward sounding. The way I see it is these two old(er) guys decided to show young bands how a "modern" rock album is done right and did it beautifully.

Yes, I realize Wicked Underground is almost 10 years old at this point but even now I don't think the album sounds dated at all and still sounds very fresh. I don't feel you have to be a huge Dokken or Lynch or Pilson fan to appreciate this album. I for one would really like to see George and Jeff get together and do more original music at some point!



 

Lynch

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Re: Lynch Pilson - Wicked Underground

In general I get the impression that Wicked Underground is a very under appreciated and underrated album among most music fans except for a certain number of die-hard old school Dokken and George Lynch fans.

*raises hand! :heheh:

I didn't instantly warm up to Wicked Underground the first time I listened to it. But then that could be OR for you. Perhaps I was a bit overwhelmed by the music sounding a bit different, more "modern" and slightly outside even my rather large box. With this being a George Lynch and Jeff Pilson effort I was really wanting to like this album. I listened to Wicked Underground a few more times and the next thing I knew I was compulsively wanting to listen to this album over and over
I was the same way when I first heard it. I listened and nothing blew me away right off the bat. The more I listened, the more I liked it. It's very different for both George and Jeff compared to most of what either have been involved in during their careers.




Yes, I realize Wicked Underground is almost 10 years old at this point but even now I don't think the album sounds dated at all and still sounds very fresh. I don't feel you have to be a huge Dokken or Lynch or Pilson fan to appreciate this album. I for one would really like to see George and Jeff get together and do more original music at some point!
they have announced that they are doing Tooth And Nail... a band including George, Jeff and Dokken (and Lynch Mob) drummer Mick Brown along with one other guy (also a drummer). The band name is going to be Tooth and Nail. They are going to be re-recording a few Dokken tracks as well as new material. I think Jeff will be handling quite a bit of the lead singing duties.

No word as to when it's going to be out. I did find their site on Facebook a few weeks back where they were asking fans what their #1 request would be for a Dokken re-record/remake song as well as giving fans an opportunity to vote on various album cover art.



Good review though. I agree with a lot of what you wrote. :cheers2
 

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Re: Lynch Pilson - Wicked Underground

they have announced that they are doing Tooth And Nail... a band including George, Jeff and Dokken (and Lynch Mob) drummer Mick Brown along with one other guy (also a drummer). The band name is going to be Tooth and Nail. They are going to be re-recording a few Dokken tracks as well as new material. I think Jeff will be handling quite a bit of the lead singing duties.

No word as to when it's going to be out. I did find their site on Facebook a few weeks back where they were asking fans what their #1 request would be for a Dokken re-record/remake song as well as giving fans an opportunity to vote on various album cover art.

Good review though. I agree with a lot of what you wrote. :cheers2
Thanks, Lynch!

I did read about “Dump The Chump” awhile ago. I don’t mind too much the three others re-recording Dokken tunes with a different vocalist. There’s still part of me that would prefer new material and I think Wicked Underground clearly demonstrates that George and Jeff are capable of writing good new songs. I guess it’s a matter of them actually being able to take the time to work together. As far as I know Jeff’s gig with Foreigner is still keeping him busy and George is continually doing one thing of his own or another.

I should check out that FB page ...
 

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