ProgRocker53 wrote:I can't comment too much on Dokken but I have a CD on the way.
I appreciate your open-mindedness... You are in for a treat!

ProgRocker53 wrote:However, Winger's pretty solid. Sure their first two albums are chock-full of stereotypical hair metal, but even then they were better "technical" players than most other guys in that scene. With 1993's Pull they found their niche a little better and played some more straightforward metal, and then with last year's IV they started flirting with prog. Reb Beach is one of the best melodic rock guitarists, at least in my opinion, plus the drummer Rod Morgenstein is a legend in prog circles. I really, REALLY like their two most recent albums.. you should give 'em a shot!
I couldn't agree more... You are spot on. "Pull" really came out of nowhere and was a highly underrated album. So many great songs... One of my favorites is the heavy ballad "Spell I'm Under":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-f_go0KNfg
"IV" took a little more time to grow on me, but that's a good thing. Not a weak song there, and Deano, if you don't like Bush's war policy, you'd dig this album. Very pro-troops, but anti-administration. "Blue Suede Shoes" is my favorite song from the album.
Dokken and Winger are really two totally different bands. Kip Winger is an incredible musician and arranger, with an awesome voice. His lyrical content really is different from Dokken's -- Dokken's focuses more on bad relationships and emotional stuff, while Kip's more into story telling and tackling issues. But they do have one thing in common -- apparently, Kip is a pretty major prima dona, and seeing him in videos makes me think this guy has spent more time staring at himself in a mirror than any girl I know...

I prefer my rock heroes a little on the cartoonish side.