DOBERMANN
"Shaken to the Core" (Wild
Mondays Music; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
There's some great stuff on Dobermann's "Shaken to the Core." The album starts out with the hard rocking title track, followed by the appropriately cruising "Staring at the Black Road." But it's here, right a tithe beginning, where things seem to get weird. "Shaken to the Core" and "Staring at the Black Road" really don't seem to go together, to be tracks from the same album. They've got different sounds, with the title track being a straight-forward classic rocker and "Black Road" sounding a little more like the Black Crowes. Then there's "Over the Top" which comes across as vintage Red Hot Chili Peppers. And "Talk to the Dust" rolls along at a gentle pace that seems out of place here. And then there's "Last Man Standing" which could be modern Billy Joel. And the vaguely Van Halen-y "Run For Shade."
It's not that there's a bad track on this album. There isn't. The band is impressive throughout and songs, individually, are all pretty good. But "Shaken to the Core" is just so uneven, it's a little striking. Sometimes, it takes you right out of the moment as you're listening, making you think "Okay, where is this one going?"
I guess the bright side here is that we live in a world where singles are far more popular than full albums and Dobermann's got something for everyone on "Shaken to the Core." And then there's the old adage that variety is the spice of life. If you're looking for a band that can do a little bit of everything and don't mind it bookended all together, then "Shaken to the Core" is for you.
For more information, check out www.dobermannweb.net.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2021 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
