New York Dolls Album: “New York Dolls”

Ah, the Dolls. More than any other band, they were the epitome of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle (them and The Stooges..but that's another story). They didn't just burn the candle at both ends--they used a blowtorch on the middle. All the drug-crazed, trashily androgynous, Rolling Stones-in-drag insanity of the New York Dolls was woefully short-lived, but the result was a breakthrough 1973 LP that was a huge influence on the future punk movement. The Ramones (guitarist Johnny Thunders was a friend of Dee Dee Ramone's) and the Sex Pistols (Malcom McLaren managed the Dolls before there even was a Johnny Rotten) probably wouldn't have existed without Johnny Thunders and David Johansen to show them the way.

Way grittier and wilder than their glam rock kin (David Bowie and T. Rex), the Dolls basically updated the early rock 'n' roll of Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. What the Dolls lacked in instrumental prowess they made up for in reckless sexual abandon and crazy R&B swagger. Thunders' guitar is HUGE, sloppy, and manic, and his filthy riffs and solos are what make this album. But let's not forget the trashy wit and great singing of Johanson, Sylvain Sylvain's piano, Jerry Nolan's crashing drums, and bassist Arthur Kane...well, he sucked, but you barely heard him over the wonderfully shambolic boogie anyway.

The opener Personality Crisis establishes everything the Dolls were about--stomping piano, riproaring guitar, and Johanson's cocky swagger and crazy vocals. The 1-2-3 punch of Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss, and Vietnamese Baby is then followed by the short reprive of Lonely Planet Boy. The epic Frankenstein brings the rawk back, and it is immediately followed by the insanely addictive sing-a-long Trash. The album ends with Jet Boy, which hooks you with the biggest freakin' chorus ever. Filler? What filler? Every song rules. They're so good that you will almost forget about Todd Rundgren's godawful production. Almost.

The New York Dolls' first release ranks up there with The Stooges' Fun House and The MC5's Kick Out The Jams as the definitive proto-punk album. Barring that, it may be the greatest pure rock 'n' roll document EVER. You need this one.

Having just re-listened to this album a few days ago, the same recurring thought hit me every time the record ends: why can't they make 'em like this anymore?

From beginning to end, this is uber-classic rock'n'roll at its finest, and what's still amazing is that over 30 years later, it's still as vital and fresh as ever.

From the gutter-punk raunch of "Trash", "Personality Crisis", and "Looking For A Kiss", the album subtle melds Chuck Berry to Iggy & The Stooges, but injects more than its fair share of original licks that have yet to be topped even to this very day. "Lonely Planet Boy" is the doo-wop classic that never was, and "Pills" sounds just as potent unplugged as it does here in this steamrolling version.

My personal favourite has to be "Subway Train", which crystalizes the ethos of the Dolls in under 4 1/2 minutes. The follow-up "Too Much Too Soon" is equally good, but less rife with classics. Get 'em both anyway.

I bought this because I have been reading "Please Kill Me" and the New York Dolls are a doomed group just waiting to break up, but still they are the beginning of punk. I had to buy this CD.

It's amazing! Echoes of every band that you've ever loved from the Replacements to Husker Du to glam rock to punk to grunge (which is really just post-punk). The influence spread out and engulfed modern music. Listening to this CD is like reading Nietzche for the first time. At once familiar and unique, you are listening to the source. You have heard this music before only you have heard its imitators.

Every song is great but "Personality Crisis", "Looking for a Kiss" and "Jet Boy" are way cool!

Buy it now.

Mick Jagger said of the New York Dolls: "Ugh, the New York Dolls! What Rubbish!"

To which Johnny Thunders replied, "Mick who?" The Dolls picked up where the Stones should have gone if they hadn't been such pussies. The Dolls were/are a slap in the face. God love 'em.

Probably the best tribute to a team of heroes. These are the people who created the kindling wood for the fire of punk rock. The first of an era who kicked the Eagles, Bob Seeger, and Andy Williams off the cliff face. If the Ramones and Blondie were born from the New York Dolls, and the Heartbreakers came from their death (we do not mean Tom Petty!), then they are saints..