|
|
New York Dolls Album: “Manhattan Mayhem: A History of the New York Dolls”
| Album Information : |
|---|
| Title: |
Manhattan Mayhem: A History of the New York Dolls |
|
|
|
Release Date:2006-08-29
|
|
Type:Unknown
|
|
Genre:Rock
|
|
Label:Jungle Finland
|
|
Explicit Lyrics:No
|
|
UPC:5013145207529
|
Review - AMG :
Before the New York Dolls ever set foot inside a recording studio with Todd Rundgren to work on their classic 1973 self-titled debut, the group had recorded a healthy number of demo tapes. Unsurprisingly, many of these tapes have circulated among fans on the bootleg market for years -- reappearing from year to year under a variety of different titles. 2000's New York Tapes: 1972-1973 was the latest Dolls comp to dip into this demo backlog, but unlike most if its similar predecessors (Seven Day Weekend, etc.), New York Tapes is only a meager seven tracks in length. On a few selections, we get a glimpse at the original Dolls lineup (which included late drummer Billy Murcia), before the best-known Dolls lineup (with Jerry Nolan replacing Murcia) takes shape. Included are such glam classics as "Looking for a Kiss" and "Personality Crisis," as well as a fine cover of "Don't Mess With Cupid" (which really should have been included on one of their full-lengths -- it could have possibly served as a breakthrough single), plus such punk prototypes as "Pills" and "Human Being." While it's interesting to hear these raw versions, they have been better packaged elsewhere (and more importantly, with a much more generous track listing). ~ Greg Prato, All Music GuideReview - :
For a band who were together a bit less than six years and only recorded two albums, {$the New York Dolls} cast a very long shadow, and it's all but impossible to imagine the {\punk} revolution of the late '70s occurring without the guiding influence of their sloppy swagger and street wise smirk. One of the consequences of the band's lasting importance (aided and abetted by their unlikely resurrection in 2004) is seemingly every bit of music the group committed to tape (either with or without their knowledge) has found semi-authorized release somewhere, and {^Manhattan Mayhem: A History of the New York Dolls} is a two-disc set which pulls together relevant material from before, during, and after the {$Dolls}' brief reign as Kings of New York. Disc one beings with seven demos, recorded prior to their first album, which previously surfaced on the album {^New York Tapes: 1972-1973}. The 1972 material makes it clear original drummer {$Billy Murcia} lacked {$Jerry Nolan}'s skills behind the kit, and these demos sound thin and lackadaisical, as if you're listening to a less-than-enthusiastic rehearsal tape. Next up are seven tracks from various former {$Dolls} recorded after the band's collapse; {$Syl Sylvain}'s two tunes fare the best, sounding lively and full of spirit (his cover of {&"Trash"} is far better than you'd expect) and {$Jerry Nolan}'s material shows he was a better frontman than most drummers, while {$Johnny Thunders}' contributions have been widely heard elsewhere and poor {$Arthur Kane} sounds simply hapless on {&"Mental Moron"} from his short-lived band {$the Corpse Grinders}. Disc one concludes with two songs from a 1971 rehearsal by {$Actress}, which featured {$Thunders}, {$Kane} and {$Murcia} before the band evolved into {$the New York Dolls}; the vibe and the promise is there, but the spark {$David Johansen} brought to the band is sorely missed. Disc two features a 1974 concert from Paris that has already been released under several titles (most recently as {^From Paris With L-U-V} by {@Sympathy for the Record Industry}). It's easily the best stuff here, and one of the best extant recordings of the band on-stage, but it's still second-string {$Dolls} material -- the sound quality is not especially good (it sounds like a better-than-average audience tape), and while the band is in rollicking good form (and {$Johansen} is having a great time), they're also typically sloppy, threatening to fall apart at any given moment, and whoever gave {$Syl Sylvain} a vocal mic that evening should have told him not to try singing harmonies. Still, the live disc at least offers a clear glimpse of what made {$the New York Dolls} one of the greatest {\rock} bands of their day, something you can't quite say of the rest of this archeological project. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
|
|
|
Privacy PolicyTerms of UseContact Us