New York Dolls Album: “Too Much Too Soon”

I agree, it's a CRIME this album is out-of-print. The New York Dolls were around for a very short time. They couldn't attain mainstream success, and both of their studio albums flopped, but their music has aged well. Not only did they prove to be godfathers of punk (which really took shape soon after they broke-up), but both of their studio albums are now considered classics. The debut gets written about far more often, but TOO MUCH TOO SOON is probably the better album. Everything is a touch better: songs, performances, and most of all the production.

This used to available as cheap but excellent sounding CD (mastered by Dennis Drake, a good, reliable engineer who does good work). That CD was tough to find in stores and now they stopped making it. Fortunately if you go to Hip-O Select's website (I posted a link earlier, but Amazon.com censored it), you'll find that it was re-issued in late July in a special edition! Some specialty stores also carry it, but it's easy to spot because it comes with a Lp style jacket instead of a jewel case. Unfortunately it's a limited edition (another crime), and only 5000 copies will be pressed period. I doubt Universal will do the right thing and bring back the old budget CD, so go to Hip-O Select or ask your local indie music store (chain stores won't order it) and order it before it's gone!

I love this album, not because of its stellar musicianship or sterling

production values, but because of its *attitude*: there's a party goin'

on, and guess who's there? David Johansen and his pals!

Let's get completely wasted! Let's dress in drag! Let's pull out my old

record collection and play a whacked-out version of "Stranded in the Jungle"!

Hey, everyone join in on the chorus! It just keeps getting weirder and more

wonderful as the night goes on. Then after everyone leaves, you can almost

imagine having to pick up the empty booze bottles and cigarettes ground into

the carpet, wondering "who were those people, anyway?"

A wonderfully demented confection, served with a healthy dose of humor.

I couldn't find this baby on disc and thought I'd never hear it until I unexpectedly received the record of it as a gift from my younger brother who surprisingly came across it. I don't own a record player so had to go over to a friend's who did have one. Once I got over there about a week after owning it, I plopped down on the floor and listened to the whole thing on my own, from start to finish, while staring at the ceiling.

When it got to the last song, 'Human Being' and that riff happens right after David Johansen yells '1, 2, 3, 4' I thought, 'well, even if this song starts to suck after this so-good opening, rock n' roll just doesn't get any better than this album. Did these guys sell their souls to the devil or something.' But then I remind myself that selling your soul to the devil doesn't have anything to do with just being really really good at something and the New York Dolls are just that: real real good.

Too Much Too Soon may be a bit better than their first effort; in fact, I think it is, if just barely. It moves from one song to the next without being disappointing on even one song (the only song that I questioned the production and mix of was 'Bad Detective,' which sounds better on the demo Hard Night's Day than it does here).

On Too Much Too Soon the New York Dolls seem gloriously unaware that they would cremate any other band on the universe who would dare take the stage after they rock n' rolled right off it. If you dig music that goes after it 100% while at the same time remains funny and uplifting amidst all those raunchy, aggressive and sloppy guitar licks, this one's for you.

While some might feel the album's title to be an apt description of the band's all-too-brief history, the album's contents are anything but the death throes of a band going through the motions. This is all the remarkable, considering that their chance of a major label record deal was scuppered by the tragic death of Billy Murcia nearly two years before this record was released, and their resultant notoriety (apparently) precluded any further major label interest.

Quite to the contrary, this album is positively inspired. From the choice of producer (Shadow Morton), to the choice of covers (Stranded In The Jungle, Showdown), to the songwriting and performance of the band themselves, this is a masterpiece that fulfilled the promise shown in their debut album. A lot more attention obviously went into songwriting (long guitar solos and unwieldy 5 minute epics are conspicuously absent), and the album as a whole sounds more coherent than its predecessor. Apart from the aforementioned covers, highlights include the punk mini-masterpieces "Who are The Mystery Girls?" and "Human Being", the bluesy blast of "Don't Start Me Talking", and Johnny Thunders singing on "Chatterbox" - but there isn't really a dud song on the album. Even my least favourite song on the album (Babylon) isn't actually that bad.

What really makes this album stand out is that the consistent high quality of the the album didn't impinge on their raw energy and passion, which married to their ear for a good tune and a good lyric, resulted in some of the most enduring and engaging rock'n'roll music of the era. The greater level of discipline shown on "Too Much, Too Soon" brought about a record that is a fitting testament to what was one of the great rock'n'roll bands.

Recommended? Sell your Mother....

This album seems to look backwards, I think. It has grating guitars, boogie rock'n'roll and rowdy vocals. However, it lacks the quality originals of the band's debut. This album lacks terrific tracks like "Private world", "Frankenstein" and "Trash". If you didn't like these three songs on their debut, then you may like this album more than me! How much you like this album depends on how much you like boogie rock, with grating guitars. Could see fans of bands like Status Quo enjoying this album more than I did. Album runs to 37:22 minutes in length.

The songs - in album order:

Babylon - maybe a little country boogie type song with laddish backing singing. One guitar is on the right hand channel and the other on the left hand channel.

Stranded in the jungle - nice drum tone/rhythm to the intro and alternative parts. Lead singer alternates his 'white' voice with a faux 'black man' voice. Has 1950s style rock'n'roll backing singing.

Who are the mystery girls - grinding guitar rock with rock'n'roll type music. Lead guitar and backing vocals.

(There's gonna be a) showdown - perhaps the best song on the album. A 1950s style song with a touch of 1960s girl group type material...think "Leader of the pack" but with a 'dance-off' theme instead of mayhem. Sorta catchy singing with attitude.

It's too late - nice drum intro and harmonica. Bassy. Screechy guitars. Harmonica features later too. Think my notes suggest that this song reminds me of tracks like Kevin Borich's "Gonna see my baby tonight" (The La De Das) and "Alone with you tonight" by The Sunnyboys. Both acts are from Australia or New Zealand...the former song pre-dated this NYD track. It's the lead guitar on this track which reminds me of The La De Das song.

Puss 'n' boots - boogie riff with grating guitar at times. Backing vocals are of the surf music variety. Has gospel elements at times too, as far as the female backing singers go.

Chatterbox - jarring sound to this boogie riff. There's a passage in this song which reminds me of The Rolling Stones' "Brown sugar", I think. Bass guitar melody is familiar too, but I can't place it. I like this bass line in any case. Features the lyric "ring my bell".

Bad detective - has an interesting Oriental flavour to it. 1950s style scat backing vocals. A song with a narrative.

Don't start me talkin' - piano and harmonica feature. 1950s style rockabilly with a chugga-chugga rhythm...there's that Elvis song about a train...forget what it's called...maybe similar kind of vibe to it. A honky tonk boogie piece. Features brass instruments, I think.

Human being - 5:44 minutes in length. 1950s style rock'n'roll with a punk guitar sound. Boogie rock with brass instruments and sax or such like. Dual guitar riffing with sometimes one guitar playing lead and this being heard on the right hand channel.

Recommendations:

New York Dolls - New York Dolls. A terrific album from the last song on the A side to pretty much the entire B side. Has their best songs in "Frankensteing", "Private world" and "Trash". Reviewed here. Scored it 77.5/100 at this site.

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F. After the New York Dolls wound up, guitarist Johnny Thunders made this terrific album with his new band. Gave it a score of 85/100 at this site.