New York Dolls

You might call them glam based on their aesthetics, but damn, this is a hardcore rock album. It’s packed with cool 60s throwback piano hooks and killer guitar solos. This is a badass debut that comes roaring right out of the gate—grimy, raw, and completely in-your-face. You can hear its DNA all over later punk and garage-hardcore bands like The Candy Snatchers, Big Bobby & The Nightcaps, and Nashville Pussy. Utterly youthful and unapologetically rebellious.

Much stronger than I expected, and a lot stronger than some of the "I'm cool because I like this" picks on the list. You can hear how the Sex Pistols just imported their style and sang about British punk things. The guitar playing is really good. Not really my kind of music, but I'm impressed. On the other hand, it feels like they were not that innovative. I mean, other than the glam, isn't this just MC5?

Eh... It's ok proto punk. Songs aren't super memorable. Like a less good version of Kiss or Richard Hell. Guess they came first though so yeah...

It’s iconic for a reason. Kicks of with Personality Crisis and never lets up. At times the songs sound like second rate stones but that rates pretty good to me

This album cover is so 70s ragebait, cause the music sounds like early David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Within the context of prog rock, I like how unserious it is. But I've heard this sound already so it doesn't pack as much of a punch as I wish that album cover must have done in the 70s.

This was disappointing. Based on the genre, era, and album cover, I thought this'd be great. But hardly a standout in the bunch. I did quite enjoy "Lonely Planet Boy" which gave me Kinks vibes. 2.5/2.75

this was fun, the doll fathers of punk!

Good rock energy

Es ist ein herrlich verwilderter Startschuss für alles, was später Punk, Glam und sleaze‑iger Rock’n’Roll werden sollte. Die Band stolpert, stolziert und explodiert durch diese Songs, als gäbe es kein Morgen – roh, schmutzig, aber voller Charme. „Personality Crisis“ ist ein sofortiger Klassiker, „Trash“ ein melodischer Straßenköter mit Herz. Das Album ist nicht makellos, aber genau diese Unfertigkeit macht seinen Reiz aus. Ein frühes, grelles Juwel des Chaos.

I kinda wish I’d like this. But meh mostly.

Glammy pronto-punk that is a glorious, and sometimes hilarious, mess.

Really interesting music. Sounded much more modern than I anticipated. Easy to listen to and easy to enjoy

It’s good. Definitely that punk precursor. Sometimes it fades away more into classic rock and it loses me a bit there. I wish it was sleazier sometimes.

Enjoyed

Eh

This is not for me. I'm immediately not interested in this style of punk singing that feels like Mick Jagger, all off-key and forced. Aside from that, I keep finding fault in the mixing - it's all just a bit messy. I have certain base-line expectations from an album, and not matter how iconic I might be told it is, sometimes we've just moved on and I can't get much out of it in 2026. Trash is fun but also... mixed like a dog's breakfast.

6/10

afw

This band may have been more famous for the way they dressed and their makeup instead of their music

NY Dolls were massive! The forefathers of punk, glam rock, big hair .. gritty sound - all of this happening in 1971 !?

This is "cool" when you are young and before technology took over. It's full of energy, surprises, and a deep sense of belonging to something underground. You didn't know what all was out there but when you found it - wow!

The first band I remember hearing of before actually hearing them. And when I finally heard them - you better believe I was in love L-U-V. Sure it's trashy Stones with a side of Shangri-Las and sloppy helping of Bo Diddley. Don't hate them because they are having a better time than you are. An album that got me out of bed in high school and still sounds awesome - credit to Todd Rundgren for capturing a moment and corralling these boys before they self destructed and splintered across the rock n roll universe. 6 stars.

Ah, the massively hyped New York Dolls. I guess you had to be there at the time to feel any innovation and shock. I can only trust how much influence they have been credited with.

Highly influential glammy proto punk, all scruffy around the edges. These misfits had lots of energy and must have had fun making this record. Ahead of its time and was to become part of the blueprint for the emerging punk counter-culture of the 70's. Great stuff.

Sure, this album isn’t that good. But without this album the world would never have gotten the incredibly important albums that it led to that forever changed popular music. Namely, 1987’s Buster Poindexter, 1989’s Buster Goes Berserk, 1994’s Buster's Happy Hour and 1997’s Buster's Spanish Rocketship. Without this album, novelty salsa/jump blues songs and the portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged would have never been the same.

Didn't feel glamourous enough to be good glam rock. Just not my cup of tea

There's lipstick on the collar of this record and cigarette burns in the carpet. It's gutter glamour, trashy and proud. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Personality Crisis - Looking for a Kiss - Trash

Reminds me of The Clash or the Ramones, perhaps a bit more punk? Eh? It’s ok. Didn’t really feel like listening to this today. (3)

Proto-punk, I suppose? Very raw. The music was OK, but the lead singer made my ears tired.

This was such a fun album. I knew them but didn't know them and not sure I have enjoyed something this much in a long while.

The is one is fun.

Ok cool I gotta listen to an album that inspired actually good albums instead of the actually good albums.

It’s good to great rock and roll. Just a bit too campy and tongue in cheek for me.

Curious that New York Dolls are not as famous as Ramones. Maybe it's the lack of good songwriting. Pills is pretty good. Also weird how present Buster Pointdexter was in late 80s pop culture.

Never listened to these guys and I can appreciate this as a precursor to a lot of scuzzy stuff that followed. Added to my library and I'll probably revisit. 3.49 stars.

Back during Napster's freewheeling heyday, I got my first real taste of the New York Dolls by downloading MP3s of "Personality Crisis" (loved it), "Trash" (ditto), and "Looking for a Kiss" (thought it was fine). Then I had my mind blown learning the singer was the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged and was responsible for that terrible/catchy "Feelin' Hot Hot Hot" song. This album is a lot of fun—adding "Subway Train" to my favorites—and these dudes clearly knew how to have a good time. 4.5 stars.

Ok. Would've adored this in 1973, when I was 1

Fun album. Certainly deserves it place on the list as its pre Ramones, The Damned, KISS etc. 3/5.

Decent

👠💋💄🌃🚇

This was great!

I like the idea of the dolls more than the practice of the dolls

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Like a messier Rolling Stones.

3,5 Highlights: Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss

Great example of why context matters. Had this been a 1983 album, the New York Dolls would just be another average punk-ish act among many others. But as a 1973 album, this is surprisingly modern and ahead of its time. Despite being still mired in the glam / proto-hard rock scene, it's also the blueprint for the punk movement. All the building blocks are here, from the simplistic but efficient instrumentals to the provocative attitude and cheerful silliness. It probably tooks real balls to dress like that on stage in 1973, when most rock bands were all about being über-manly men. It has aged well despite its flaws, and their influence is undeniable. It's not necessarily something I'd come back to, but that's only because I know what came after them. Had I been born in 1960, I would probably be a huge fan. I was going for a 3* at first, but I had so much fun listening that I guess I can bump them up a little bit. 6+1/10

Ha ha ha… I only knew them by name and imagery. Turns out it’s basically just rock ’n’ roll, but fun and genuinely exciting, with a surprisingly punk and masculine voice. The whole thing reeks of not taking itself seriously with vocal and musical dissonance, stupid lyrics, and overall it just made me laugh. There’s something gloriously dumb and chaotic about it. And you can seriously smell punk coming from a mile away.

Not bad. Enjoyable rock sound.

I don't like it. I feel dirty just having listened to it.

Overall: 8/10 Glam rock that borders on punk at times, this is a really fun album. I love the whole drag thing they have going on and these songs rock harder than I ever expected. Gonna be looking out for this one to buy on vinyl. Fav Song: Trash

A foundational album for punk but kind of a rough draft too

Punk rock ish

Glam-drag rock

You know what… this is a fun record, and even if it is kind of a drunken mess, a bunch of drunken cross dressers are supposed to sound like a fun drunken mess. Musically it’s a preview of the Ramones, and spiritually it’s a preview of Motley Cru and the like.

Thought it was going to be a 4 but didn't enjoy it all that much. Still, very influential, clearly!

I like the dolls and totally respect the influence they had on music from this era and afterwards. I've just never been able to really get into the band. Not bad, but just not great either.

Nice and punchy but nothing memorable

Fun, early punk. Didn't have a deep impact but liked it

Cool album. Doesn’t sound groundbreaking to me now, because we are so far removed from the time. Still sounds good though.

If it just came down to composition, there's an argument that New York Dolls are as much a rock band as they are a punk band. But just listen to those performances, look at that aesthetic. In all other ways, New York Dolls *ooze* punk. The songs *are* still great though. The lyrics are snotty and sarcastic, the vocals are surprisingly intense, and the structure is an early form of punk's ultra catchy, deconstructed rock. Also fascinating is how the members of New York Dolls seem to (by their own description) all be straight, but from what I know about them, it seems like they slotted into New York queer culture in an incredibly genuine way that I just have to respect. But yeah, it's sick proto punk, with great songs, great vibes, and oozing style, if you are gonna like this, you probably already know by this point.

I did not like it at all. It sounds like the Rolling Stones if the Rolling Stones were even worse than they already are.

It's wild having never heard this album but having heard many punk rock albums/songs that came after it -- I can only imagine how inspirational and revolutionary this must have sounded at the time. I love the 'fuck you' move of shooting their album cover in drag. I would've thought they were cool as hell if I was a teen when this came out. Not sure how much I'll return but Personality Crisis is pretty sticky

This is what I thought punk was before I started listening to all the punk on this list. This is the music that made me think I liked punk. More of this please.

I'm happy I was forced to listen to this for historical value, I'm happy The Smiths had the New York Dolls. Would I put it on again? probably not.

Fundamental, así de simple. Pioneros y geniales. Un disco esencial en la música, por calidad, por imagen y por todo lo que significó. Personality crisis y Trash deberían estar en cualquier listado de reproducción. Subway Train es otra joya, los Burning la habrán escuchado miles de veces.

Fun enough

This has been a fun album. Frankenstein was good. I thought maybe I had gotten one of these guys albums before but I guess not. I like the punk sound. It's like punk but also kind of like glam rock. I like the album cover they're all in drag lol. Good energy through out. 4 stars. This last track Jet Boy, I thought they were saying Devil Stole my baby lol

Trash.

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Musically, it's kind of standard 70s rock/early punk. It's not really anything overly special or interesting. It is good, but it doesn't really stand out to me. I feel like their counterculture shock value is a big reason why they appear on this list, imo. None of their songs really stand out in a listen-through either. I had to go back through the album to try and find a favorite, and I felt like I *had* to pick one, so I just chose one that I knew was good throughout. I wish I could say that I thought it was more than just kind of mid, though. Favorite Song(s): Looking for a Kiss

behalve die ene trage, vond ik dit album best te pruimen... eigenlijk een 3,5 sterren

Great album, although not perfect, full of great tunes but also a couple of fillers. Still, it deserves five stars because its historical importance as a bridge between proto-punk (Velvet Unerground, Stooges) and Ramones and the rest of the CBGB crew.

I really liked this one. Wasn’t at all what I expected. Definitely going to have a few more listens.

Godfathers of punk. Better than you would expect given the name/look.

I bought this during a short lived punk phase, mostly fuelled by a new found love of The Clash. Its not The Clash but its fun pop music. played well and with some attitude thrown in. At the tike it was probably very edgy but now it sounds quite sweet.

Kinda got old fast, but can understand/appreciate its contribution towards the popularity of hard rock and punk rock.

I expected to enjoy this but it landed well above that bar. You can hear the commonality of the Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads in the sound while nothing sounds like any of them. It's more that you can hear that scene they were all germinating in even though they went in such different directions.

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I can hear in this music plenty of other groups: Rolling Stones, KISS, Ramones, on and on. I think the NY Dolls were quite beloved and influential, certainly ahead of their time, and are a bit of a hidden gem. Really enjoyed this one! Overall probably 4.25/5 but going to rate up

An enjoyable listen, i had a good time with it. It seems quite prophetic for what would rock music turn into in the following decade(s). Personally, I wish they would have honed in harder on the punk-sound, but I appreciate how much of hair metal and glam rock is in here. I was really into the first half of the album, but it lost some steam during the second half. A bit more variety wouldn’t have hurt. The great songs on here - I especially enjoyed Trash, Identity Crisis and Frankenstein - work very well, but ultimately don’t really come together as an album experience.

Great tunes, slightly less great vocals, it was lost on me at the time, but hugely influential if I'm not very much mistaken...

I liked this, it has a proto-punk feel to it. It's got an unapologetic, in-your-face attitude. Not quite the same sound as punk (the Ramones wouldn't release their first album for another couple years) but it feels like it's close to getting there. Fun album

A pretty fun album. Not just punk, glam and garage sounds too

Straight up, Stones-y rock and roll and fun as hell. I'm not that enamored of the vocals - they're a little mushy-mouthed - but maybe they will grow on me! Happy to finally understand something about Johnny Thunder.

This album rocked! Really interesting style that I found myself jamming to and enjoying throughout. I don't think I have ever heard of them before which surprised me because this record is full of awesome tracks. Big fan. Favourites: Vietnamese Baby Lonely Planet Boy Pills

Personality Crisis - 4/5 Looking for a Kiss - 4/5 Vietnamese Baby - 4/5 Lonely Planet Boy - 3.5/5 Frankenstein (Orig.) - 4/5 Trash - 4/5 Bad Girl - 4/5 Subway Train - 4/5 Pills - 4/5 Private World - 3.5/5 Jet Boy - 4/5 Interesting to see how American punk and also glam rock seemed to have stemmed from these guys. And also whatever came out of the New York punk scene as well, there's bits and pieces of multiple bands and genres all around here. Thankfully it wasn't all the same, as they varied it up enough for it to not be monotone throughout. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Personality Crisis, Jet Boy

Nothing gets me more enthusiastic than hearing glam rock build towards punk, or post-punk turn into new wave (à la Talking Heads, not the synth pop version). 1967-1977 might be the best decade in rock & roll history, and this period when glam rock was really peaking on the early 70s might have been the most fun part. There's a lot of post-punk in the world, but I kinda wish we had more pre-punk. The Stooges and The Dolls were really cooking in this era and, while I'd sure there are bands still making music that's nostalgic for this era, it's a shame there's no specific "pre-punk" sub-genre I can mine for bands that are doing this niche thing I like.

Very noisy, but not as abrasive as a lot of the punk albums on this list. At least it had the appearance of being music

An interesting album. I hear it's influence in every punk album after.

Pretty great album. Personality crisis is infinitely influential and iconic. My primary beef is, is this "punk"? Or "glam" and if so. We gotta clear up the history on this record because to me this is just an aggressive david bowie. But all resources show this to be a proto punk/maintream punk album. I have my doubts. 3 ⭐️ for unclear history.

Listening to Rock & Roll from this era really highlights how close it was to Country. This is an acquired taste, and while initially interesting it rapidly reveals itself to be extremely boring.

Trop rock 2.5

Sounds almost like proto-hair metal

This is some good high energy fun. If it were released now I’d probably give it four stars. But it was released in 1973! The roots of punk. And fearless gender nonconformity. Trail Blazers. Also want to send out personal thanks for David Johansen- used to go watch him live on the regular when he was performing as Buster Poindexter. What joy he brought to the world. RIP

Every song sounds the same and they repeat the same words over and over

Punk and rock mix - this was new to me and i was open to it. An enjoyable list of songs that had uniqueness and a club vibe.

I don’t think this album works in a vacuum. I think The New York Dolls needed to be seen to experience the band fully. To whomever reads this, there is a great documentary about bass player Arthur Killer Kane. It’s called New York Doll and you need to watch it yesterday.

I had higher hopes - in the end sort of meh. 3/5

I didn’t like this and I hated the vocals. The last track was the high point.

Album : 11/1089 Songs known going in : 0 / 11 Favourite song : Trash Cover Art : Nothing mind knowing the person to the right really looks like Michael Cera. Rating : 2/5 Notes : Personality crisis feels quite generic for the type of music. Its like classic punk mixed with slade and I'm not entirely sure that's something I'd want to be associated with. I love what the dolls stand for and how they brought the androgynous look that shaped glam rock styles. I can see how this influenced many band that I love. The more chill vibes in lonely planet boy compliments his voice more in my opinonion. Still more of a background chill than an upfront Frankenstein is a bit more what I was after. I can respect what came before me without particularly liking most of it. I struggle to find it interesting