Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Proto-punk is my jam.
This album is just awesome. Someone recommended it to me a number of years back, because I had never heard it. It was love on first listen. Way ahead of its time.
What a banger! I really enjoyed this record. A bit crazy but that’s what I love!
Banger proto-punk, a good few years before the punk movement actually takes off, but sounds just like it. RIP to the lead singer who apparently passed just a month or two ago. Ahead of it's time and likely influenced one of the most important movements in music history.
The New York Dolls invented punk, before it was called punk. They combined Bowie's glam rock, the Stooge's brash attitude, and pushed it towards the Rolling Stones' style of bluesy rock. The result was an amazing mixture that predated punk and glam metal by creating the first draft of both. The band's self-title debut may be the best work of their short - but incredibly influential - career. The band only released two albums in the 70s, and regrouped in the aughts to release new music. This album captures the raw energy of a great, experimental young band.
I wish I had listened to this in the 70's. I would have cranked this on the stereo just to annoy my parents if nothing else. Still good now so 5 stars or A-.
yeah this is fucking awesome. how on earth did this come out in 1973 and why did it take so long for us to get more stuff like it. the lead in the air really fucked everything up didn't it? i listened to it like 5x before i turned it off
I mean, it is the New York Dolls
I was at a 4.5 on this, but as I look though my ratings, I like it as well as some of my 5s, so I'm gonna bump it up. Just some great sloppy glam punk. "Personality Crisis", "Trash", "Vietnamese Baby", and "Lonely Planet Boy" are all great and nothing it really bad here. 5 stars.
Oh, this is so good!
I can't believe I missed this album when it was posted a couple weeks ago. Its a classic. While its not a 5 star album based on the music, it deserves the rating it was so incredibly original and influential.
All albums will be 1, 3 or 5 stars, with no further commentary or explanation given. Played via streaming, first time listen.
I've known about this band my whole life but I never listened to them. I feel like I'm hearing KISS, Twisted Sister and all my other favorite hair metal bands from the 80's. This album cover really has it all. Platform boots, roller skates, platform clogs. As a young boy in the 70's I really liked the fashion, I had a great pair of corduroy bell bottom pants. When the times were groovy.
A perfect proto punk album
A true point of inflection in alt rock. This album has been so influential for many generations. It still sounds current and transgressive.
One of the greatest albums ever made, from one of the greatest bands that ever lived. More punk than Punk; more glam than Glam. If I had to pick a favourite track, it might just be Jet Boy. Fun with a capital UH.
Love everything about this, the aesthetic, the sound, the lyrics, the voice. Absolutely everything about this is a 5/5
Well, that was fun!
Love it, Trash is a song that has specific good memories for me!
Great example of this musical genre.
flash, trashy, vibrant and fabulous
Aww fuck yeah! L-U-V 5/5
This is great rock-'n'-roll. 5
totally classic album
This album has an fantastic sense of fun about it - I can fully believe Sylvain Sylvain's view that producer Rundgren captured their live feel. Despite being labelled 'Mock Rock' by a UK TV presenter back in the day, this is a fine debut album that had a great influence on subsequent punk acts, especially those of New York. From the opening track onwards there's a huge energy rush in this album, in large part due to David Johansen's enthusiastic singing. Luv the album.
Fun album that paved the way for so many of my favorite bands. I don't enjoy it on the 5 star level but it's too important not to assign it a 5.
New York Dolls (and their producer The Runt) delivered proto-punk in the early 1970s rivaled only by The Stooges. Raunchier than the Stones, looser than the Ramones, and louder than just about everyone. Absolutely required listening for any fan of garage, punk, or post-punk.
Punk is just too fun to score low.
5 Great album 👍🏻
I'll never forget hearing this record for the first time. I'd been reading Please Kill Me, and I played this over and over in the house in the gulch with the dogs running around and the outbuilding full of rotting trash. Frankenstein is a bit plodding, but everything else on here is absolutely stellar. The back half is fantastic. David Johansen is making excellent folk music these days, by the way. It's better than Buster Poindexter, even. Anyway, classic slab of trashy proto-punk sleaze rock here. Lurve.
Everyone is saying how influential this album was. I'm sure they're right. It's also a great album.
Very nice!
Reminds me a lot of the Stones, just punkier
Pretty damn near perfect especially for the time.
# Playlist track - Personality Crisis # Notes - The first impression is really... something. The punk vibes, the weird outfits, the piano blaring along. Cool. - Top notch punk! 6/7
This New York Doll (🏳️⚧️) is a newfound fan of New York Dolls (🤘🏻)
Raucous, sleazy, fun, and energetic glammy garage rock that set the stage for punk to launch. Great riffs from the legendary Johnny Thunders and David Joahanssen up front brings an inspired trashy energy to the vocal delivery and whole band. Just a top notch record all around with a persevering influence.
I can see his influential this album was
Харош
This album was awesome.
4.5/5 You can feel the influence this album still has on music today. This was your favorite band's favorite album. Bridges the gap between 60s rock and punk fantastically with a view into a NYC that doesn't exist anymore. Definitely a must listen.
TRAAIIISH!
I like to think that at least sometimes I have fairly intellectual takes about albums on here. I try to do some research to get the context and see what they might've been getting at. Sometimes though something just hits in a way that I can't really explain. This is that. This album is super gritty, fairly simple, not particularly impressive musically, and I loved it. Basically every song just worked for me, and now I'm listening to it again and it's still working. I don't quite get it, I don't expect the community rating to be all that high, but it's just great. The band gives strong Velvet Underground vibes, which is probably at least partly what I like about it. This came a little later than peak Velvets, so it seems like they were pretty influenced by them, and it's very obviously coming from the same NYC base that the Velvets are. I'm not really convinced any of these guys are great musicians, but somehow put them together and it works. A few major thoughts. It seems like one could reasonably tie the New York Dolls to the beginning of both punk rock and glam rock. It's hard to pin genre beginnings to any band, but this feels reasonable to me (it came out like 4 years before "Marquee Moon", which is another album that's considered to be foundational punk). Musically it definitely has some glam rock elements too though, and certainly that's what they were going for with their look (which seemed to be big hair and makeup and whatnot). This album is just also an awesome portrait of New York City in the '70s. It feels gritty, and the city was definitely gritty at that time. This feels like a pretty good encapsulation of what I imagine things were like in the city in the '70s. This is an aside, but the urbanist in me can't help it. There's so many cliche rock songs about cars, everyone can't stop singing about cars. The Dolls sang a whole song about the "Subway Train" on this album though, and while it's not the most beautiful portrait, I salute them for their support of public transit. I've seen some reviews saying these guys were just a bad version of the Rolling Stones or whatever. I don't know, I think sometimes it's bad to overanalyze things. I liked this a lot. I'm glad it exists, no notes. Favorite song: Lonely Planet Boy Other: Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss, Frankenstein, Trash, Bad Girl, Subway Train, Private World, Jet Boy 2/7/24
I don’t know why I’ve never taken the time to listen to this glowering, glittering, gobsmackingly grand record. It’s more glam than Ziggy Stardust. It’s more punk than The Stooges. It’s more 70s NYC than The Velvet Underground. TIL that David Johansen is the last surviving New York Doll. Fascinating.
These guys were certainly there at the beginning. Sounds like Rocky Horror now (in a good way).
I love the messy but very moving music & energy of the Dolls. Sometimes they bring to mind Jim Carroll. Altogether I really liked their sound. Wish they had lived/played together longer
Perfection. This is somewhere between punk, glam, and metal and kills it however you choose to categorize it.
This has everything I love about punk rock but with better guitar licks. It was so much fun. There's something to be said for joyful, nihilistic abandon on a rock album and this has it in spades. Loved every minute of it.
"New York Dolls" is the debut album by American rock band New York Dolls. Hard rock, proto-punk, glam rock and punk rock. An apt description is "a mix of carefree rock and roll, influences from Brill Building (60's pop subgenre) pop and campy sensibilities." The album was produced by Todd Rungren and the bandmembers on this album included David Johansen (vocals), Johnny Thunders (guitar, vocals), Sylvain Sylvain (piano, rhythm guitar, vocals), Arthur Kane (bass) and Jerry Nolan (drums). They appeared on the cover in drag purely for shock value at the time. The album did not do well commercially but had wide-spread critical acclaim and is considered one of the best debut albums of all-time. A searing guitar, Johansen screaming and we're off to a rip-roarin' start in "Personality Crisis." Dual guitars, a boogie-woogie piano. About people who are controlled by culture. A gong opens "Vietnamese Baby." More driving guitars and a searing guitar solo along with other musical chaos at the end. The impact of the Vietnam War on everyday life. "Frankenstein" has a dramatic musical entrance. A sax is added. A busy song and sounded a lot like Roxy Music which is a good thing. The second side begins with "Trash." This has more of 60's pop sound mixed with punk. A low-life love story. The only cover they do is Bo Diddley's "Pills." A harmonica and vocal harmonies. They take this in a punk blues direction. A guitar solo, stomping/handclaps and we're into "Jet Boy." Dual guitar solos. This is more hard rock. The so high Jet Boy stole his baby. Is Jet Boy Johnny Thunders? This is a great album. The layered guitars, sometimes absolutely great guitars. Johansen's interesting lyrics and delivery...sometimes very punk. Punk pop, hard rock and a tilt towards 60's pop songs with the melody. It's very influential as I hear their music in The Ramones and punk in general and glam rock. One to hear.
When I say I'm in love with this album, you best believe I'm in love! L-U-V!
Musically the entire album is about a 4 if you disregard the year this came out. While I think this is built off the Stooges sound, I think it's still quite original especially for the time. Therefore I give the bump to a 5.
Fun, proto punk glam! My buddies played this for me my freshman year of high school and it definitely helped influence a path toward punk rock and hardcore. Some good party tracks on here!
It's a good to great album. But it's even more important than it is great, the NY punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s would not exist the way it did without the Dolls. And Trash is such a banger.
Glam is glam!
Yep. Dis Good. More good please.
A near perfect debut and the crucial link between the Stooges and everything NY & London that was soon to come. The songwriting is exceptional, especially considering where these guys came from. The blend of 60's pop with a sort've trashy, unrefined Stones feel in overdrive is genius. Holds up better than much of what happened musically in the late 60's/early 70's.
One of the best albums I’ve listened to on here, had me bumpin.
One of the best debut albums ever. Guitar rock as guitar rock should sound. I like it for exactly the same reason as the debut album of the Ramones - the songs are a bit longer and slower, but the sixties pop influences are very similar.
Now this is more like it! rock and roll! woo-hoo! I so enjoyed this record. it's raw, and dangerous, and rock and roll, and funny, and offensive, and everything I want from a rock and roll record. It has dead-set classic songs (Personality Crisis, Trash, Looking for a Kiss), some songs I already loved (Subway Train), and few that I am now just learning to love (Bad Girl, Frankenstein). Loved this record. Play it real loud!
I was familiar with several tracks, but I doubt I've sat down and listened to this whole album all at once before. Classic, seminal, brash. The sound, the look. Massively influential, and fun to listen to or thrash dance pogo around to. Rock and roll, baby!
cool
Yes yes yes
One of my all time favourite albums. Ground Zero for a lot of the punk, new wave and hair metal to follow
According to the Apple music blurb: "The Dolls were a sleazier Stones in eye liner." Sounds about right. 5 stars.
Cracking album. Changed the way people looked and music and helped spawn a whole genre.
One of the main influences in early punk bands and hair metal bands, this album ran so others like "Nevermind the Bollocks" by Sex Pistols and "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns n Roses could takeover their scene. Some great riffs on the album and you can see where other bands have taken influence from them. There's a couple of songs that don't make as much of a mark as others but my only complaint is that they were apparently a massive influence on Morrissey, and I fucking hate Morrissey 😅
This album is an incredibly influential one. The aggression and energy in most of the songs would influence punk in the next few years. The bands look would be a major influence on hair bands. Every song is great and still hold up. The album is very striking it really gets your attention. It makes you think what the band will sound like. I’m sure people then were surprised looking at guys who dressed that way, then listened to the album and heard the deep voice of David Johanssen.
Rokkaa niin pirusti ja meno vitun punk! 5/5
Perfect loose RnR!
Protopunk that plays more like the Stones through a glam filter.
Excellent
This album is a lot of fun. Raucous, trashy proto-punk that never gets old. The music is rough edged and fall-down-the-stairs messy, but served up with humor and sass. The Dolls were destined not to last very long, but wow, what an impression they made. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Trash, Jet Boy, Subway Train, Private World, Vietnamese Baby, Looking for a Kiss, Personality Crisis, Pills, Bad Girl, Lonely Planet Boy, Frankenstein
Whether or not this is ground zero for punk rock is largely irrelevant. What the Dolls accomplish on this record is a youthful exuberance which threatened to change pop music in a very dangerous way. As a diehard (yet reluctant) Morrissey fan, my exposure to the band came largely as a result of the latter's passion for their music. In the mind of one of pop music's most literate voices, this is the pinnacle. The songs are rammed with memorable hooks thanks to Johnny Thunders' ear for a melody, and David Johansen's flamboyant snarl obliterated the boundaries of 'taste' for the next several decades. They were a band ultimately blighted by misfortune, and Todd Rundgren's less than flattering production slightly dulls some of the energy of certain tracks. But this is a bonafide classic - from 'Trash' to 'Subway Train', this is all killer no filler. Enough with the banalities already, it's a five star masterpiece.
Hell yeah. Glam rock me.
Very good, surprisingly cheeky for being smiths inspo
The archaeopteryx of rock. Like how the paradigm-smashing fossil established the evolutionary connection between the dinosaurs and the birds, the New York Dolls are the missing link between so much of 70s rock. Along with the hard rock instrumentation, the most obvious strand to their DNA is glam: just look at the cover. But this is not the elegant, new aristocracy glam of Bowie and Roxy Music, but a base, trashy glam of crassness, crapulence and good bad taste. This trash glam had its cohorts in Jayne County and its progeny in the Cramps and, later, hair metal (Guns N Roses covered the Dolls' Human Being on "The Spaghetti Incident?"?. But combine that trash glam with short, fast, raucous and devilish music, and the resultant mutation is late 70s punk rock (Malcolm McLaren managed the New York Dolls for a short while, ludicrously trying to give the Dolls a communist image). This punk link has led many acts, particularly British ones, to cite the Dolls on the educational section of their CVs. Indeed, the New York Dolls are Morrissey's favourite band, and he once wrote a fan history of the group and got the surviving members to reunite at a festival he was curating. Yet the New York Dolls' bluesiness shows that the main forefathers of the Dolls were the Rolling Stones, and David Johansen's cockwalk is a straight lift from Mick Jagger's peacock strut. Extrapolating their influences further, plenty of the New York Dolls' oeuvre reveals an iron connection to 60s garage rock (the genre-defining garage rock compilation Nuggets came out in 1972). In any case, like the archaeopteryx, the New York Dolls also had a few feathers. Still. historical importance is not the same as quality. Amalgamating so many trends in rock may just mean you don't fully satisfy anyone. Now, I like the New York Dolls, both the band and the album, but I need to digest before I can judge whether I find them filling. Well, let's start squirting some enzymes onto this bad boy. Firstly, the titles are brilliant. Personality Crisis, Looking for a Kiss, Trash, Bad Girl, Pills: those are exactly the names of the songs you want from a band looking like this. You don't put on this record expecting a soundtrack to acupuncture at the spa, you want to hear this while you score (a line or a fuck) in the most mould-encrusted bathroom imaginable. So, on the first front, the New York Dolls win that battle. But the war, as I see it, shall be fought on two fronts: whether the music is good and whether the aesthetic is worthwhile. I know I'm being cautious in my assessment, because I love many of the songs on here, and I love the sleaze of the New York Dolls. I love the idea that the trash, the bums, the losers are the ones having the most fun, with their sucking dick to get some green to blow on Chinese rocks (and yes, I understand the reality is not quite so gleeful). Hell, I prefer the New York Dolls to the Ramones; it's safe, conservative even, to like the Ramones. You don't even need to listen to them, you can just buy the t-shirt. At least the New York Dolls aren't quite so corporate. With hindsight, it's evident that the New York Dolls could only produce at most two albums at their peak. Their stance was not conducive to a sustained career, they were too troubled, the limitations of their skills at the time would have meant their style would have quickly become formulaic. That said, they only produced two albums at their peak, so such counterfactuals are moot. And I'm just reviewing one album here, which happens to be their best. Why am I dancing around instead of praising this album efflusively? Well, the most signifcant flaw to this album is the production. The producer was Todd Rundgren, who by his own admission was not simpatico with the New York Dolls or the juvenile punk movement. As such, the occasional song feels a tad underpowered, but not enough to devalue the songs themselves. But the main reason for my dithering goes back to that list at the beginning of what the New York Dolls were. Yes, they were a crucial fusion of glam, punk, bluesy rock and hard rock, but they were not the best at any of those genres. They were not the best glam group, duh, that was Bowie, with Roxy Music the clear silver medallists. They weren't the best punk groups (the Sex Pistols, who also did trash better), nor even the best American punk group (the Stooges). The best Rolling Stones ripoffs were probably still the Rolling Stones. They were not the hardest rocking band in hard rock, which surely discounts them from the title of best hard rock band. They were not the best New York band (although the standard answer is the Velvet Underground, I'll go for the wondrous Suicide). They weren't the most sordid band of the time (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, or is it technically Gary Glitter?). They weren't even the best band managed by Malcolm McLaren. You want some superlative to attach to the New York Dolls, but for any adjective you suggest, you can always think of a band who were just a little bit more. After all, does anyone have the archaeopteryx as their favourite dinosaur? Mine's the deinonychus. Still, brilliant album, so 5 stars for that. NoRadio, signing off.
Pre punk Glam Rock. Don't ya love the can of Schlitz in the cover art? This just makes me wanna get surly. Influenced so many bands. I just love this thing.
The New York Dolls. F*ing Rock and Roll baby.
A wonderfully punky glam-rock album that slaps hard! Really enjoyed this and will be coming back to it. Favourite: Trash
Fun love the guitar
One of the most influential and important bands of my music listening career. Paved the way for Glam, Punk, and Post-Punk.
One of the most powerful end revolutionary albums in the history of music where almost every track is a masterpiece and the others are also beautiful and where the music is as perfect as the ideas behind it. Fantastic record from the start to the finish!
Some foundational rock and roll there!
So many of the albums on this list are just there for context; like to say ’this was the first time such and such was done’ but on their own they are not good albums. It’s so good when one of these is super influential, but it still absolutely goes.
This is very enjoyable. A classic?
Crap! Why have I never listened to this? So much pure energy coming from this band. They could power Vegas for a few years.
Trash, don’t pick it up, take them lights away
Nice 70s rock vibes
Wasn't expecting this. Absolute rammer
Now this is more like it! rock and roll! woo-hoo! I so enjoyed this record. it's raw, and dangerous, and rock and roll, and funny, and offensive, and everything I want from a rock and roll record. It has dead-set classic songs (Personality Crisis, Trash, Looking for a Kiss), some songs I already loved (Subway Train), and few that I am now just learning to love (bad Girl, Frankenstein). Loved this record. play it real loud!
ну оказалось лучше чем я думал, даже мне как челу не рокеру зашло
mid-70's Big Hair Rock & Roll
HY!
Iconic, cool, and tradition-breaking Glam rock masterpiece.
10!
great stuff, great hair
Who knew Americans could do punk?
Listened twice
COOL GLAM
Good Garage Rock. It is interesting that this had such an influence on Punk and New Wave bands in both USA and Blighty
Was vaguely aware of the New York Dolls but great to have the opportunity to listen to this album. 1973! What a great inspiration this band must have been for the punk movement. Truly innovative.
Thoughts before listening: Dudes dressing up as ladies and playing glammy proto-punk. I know these guys were a big influence on the punk scene, but I haven't listened to this album before. Review: So while I probably haven't heard this album, I do know some of the songs. "Personality Crisis" kicks the album off, and is instantly recognizable. This sounds like Sticky Fingers/Exile era Stones and the Faces to me. Dirty, sloppy blues-based barroom rock played with a ton of attitude. There are other recognizable songs on here as well, some of which do turn the swagger down a bit to more of a scowl, falling more into what I'd consider proto-punk territory: "Looking for a Kiss", "Frankenstein", and "Trash" all fit in this category. All in all, I think the New York Dolls legacy is to take the popular rock sounds of their day with a little Rolling Stones/Faces blues swagger and some David Bowie/T Rex glam excesses and mix them into a slightly more menacing sound that heavily influenced the punk scene. This is a 4-star album.
It’s a classic. Glam punk precursor. I still enjoyed it. 4/5
Sleazy and fun throughout.
New York Dolls - New York Dolls 1973 The self-titled debut from the New York Dolls is a stellar slice of classic proto-punk that absolutely does not disappoint. The album shines through its brilliant, completely carefree production and raw, rebellious lyricism, proving exactly how far a band can go by pushing the sonic boundaries and emotional range of their instruments. It serves as a incredibly refreshing, high-energy listen from start to finish. Based on the track selections, the project boasts a wide array of definitive highlights that anchor its legendary status. Among these, "Personality Crisis" stands out as an ultimate, explosive centerpiece, matched by the sharp attitude of "Looking For A Kiss" and the surprisingly tender, melancholic swagger of "Lonely Planet Boy." The momentum is kept entirely alive by the rest of the standout cuts, including the driving rhythm of "Vietnamese Baby," the gritty stomp of "Trash," the unrelenting energy of "Bad Girl," the swaggering garage-rock of "Subway Train," and the final, raucous punches of "Private World" and "Jet Boy." 4/5
I was lucky enough to see the New York Dolls live back in 2004, supporting The White Stripes at Marlay Park in Dublin. Seeing Jack and Meg touring “Elephant” was incredible, but after the gig, we left talking almost as much about the Dolls, and how great they were. Sitting somewhere between T. Rex, Bowie, and Iggy, they were a glam proto-punk hybrid: like the Rolling Stones dragged through early 70s downtown New York in lipstick, heels, and leather. In a time increasingly drawn to polish, they were raw, raucous, funny, and loose, a clear warning shot for The Ramones and punk to come. Bowie reportedly said of their stage presence that they had “as much energy as six English bands”. That mix of glam musicality and punk chaos runs through the whole album, but it absolutely detonates on the opening track, “Personality Crisis”. There’s no easing into things, the Dolls kick the door down with crashing piano, loose guitars, swagger, and vocals pushing past human limits. David Johansen’s voice is exceptional here, going from sneer to howl to full scream, with moments that almost feel like an early blueprint for Frank Black. As opening tracks go, it’s hard to think of many that sum up a band’s entire personality so completely. The album cover does the same thing, before you even press play. Glam, punk, flashy, and trashy at the same time. Unapologetically leaning into their flamboyant fashion style by dressing in full drag as an act of confrontation. This is who they are, take it or leave it. Or as their record label marketed them: “Introducing the New York Dolls: A band you're gonna like, whether you like it or not”
As a big post-punk fan, I really enjoyed this album. While not every single track is an absolute masterpiece, it's a very strong record overall and just a lot of fun to listen to. A well-deserved 4/5.
Strong 3,5
Like a mix of the Rolling Stones and Kiss.
Finally something good
Way better than I expected, making me wonder why I'd never got round to this before. As well as the obvious proto-punk origins here, I'm happily hearing the (bad) seeds of Nick Cave throughout, and even some inspiration for the Go-Betweens.
rockzim normal né, nada demais. um salve a mais pela importância queer e influência em uma caraiada de banda de punk e glam!! alem disso a mixagem eh bem bacana. algumas musicas capturam bem o que seria um show deles!!
This was just an awesome rock and roll record. Attitude and raw and let’s face it. May not like their look but they inspired the whole 90 s hair metal thing. This was great music.
Punkier Stones. I dig.
Glam rock does it again. I'm quickly taking away that over overlooked this genre outside of bowie. This is hard and I think you can feel the undertones of late 70s NYC rock
This record got me by surprise, i was not expecting such an amazing album at all. I highly recomend giving this album a try if you like 70s punk rock and glam. Its a 3.7 out of 5 but i will go with 4 this tome
The obvious and swaggering rawness of the proto-punk hides the sneakily catchy quality of many of the songs. It can't be ignored that this was released in 1973 and inspired a stack of later greats with their brand of sneering attitude. This must've blown the minds of those ready at the time. Many of the groundbreaking records on this list suffer from the lost impact caused by the million imitators in their wake, and that's va factor here for sure, but it's still got an energy and songcraft that keeps it vital.
I've been looking forward to this one. I know I could listen to the New York Dolls any time that I want to, but I preferred to wait until this list gave the album to me. From hearing this debut, I would have thought it was recorded in the late 70's, not 1973. I can see how the music scene was not quite ready to embrace this sound and a band called "New York Dolls." The sound here treads the line between punk, glam rock and I even heard some Rolling Stones in here as well. It's a tough band to define. Personality Crisis may be the best song on the album, so it's only appropriate it leads off the album. I probably prefer other glam/punk bands to the New York Dolls but it's hard not to see their influence all over the music business in the next decade. I think what was most shocking to me about this debut is how accessible the music was. Usually when a band lives before its time, it is because the music is not accessible enough for a record company to sell it and later artists manage to make the sound more amenable to a record executive looking to sell albums and take credit for discovering the artist. A good example if Velvet Underground. Their music isn't entirely easy to love (and I don't personally love it), so it was a hard sell in the late 1960's. That is not the case here. The songs are good, the music is good, and it's not like the lyrical content is offensive or difficult to understand. Maybe it's the album cover for the band name that was the problem. If they called themselves "New York Punks" they would have been the Clash before the Clash were the Clash. My favorite songs: Personality Crisis Looking for a Kiss Vietnamese Baby Lonely Planet Boy Trash Pills Private World
un buen solido 4, llegando a 5
“I like albums that don’t aim too high and land perfectly”. Not bad at all.
This isn't a particularly great album, but I had fun listening to it. That's more than I can say for a lot of albums on this list.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/new-york-dolls/new-york-dolls/ This is very fun! Very vey fun! Also so influential for many current bands. Loses steam a bit because songs sound somewhat similar, but hey, no biggy if they're all this fun!
1. "Personality Crisis" 2. "Looking for a Kiss" 3. "Trash"
Groundbreaking and great fun.
Impressive
Thought this was pretty cool
This was good
Classic, fun, and rocking
I've heard of the New York Dolls but never listened to any of their music. Will listen again.
This rocks! This album features a lot of really great, fun songs. Even the songs that weren't initial standouts were still perfectly good. Pleased that I finally put New York Dolls into my ears.
Love the early punk sound.
Okey album good
man, this really hit today. reminded me how much i love 70s punk. still hard to believe it’s from 1973...
So ahead of their time without trying
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ - 4 stars
Very influential. They're good but better when you consider they were one of first in terms of music and fashion. Similar to the Ramones in that some songs sound like their 50s and 60s roots.
Extremely influential to punk and alternative music, this album feels like listening to a time capsule of early 70s music in a good way. I get heavy Rolling Stones vibes from listening to this album. Enjoyed listening.
awesome fun punk classic the first song, personality crisis, is really a highlight, and it sounds SOOOO similar to rocky horror, which came out in the same year. the rest of the album has less of this glam sound and is more punk, and reminds me of other punk bands who were clearly inspired by this album clearly a seminal album for punk rock - listening to it now, it sounds similar to a lot of other old punk music, but back when it was released (1973) none of that existed so it must have been CRAAAAAZY at the time also love their look. glam rock is awesome favourite song - personality crisis
Loose, raunchy, unhinged music which is ton of fun. I love the mixture of glam, proto punk and rock and roll. I can see why this debut album by New York Dolls was so influential on so many bands in the coming years, and was a catalysator for the punk scene. This was the final album (#1089) in my challenge which I started over 3 years ago in early 2023. It's been a ride and I've enjoyed every bit of it.
Seriously. What's more rock and roll than New York Dolls?
Solid rock
Fun album. It's really a 3 but giving it another 1 star due to their influence on punk and glam.
I like New York Dolls. I love their vibrant, messy, raunchy and powerful glam rock sound, so today felt like the perfect time to dive into their debut album. The album gets off to a brilliant start. The opening tracks are superb. Personality Crisis hits straight away with energy and attitude, and Looking for a Kiss is just as good, especially as it always takes me back to hearing it before Morrissey gigs on the video package. Then Lonely Planet Boy slows things down, showing a more vulnerable side and adding some real range. Side one is excellent. Side two is strong as well. I’ve always liked Morrissey’s version of Subway Train, but the Dolls’ original is better. Trash is another standout, full of attitude and energy. Overall, it’s just a very good album and a really enjoyable listen. Favourite tracks: Looking for a Kiss is brilliant and feels underrated when you think about great glam rock and proto-punk tracks. Trash is superb too Least favourite tracks: Every song is worth a listen Album artwork: I love the cover, messy and sleazy, just like the New York Dolls
Best geinig
Звучит крепко, надо будет переслушать.
A fun ride through early punk New York. Great energy, awesome lyrics. Stood the test of time? Yes
Super fun glam rock/punk rock album. A great example of an album that's casually listenable but has a lot of creative details the more you pay attention. Also seems to have been hugely influential, and I can see why.
Great old school punk! Love the dolls!
Very impressed by this one. It’s right up my alley and I’m surprised I went so long without ever hearing it. Very good.
Album #107 New York Dolls: New York Dolls Considering I am a pretty big fan of 70s glam rock, I really should have listened to this album already. It has long been on my radar, but I have sort of subconsciously put off listening to it, perhaps because it seemed too camp? Too androgynous? Can such accusations even be levelled against glam rock? As I suspected, my reservations were baseless, and this album is really quite great. It has all the smoothness of T. Rex, all the sensuality of Roxy Music, and even some of that signature Bowie spectral wonder. This album actually sort of reinforces in my mind that ‘Electric Warrior’ is actually the purest example of glam, because even though Ziggy Stardust is my personal favourite of the genre, and one of my top five favourite albums in general, Electric Warrior really did cement the sound of the 70s. So many riffs on this thing sound straight out of Bolan’s own guitar, though to be fair, it isn’t only 70s acts that are guilty of this, since Oasis also famously borrowed some of Bolan’s riffs themselves. New York Dolls may not have the purest glam sound, since they tend to get a little grittier than their peers, but they certainly do have the purest glam look. The album cover is quite striking and bold for a time when cross-dressing was still a serious taboo; it represents both the embracing of sexuality and an attempt at counter-culture, similar to Bowie’s ‘Aladdin Sane’ and Lou Reed’s ‘Transformer’. Though this album has not remained as culturally relevant as some of the other albums of the time, it’s influence was definitely felt in the succeeding generation of artists, particularly gay artists like Morrissey, who built a lot of his sound and aesthetics around them; when I attended a Morrissey show he actual had footage playing of the New York Dolls in the background. Overall, a definite classic and some great songs which will slide perfectly into my 70s playlists. Best Songs: Lonely Planet Boy, Personality Crisis, Subway Train Worst Song: Bad Girl Score out of 10: 8
Utdatert musikalsk sett, men masse pluss for å bane vei både musikalsk og mangfoldsmessig.
wonderful introduction to this sound. definitely want more similar albums to this one in the future.
cool!
This is #day586 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to another seminal proto-punk, aka glam punk, record from the early '70s. Because this is where it all starts, right? I mean, look at these gals on the cover. Pretty shocking for the time. I've always loved that pink lipstick against the grainy grey background. On the flipside, I'm not a huge fan of the vocals; they kind of sound a little like KISS to me. Otherwise, this is as punk as it can get. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day587.
It lies in the very nature of punk, garage, and rock ’n’ roll that every generation produces (and requires) its own heroes. Punk-adjacent guitar music - if we think of it more as an attitude toward making music than a strict genre - is immediate. Its relevance is like a meteorite: moving fast and fiercely, only to burn out in an instant, not seldom accompanied by the early demise of its protagonists. So it makes perfect sense to me that, for a long time, I only listened to the derivatives of the derivatives of the primal punk scream of the New York Dolls without really cherishing the “originals.” For a punk band; or their records; to become part of your DNA, you usually have to be there when it happens. That’s why I tend to see the self-titled debut of the New York Dolls as some kind of artefact… more of a holy grail than a record to spin when I’m angry, or when I want to remind myself of my careless, angsty youth. But that’s not to say the album isn’t impeccable. Because, well, it is. What’s remarkable is how its influence still lingers, continuously reincarnating itself in new circles again and again. If you like punk-based music, then - even if you’ve never consciously listened to the New York Dolls - you’ve heard them. Or rather: you’ve heard their ghosts in the strings of your favourite New York punk band. It won’t take long to figure out why that’s the case. Simply put, it’s because “The New York Dolls” f@*#ing rips! It’s at its best when the band fully succumbs to rawness and lets its unfiltered emotions soar.
This came at just the right moment. It's not big and probably not clever but a great fun slice of dirty rock n roll. Personality Crisis and Looking for a Kiss are great dollops of sleazy fun which are I was already familiar to me. Trash is a surprise new favourite.
Glam-jams with the hammiest personality ever
I already liked this record. Incredible and raw piece of influential rock. Fun and sleazy.
I perhaps don’t love it quite as much as I want to, but I still think it’s pretty great. There’s really not a bum song, but “Personality Crisis”, “Lonely Planet Boy”, “Trash”, “Subway Train”, “Pills”, and “Jet Boy” are favorites in particular. 4/5
First thought: Is this just Kiss? Jet Boy! Wow didn't expect to hear a familiar song on this album but this was a nice surprise to finish on. Overall I enjoyed the music and vibes.
Rockin glam Personality crisis Lonely planet boy Trash
gostosineo :DD
This was pure fun! I would have loved to see this band live back in the 70s. I'm a fan of the mix of proto-punk and glam rock, so this hit all the right marks for me.
Skvelý album. Vo svojej dobe to muselo byť veľké.
convincing drag with the lipstick writing. pink really pops against the bw photography. solid cover really enjoyed it. rips and surprisingly groovy
It's interesting as actually blends a few styles here. "Lonely Planet Boy" has no resemblance to typical punk rock yet others are not too dissimilar to say the Sex Pistols or similar. I do like this variation as ultimately you're getting a gritty experience which is what you expect from punk. Yes its a bit glitzy at times but on balance it has the desired gruff effect. Quite a revolutionary thing for the time and enjoy listing to this. I am conflicted on the scores as was between 3/4. Bottom line for me is this does inject a genuine punk energy and for that it should be commended.
Based on my research, here is an in-depth review of the **New York Dolls**' self-titled debut album, released in 1973. --- ## Overview The New York Dolls' debut stands as one of the most influential records in rock history—a raw, swaggering bridge between glam rock's theatricality and punk rock's nihilistic energy. Produced by Todd Rundgren and released on Mercury Records, the album captured a band that was simultaneously celebrating rock 'n' roll's past while destroying its future. --- ## Lyrics David Johansen served as the primary lyricist, crafting street-poetry that blended teenage romance tropes with gritty urban reality. The lyrics operate in a fascinating tension between innocence and corruption—what one critic described as "if the lyrics in *Grease* had been re-written by Bukowski" . **Key thematic elements:** - **Teen alienation and identity crisis**: The opener "Personality Crisis" establishes the album's psychological terrain, exploring neuroses and the desire for authenticity ("You got it while it was hot / But now frustration and heartache is what you got") . - **Urban decay and romance**: "Trash" presents a complex relationship dynamic using knife imagery as both threat and protection, exploring same-sex attraction with lines like "Please don't you ask me if I love you / 'Cause I don't know if I do" . - **Social commentary**: "Vietnamese Baby" stands out as surprisingly political, connecting personal impotence with imperial failure ("I'm talking about your overkill / Now that it's over, what ya gonna do?"). This track anticipated the socially-conscious punk that would emerge from Britain in 1977 . - **New York as character**: "Frankenstein (Orig.)" personifies Manhattan as Mary Shelley's monster—a "love song" about how kids arrive from outer boroughs "like whipped dogs," their "bodies and brains disoriented from each other" . - **Drug culture**: "Looking for a Kiss" contains the devastating line "Your friends all come to your house to shoot up in your room," grounding teenage romance narratives in the heroin epidemic engulfing the city . Johansen's lyrics are colloquial, ambiguous, and packed with internal rhymes and street vernacular. They reject the poetic pretensions of singer-songwriters in favor of a raw, conversational immediacy. --- ## Music & Performance The New York Dolls created what many consider the prototype for punk rock's musical vocabulary: **Guitar work**: Johnny Thunders and Sylvain Sylvain forged a "twin-guitar attack" that was sloppy, chaotic, and electrifying. Thunders' guitar sound—described as "chainsaw buzz"—would directly influence the Ramones' sonic palette . His solos were reckless, emotional, and technically imperfect in ways that became punk hallmarks. **Rhythm section**: Arthur "Killer" Kane's bass and Jerry Nolan's drums (replacing the deceased Billy Murcia) provided a loose, swaggering foundation. Nolan's tempo was notoriously unreliable, adding to the chaotic energy . **Vocals**: Johansen's delivery drew comparisons to Mick Jagger—sneering, theatrical, and sexually charged. His harmonica work on tracks like "Pills" reinforced the Stones comparison, though the Dolls' aggression was distinctly their own . **Song structures**: The band favored simple chord progressions, stop-time passages, and anthemic choruses. Tracks like "Personality Crisis" and "Jet Boy" feature the kind of big, singalong hooks that would define punk's populist appeal. **Covers**: Their take on Bo Diddley's "Pills" transforms the original into something far more aggressive, with Johansen's harp playing and Thunders' guitar elevating it beyond mere tribute . --- ## Production Todd Rundgren's production remains controversial. Hired reluctantly after being dragged to see the band by his girlfriend Bebe Buell, Rundgren approached the project as a "circus ringmaster" trying to corral chaos . **The challenges:** - The band struggled to stay in sync in the studio, lacking the tightness of Rundgren's other clients (Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad) - Drug and alcohol use was rampant during sessions - The Dolls were "impatient and pushy," insisting on mixing in a suboptimal room at the top of the Record Plant building **The result**: A sound that many felt was too clean for the band's reputation. Rundgren later admitted: "The record would have been a lot better had they not got in such a hurry to finish it" . The band members reportedly stood over his shoulder during mixing, demanding to be louder, resulting in a mix where "the faders are all at the top of the board." Ironically, fans and critics complained the album *didn't* capture the raw energy of their live shows—suggesting it should have sounded "shittier" . Yet this tension between polish and chaos became part of the album's unique character. --- ## Themes The album functions as a concept record about **urban youth experience** in early 1970s New York City: 1. **Authenticity vs. artifice**: The tension between genuine emotion and performed identity runs throughout, from "Personality Crisis" to the gender-bending aesthetics of the band themselves. 2. **Romance in decay**: Love and sex are portrayed against backdrops of drug addiction, prostitution ("Subway Train"), and impending nuclear doom ("Bad Girl"). 3. **Nostalgia and rebellion**: The Dolls loved early rock 'n' roll and girl-group pop, but filtered it through a lens of cynicism and danger. They played "as though the Beatles had never existed" . 4. **Gender fluidity**: The band's androgynous image—high heels, makeup, teased hair—challenged rock's macho conventions and opened space for queer expression in punk. 5. **The city as monster**: New York is simultaneously seductive and destructive, a "Frankenstein" that consumes young dreamers from the outer boroughs. --- ## Influence & Legacy The New York Dolls' impact cannot be overstated: **On punk rock**: They "created punk rock before there was a term for it" . The Ramones, Blondie, Television, and Patti Smith all emerged from the scene the Dolls helped cultivate at Max's Kansas City and the Mercer Arts Center. Malcolm McLaren explicitly used his experience managing the Dolls to craft the Sex Pistols' aesthetic and sound . **On heavy metal**: Their hard rock attack and androgynous image influenced bands like Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe. **On alternative rock**: The Replacements, Sonic Youth (who covered "Personality Crisis"), and countless indie rock bands cite them as foundational. **Critical reappraisal**: Despite commercial failure (the album didn't crack the Top 100), it was later voted #213 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . --- ## Pros ✓ **Historical importance**: One of the most influential debut albums in rock history, bridging glam and punk ✓ **Songwriting strength**: "Personality Crisis," "Trash," "Looking for a Kiss," and "Jet Boy" are undeniable classics ✓ **Authentic attitude**: The band's reckless energy and street-level perspective feel genuinely dangerous ✓ **Lyrical depth**: Johansen's words reward close attention, balancing humor, pathos, and social commentary ✓ **Guitar innovation**: Thunders' sloppy, emotional playing style created a template for punk guitar ✓ **Gender-bending aesthetics**: Challenged rock's macho conventions and expanded possibilities for self-expression ✓ **Urban atmosphere**: Captures 1970s New York City with documentary realism mixed with poetic exaggeration --- ## Cons ✗ **Production limitations**: Rundgren's mix has been criticized as too restrained; the band's live chaos is somewhat sanitized ✗ **Inconsistent material**: Tracks like "Frankenstein" and "Private World" suffer from repetitive structures and muddled execution ✗ **Technical sloppiness**: While part of the charm, the band's lack of precision can be grating on repeated listens ✗ **Mixing issues**: The rushed mixing process resulted in a sound that neither the band nor Rundgren was fully satisfied with ✗ **Saxophone intrusions**: Buddy Bowser's sax on "Lonely Planet Boy" has been criticized as "annoying and out-of-place" ✗ **Stones comparisons**: The band's debt to the Rolling Stones sometimes feels too obvious, particularly in Johansen's Jagger-esque mannerisms --- ## Verdict The New York Dolls' debut is a **flawed masterpiece**—messy, uneven, and historically essential. It captures a band at the precise moment when their potential was limitless and their self-destruction was already underway. The album's imperfections are part of its power; it sounds like it could fall apart at any moment, yet it never does. For listeners interested in the DNA of punk rock, this is required listening. It demonstrates that rebellion doesn't require rejecting melody or humor, and that rock 'n' roll's past and future can coexist in glorious, chaotic tension. Despite production compromises and uneven songwriting, the album's best moments remain as explosive today as they were in 1973. **Rating**: 8.5/10—A foundational document of punk rock that transcends its limitations through sheer attitude and ambition.
New York Dolls! The album that made Christgau shit his pants! It’s nearly perfect punk rock: loud, raunchy, funny and just unserious enough to be totally serious.
First time listening to these pioneers of punk rock, and certainly wish I had listened to them sooner. Great, raw, early 70s punk band that shocked with their music and style. Great listen, looking forward to checking out their other record today!
This is a band I've heard of for a long time, but haven't heard anything from them until now. They remind me of the band The Dictators, and have been a pleasant surprise. This is one of those fun sing-along albums you blow through on a Summer road trip. Favorite Track: "Personality Crisis".
Bummed that I didn't give this album a chance before this. Super solid rock/punk album with no skips.
Pretty solid. Not really my cup of tea. But I ended up enjoying it a fair amount.
all good fun, ahead of their time. A good listen
This is a good fun album. It's got a lot of influence, I can hear the following decades of rock in this. I've never really listened to them but know the name and the odd track. I'll probably keep it that way since the vocal isn't quite my thing, but this breaks the naff streak for me. The last 6 days have been bloody terrible so this was a refreshing enjoyment this morning.
Loved it but not enough to add it to my playlist
I like this punk rock beginnings and I get the influence and I love alot of the really somber moments and the way they perceived love in a weird new york of the 70s Fav song: Looking for a kiss
I am not a fan of punk as a musical style. I don't know why, never have been. However, I really enjoyed this, and will listen to more. Awesome album.
Punky glammy rock and roll... or something like that. I heard snippets of this album a few years ago, but never in full. Very good listen!
Great rock album! Fast, fun, perfect length. I hear a lot in it - Rolling Stones, KISS (they really stole the Dolls’s whole schtick), proto-punk. Truly ahead of their times. Great production by Mr. Rundgren.
The great riffs, catchy melodies and overall punkiness of this album made an enjoyable and energetic listen. The album carries this tension sort of that you really feel gets released at the end and allows for a nice climactic ending. It's just a tad bit redundant. 7.5/10, Favorite Song: Frankenstein
Really fun punk album. Had been meaning to listen to it for a while. Will be returning to it.
The Good: New York, New York! The Bad: Dolls, Dolls… The Ugly: … bandname / album name The NYD, what is there to say? They are glam. They are not. They are punk. They are not. They are Rock. They are not… but they are, aren’t they? This album was released to me on February 4th, today we are April 16th… and only now am I trying to rate this album… well, this one, and about 25 others, as I’ve been on 2 roadtrips during which I did listen to the albums every day, but just didn’t find time to always respond… Is this my thing? Not really. But it oozes 70s, which is my favorite decade musically speaking, so I like that aspect of it. I will give the album 4*, which I might downgrade later in life to 3… only because I can...
Album Review 062 New York Dolls by New York Dolls (1973) Rating 4/5 New York Dolls, both the band and their debut album, are the embodiment of the “live fast, die young, leave a f*cked-up looking corpse” attitude - everything about them and their music was designed to shock. Take the swagger of the Stones, drag it up, add copious amounts of heroin, then play 50’s rock’n’roll and girl-group pop through overdriven amps and this is the result. But is the music any good??? Well, not really but dare I say that is secondary to what the Dolls are/were; the glammest of Glam, punks before there was Punk. New York Dolls has a sleazy brilliance and I can’t help but love it.
Nice album, would need to listen again
Not my cup of tea, but it's pretty cool
A fun and fresh listen! They sound something like The Rolling Stones meets Kiss, and also I can hear how influential The Dolls should have been to the whole post punk scene. I found the album enjoyable.
Still one of my favorite rock albums of all time. Just a vibe I don't think anyone else captured as well as them.
Solid punk album. Not much more to say.
This is just a good ol' rocknroll. Its not perfect, in fact its messy but thats good. I love how it hits you in the face right at the beginning of the record and then paints a picture of a small music scene around that time. Definitely a far stretch from the pop of that time. Its punk, glam, and everything else that maintstream culture wasn't. I will have to listen to them more than I currently do. Right now I have only heard a few songs, but that changes after listening to this album. Biggest Hit - Personality Crisis Biggest Miiss (if I had to choose) - Pills Hidden Gem - Frankenstein
Fun punk album
Catchy! I liked this one as soon as the guitar started on the opening song. Also sounded familiar? 4 ⭐️
Took a city like New Orleans To kill a man like Johnny Thunders.
Todd Rundgren's music bores me quite a bit but, he's a solid producer, not the kinda project I'd expect him to produce. Honestly I don't know much about the new york dolls, instead of that I do confuse them with the goo goo dolls (the band that did Iris). No, no, no this is the band that the sex pistols wrote new york about (y know the racist song that says do the sambo/ the homophobic one that says faggot)... So what do I think, it's some pretty great (proto) punk. Frankenstien for it's 6 minute length still maintains it's energy through the whole thing whilst also being incredibly imposing. Most of the albums just straight up punches one after another, so lonely planet boy really suprised me. Trash and personality crisis are the most memorable of the punchy ones first listen, pills is an amazing cover of a song I've never heard 4/5
This was pretty cool. Definitely a precursor to The Ramones.
Standard punk fare.
Fun and just a good time
Good tracks with a few great ones, and a band that knew how to dress, and act to get noticed.
Classic punk style rock pretty enjoyable
One of the most underrated bands of all time, there is a reason why so many prominant musicians love these guys. 8/10
Blisteringly fun punk/glam rock. The DNA of a ton of my favorite music is in here.
Huge cultural relevance. Imagine giving this 1 star due to being 'beige' but also giving War on Drugs 5 stars. Confusing stuff.
it's 3.5
Proto-punk glam rock! Trash always gets my blood pumping.
Vital proto-punk. The Dolls paved the way for the punk explosion that followed this record. Still fun too.
Pretty good, more classic rock than I expected, I was expecting punk.
Started off pretty strong then became fairly average. But it's punk so I'm giving it a boost. Personality Crisis makes my playlist
This was a fun time. One part classic rock, one part punk, one part mayhem.
A record that reeks of personality and attitude. The Dolls put together a more complete proto-punk work than The Stooges, in my opinion. People like to associate them with glam because of the outfits, but this is punk through and through.
A good punk album. Maybe it’s post punk? I can’t remember these dumb genres. It’s sounds pretty punk rock and has good songs.
learned about glam rock today! this isn’t bad
💅
Genial, rockero y muy divertido. Por la portada creí que iba a ser algo muy punk ochentero que iba a terminar por fastidiarme, pero nada de eso. Este disco vive en el mundo de El show de terror de Rocky y El fantasma del paraíso, y siempre será genial visitar ese mundo.
Wasn't expecting much but that was super fun!
New York awesomes, tbh
Really great songs, i recognized a few
Some banger songs just got all guitars bass and drums with a little glam thrown in
This one was fun, really enjoyed it. Would probably add it to the rotation
This was fun. They didn't take this serious at all but had a nice variety to it all. Didn't expect to hear sax on some punk. Favorite Songs: Subway Train and Personality Crisis
Camp, very fun. Musically straightforward, but in the same way that punk rock is. The energy is really what you're here for.
Once I liked this glam rock
Een soort kruising tussen vroege punkrock en glamrock, met een vleugje Velvet Underground. De plaat begint gelijk met Personality Crisis, wat volgens mij nog steeds een bekend nummer is, een punkrockanthem. De zang is niet het sterkste punt, maar ook weer niet zo slecht dat het irriteert. De muzikanten kunnen wel iets meer dan een paar akkoorden spelen. Het gitaargeluid is redelijk vol te noemen, zeker voor muziek die normaal gesproken klinkt alsof het in een badkamer of een fabriekshal is opgenomen. De bandleden lagen dan wel graag in badkamers of fabriekshallen (al dan niet gekleed in drag) met een of andere shot drugs in hun sodemieter. De drummer is al tijdens hun 1e tour naar de klote gegaan aan een overdosis. Van dat soort verhalen smullen wij als 1001-afnemers natuurlijk. Al met al vermaak ik me uitstekend met dit plaatje. Het tempo zit er lekker in en de muziek zit prima in elkaar. Een vrolijke 4 sterren.
I’d known of the New York Dolls forever, I just never really dug in. The handful of tracks I’d heard always felt too campy, like they were trying too hard to shock. But in retrospect, that was the point: they were intentionally outrageous, gleefully obscene, and absolutely committed to “freaking out the normies.” It wasn’t just an aesthetic, it was the mission. They never hit it big commercially, but their influence is massive. You can draw a jagged, lipstick-smeared line from this album through punk, glam, and hair metal. They were the chaotic spark before the fire. And then there’s the wild twist: Todd Rundgren produced this, the same year he dropped his acid-drenched A Wizard, A True Star. Somehow, he managed to bottle the Dolls’ live-wire energy in the studio. Even the band said he nailed their live sound. Total chaos, glam swagger, proto-punk grit - this one earns its place in the 1001.
So this is what all those terrible hipster punk bands were trying to sound like. It does rock pretty hard. I’m sure the live shows were fun back in the day. Better than the Rolling Stones anyway.
Raw, powerful, you can hear how influential this record was on punk rock within the first twenty seconds
Loved it. Great time for music
Terminando de ponerme al día, este es el tercer disco que reviso hoy, así que la review va a ser más breve y con un poco de mal humor. Así que haremos esto brevemente y con un poco de mal humor. El primer disco de los New York Dolls es un clásico. Es un trabajo que se hizo enmarcado en la pata más rockera del glam rock (como Slade) pero que al mismo tiempo dio grandes pasos para lo que apenas un par de años después iba a conocerse como punk. No fueron los primeros. Podemos recordar a los peruanos Los Saicos (que nunca van a aparecer en los 1001 discos pero sabemos que fueron muy importantes), a The Troggs, a bandas que surgieron apenas un par de años después de estas como MC5 o los Stooges, etc. Pero lo que creo que sí fueron los New York Dolls fue ser los más populares de todas esas bandas proto-punk. Y después tenés las canciones, que son buenas. Medio pelotudas (pero es un poco la idea, ¿no?) y con mucha actitud. Hay dos cosas que se le pueden criticar al disco: 1. no tiene tanta variedad. Todos los temas son rock and rolls que van más o menos por el mismo lado. Obviamente, es la crítica que se le puede hacer a varias bandas de la misma onda. Y es una crítica injusta, una crítica de traje y corbata. Porque si uno va a escuchar a los New York Dolls no es para escuchar mucha variedad. Es actitud. Y las canciones están buenas, y ya. Y encima es un primer disco. Pero bueno, se puede criticar eso. 2. Lo segundo me parece sí más importante: este es un disco bastante front-loaded. Creo que no hay dudas de que las mejores canciones están ubicadas en la primera mitad del disco. Empezando por el tema uno, Personality Crisis, que es lejos lejos lejos el tema más conocido del disco y de la banda, y la mejor canción del disco (me daría dolor en la panza elegir otro tema). Pero no es el único: Vietnamese Baby, Trash, Looking for a Kiss, Lonely Planet Boy (este sí es un poco distinto, eh: un poco más lenta y con toques country que contrastan con el resto del disco), Frankestein... son todas canciones que están en la primera mitad del disco. Las últimas cinco están bien, pero encuentro que es un toque más genérico que las primeras seis. También porque a esta altura termina siendo más de los mismo: el efecto novedad se va desvaneciendo un poco. De Bad Girl más que la canción en sí (que es un rock and roll genérico) lo que se destaca es la guitarra que patea culos durante los 3 minutos que dura el tema. Subway Train y Private World están "bien". Son las peores canciones de un disco que está bueno. No suman. Si no estuvieran el disco no superaría los 40 minutos. Supongo que esa es su razón de ser. Pero tampoco molestan tanto. Sería peor si el disco fuera largo, ahí ya molestarían. Pills está bien también (sin comillas). Es el cover oficial del disco (porque es imposible no escuchar Louie Louie cuando suena Private World). Es la "peor" canción después de las otras dos que dije eran las peores. El disco termina en una nota alta con Jet Boy. La mejor canción desde Trash. En síntesis, es un muy buen disco. No para escuchar siempre. Si tenés ganas de adrenalina y rock and roll loco loco ponelo. Y sino, la cosa sana, y ponete otra cosa como sexy Nick Cave o sexy Tom Waits, qué se yo. Más allá de eso, es innegable la importancia de este disco. Es uno de esos que por ahí a vos no te gustan, pero que le cambiaron la cabeza a los artistas que vos escuchás. Le pongo 4 estrellas.
Not sure where in their career this one was recorded but it was pretty good.
Nailed it.
For an album from 1973, something that seems so much like what's my reality must have been too much to handle for most people back then. This is like punk-rock nihilism, raw, visceral, scrappy - perfect for a society's underground audience for sure. [[That's when I'm a lonely planet boy I'm tryin', oh, I'm cryin' ]] [[You was butterflyin' About that personality crisis, you got it while it was hot It's always hard to know when frustration and heartache what you got ]]
It's like a mix of Exile Stones, The Stooges, Ziggy era David Bowie and the Velvet Underground. Quite a cool mix! First listen and will say "Personality Crisis" is a bop. It is closer to a 3.5 but I will give it 4 stars. Will listen again 3.5/5
A gloriously messy, high-energy blast of proto-punk swagger. The Dolls sound like they’re having the time of their lives—equal parts sleazy glam and streetwise chaos. It’s raw, loud, and unapologetically fun, with a sneer that feels part Mott the Hoople, part garage band on the verge of collapse. Tracks like “Personality Crisis” and “Trash” are pure attitude, delivered with lipstick, leather, and a wink. Not polished, but that’s the point!
This is that Buster Poindexter guy. The cabbie from Scrooged! This will indeed affect the review. This album is Hot Hot Hot! Like a punk rock Rolling Stones with lots of angst. Buster's (I know that's not the name he used in this band) voice is gravelly & smokey which adds alot to angst, sometimes he sounds like the singer of Rancid. Which one would guess that he may have been influenced by NYD. You can hear their influence in the punk world.
Can definitely see some of the influence this had. Enjoyed "Looking For a Kiss" "Frankenstein" and "Trash" in particular.
Really enjoyed this one
Sounds like if Ziggy Stardust fronted the Ramones. For this to come out in 1973 - before punk was even a term - is astonishing.
I like the New York Dolls album a lot. Giving a generous 4 as they have influenced so many great bands.
Something less commented on about early punk music (~1977) is that it can, in the best possible way, be camp and theatrical. Years before the word punk had passed anyone’s lips as a genre title The New York Dolls were serving up music with a mixture of camp and aggressive, pent up sensibilities that points to an entirely new type of music. Other than Iggy Pop I’d struggle to identify who they were in debt to, but could point to plenty of bands who are indebted to the dolls. This LP is chock full of propulsive beats, hooky melodies and surprising gear shifts. Looking For a Kiss has a bizarre quality to it - it’s like having a drag queen shout in your face. Compare this to the more reflective Lonely Planet Boy. It keeps you on your toes and keeps your pulse racing. The dolls are not just influential, they are packing a wide variety of hits.
Never actually listened to the whole album before. Known for being ahead of its time and I get that for sure. The opening track sounds like if Faces did more cocaine and then recorded a song. Trash is a song that clearly launched a bunch of proto-punk and punk bands in the US and elsewhere. Overall I think this is an above average album and deserves a lot of credit for being ahead of the times.
such a fun album. glamorous and eclectic but still gritty and grounded.
I enjoyed it as casual listening. It was fun to listen to. Not sure if there was deeper meaning behind the lyrics but again just a fun listen
A delightfully energetic rock album, with some very memorable songs. 4/5
This is a punk album - probably the first. This is a good album - not every song is a gem, but a really good album. Pitchfork: 9.0 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #301 Best Songs Personality Crisis Lonely Planet Boy Trash Subway Train
hell yeah *eagle sound*
Another great new find
This was pretty fun. Like if the rolling stones were more fun, but less good. It was much more enjoyable than the stones albums we've had on here. Sleazy, rocky, good times. Reminded me a lot of the 70s rock I grew up on. I'll definitely be listening again.
robert christgau has gaslit me into thinking this is the greatest album ever released (he might be right some days)
I will likely grow to love this.
A very fun album. Every time I listen to it I like it more.
Solid 4
One of the best openers to an album I’ve heard.
It was fine. Did seem like the sound of an era
Great, classic album
Her er man tvunget til at tage stilling. En 3er er ikke en mulighed. Jeg kan rigtig godt lide lyden, og vildskaben! Kommer næppe til at sætte det på igen, men oplevelsen var fed.
Jeg kan ikke helt blive klog på mine følelser for det her album. På den ene side har det noget fed punk attitude og lyd. På den anden side er der lidt for meget klassisk rock lyd.
New York Dolls is the collective noun Len Houmous uses for wives 4-7. 3.7 7/11 Bad Girl
If the stones went punk
I enjoyed this album a lot. There were several songs that I listened to on repeat.
Great classic album that I sort of ignored back in the day but deserves attention
Starts off sounding like a thrashy Stones/Faces rip off but by 'Trash' I can suddenly hear the clear influence they had on The Ramones, Pistols, Clash, Blondie, Television and more. It's energetic, ramshackle and crazy but that's the point. The more I hear the more I like it. The closer 'Jet Boy' is the only track I really knew. Really cool guitars and all. Will listen to this again and again. Rock & Roll, Glam & Punk are all here.
Fuck songs, if the "fuck" was screamed out loud.
Ramoanie Replacerwomeants. 7.7/10
Good
I know of The New York Dolls, but I’ve never listened to them, and I don’t think I could tell you a single song of theirs. I am however familiar with Buster Poindexter’s “Hot, Hot, Hot,” and I have fond memories of my elementary school music teacher playing it in music class (shoutout to David Kastor, one of the best educators I’ve ever known). I have a vague idea of what to expect from this album, and I’m hoping that I love it! I didn’t wind up loving this album, but it was fun and an interesting piece of music history. One of the top reviews called The New York Dolls “band who the bands you like, like,” and that’s a perfect description of this album. You can hear the influence that this album had on the likes of The Ramones, Kiss, Aerosmith, and the countless hair metal bands of the late eighties. While I wouldn’t put this album in my regular rotation, I do love hearing albums that laid the groundwork for things to come, and The New York Dolls certainly falls into that category. Musically, this album didn’t light my world on fire, but The Dolls are good enough to put together some pretty fun guitar licks over the course of these forty minutes. For an early proto-punk album, there’s quite a bit of variance and depth to this album, and I liked that they drew from the wells of blues, psychedelic music, and early hard rock. This album definitely got better on a second listen. Despite enjoying this, I do have to mention the criticisms I had. Some of the songs dragged on too long for my tastes. I don’t mind a longer song, but I want there to be some sort of evolution or development to the sound, or a pay-off, like the incorporation of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” at the end of “Subway Train.” I also wish there had been a bit more of the bluesy piano playing that was used on “Personality Crisis,” because it really punched things up a bit, and gave this album a unique flair. Still, this was a solid album, and I’m glad I finally got to listen to it today. Best songs: “Personality Crisis,” “Vietnamese Baby,” “Lonely Planet Boy,” “Trash,” and “Subway Train”
I really liked this album, I wasn't familiar with it and enjoyed hearing these songs for the first time.
After hearing about this band for years--like reading Rolling Stone articles in the 80s--I think this is the first time I ever listened to the record. Aggro old school rock and roll Chuck Berry style, souped up and made frenetic. A little dramarama. Loved the energy and the vibe.
I love how you can see Metal and punk coming out of this. Pretty irrepressible spirit.
Classic punk rock, gritty songs by a band that can barely play, you can hear the influence they had on bands in the mid to late 70s and even into the 80s. Your favourite bands favorite band...
Det lyder mere bare som hård glam end det lyder som punk, synes det var rigtig fedt!
Still holds up 50 years later!
This really reminds me of if Kiss and the Ramones had a baby. I love this.
between Rolling Stones and Sex Pistols
When I say I like the New York Dolls, you best believe I like the New York Dolls: LYK.
Pretty great. I’m surprised more of these songs didn’t get radio play.
Classic glam
Foundational punk rock that’s actually fun to listen to. Swaggering, dirty, and well-produced without being polished.
71/100.
Good! solid original style rock n roll album 8/10 personality crisis best song
These guys rocked! Never listened to them before. It was more hard rock than punk and maybe not what I expected.
Mock Rock. I don’t think so. Love this band.
Liked it more than I expected
I don't know what I was expecting, but I loved this
How on earth have I never heard of this band before? It’s pretty straight forward proto-punk but I can admire the attitude which is pretty raw for its time period. And the vocal delivery is both coveted and poorly replicated by punk bands worldwide to this very day. Musically it’s not gonna blow anyone’s mind, other than possibly hearing that it came out 4 years before even The Sex Pistols - but it’s an enjoyable listen with enough catchy songs on it to make it feel worthwhile. Personality Crisis (9/10) Looking for a Kiss (7/10) Vietnamese Baby (7/10) Lonely Planet Boy (6/10) Frankenstein (7/10) Trash (9/10) Bad Girl (7/10) Subway Train (7/10) Pills (8/10) Private World (8/10) Jet Boy (7/10) 7.5/10
Seems like lightning in a bottle. A mess yet still beautiful at its best. I do hope there is. Johnny Thunders Album on here.
Very nice rock type album. Definitely liked the Frankenstein song
I unexpectedly loved this. Foundational I’m sure, but also just very fun.
Lyssnat flera gånger nu. Tycker det är jämnbra hela tiden typ. Aldrig klockrent men tillräckligt kul för att få en fyra.
Punk rock with a much more 70's rock/glam-metal feel. Not bad. Kind of reminded me of Quiet Riot or Twisted Sister at times. 4/5
I feel like I took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a frightful, albeit non-dangerous situation. Despite my not being the intended audience, the girls diligently entertained me for a time and then sent me on my way; confused but unharmed. Upon reflection, I felt strangely yet pleasantly changed somehow and knew, with both relief and regret, that I would never have that experience again. Not really my genre, but I'll give it a base score of 2 and tack on an extra star for its fearless trailblazing and another for its unquestionable relevancy. This actually IS an album you should hear before you die.
Great glammy proto-punk.
This album is really good. Relatively simple musicianship that works to the group’s benefit. This manages to be both gritty and dirty while maintaining some glam rock aesthetics. Favorites were Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss, Trash, Pills, and Jet Boy.
The New York Dolls had such a huge influence on so many artists in the 1970s and 80s, ranging from Billy Idol to Anthrax. I have read so many books about bands, including the Beastie Boys, who remember the influence in New York Dolls throughout the East Coast and Americana. They were punk before punk and metal before metal. This 1973 debut album is a great example of what they were doing. In many ways they developed the entire glam genre with David Bowie, and even Bowie claims them to be an influence. Looking for a Kiss is just a fun song, Trash is a bop. Matter of fact, I don’t know if every song is Grammy winning, but every song left me bobbing. I could listen to this again and again.
This one we crazy for me. Halfway through the album I was ready to quit, it was just such bland punk. Then Bad Girls came on and that caught my interest - the first song with some life. Then the rest of the album was pretty cool. Usually I find I like the first few songs on an album and then the rest might suck. This was the opposite. I appreciate the inclusion of this album on the list because it really made me think how I felt about it.
This album is a lot of fun. I know of but never listened to the New York Dolls. And I know they are credited with helping push the punk movement, but this album is more Rolling Stones meets glam rock. Of course there was no punk back then, but you can see where it comes from in terms of simple songs, so-so vocals, edgy or teen-cynical lyrics, and energy - tons and tons of f'n energy. They've got decent melody for average musicians but they bring it on every tune. I shrugged my shoulders at a few songs but mostly I liked them. Favorites were Personality Crisis (that's how you kickstart an album, or a career), Frankenstein, Trash, Bad Girl, Pills (nice Bo Diddley cover), Private World, and Jet Boy. It's not a 5 on its own but maybe should be for its historical significance.
This album rocks. The songs themselves are pretty formulaic, but they take everything up to 11. I can only imagine how insane their live shows must have been. Favorite tracks: Personality Crisis, Lonely Planet Boy (yeah, even the slow(er) songs are good - great sax, and I like how the backing vocal at the end was sung into a guitar pickup), Trash, Pills. EDIT: Originally said 5 but in retrospect, it's more of a 4, mainly because it's a little repetitive and formulaic (but still awesome).
Hell yes!!
Super fun, classic glam.
Pretty cool actually. I was listening to a lot of weird noisy math rock so this was a nice poppier change in pace.
This albums rips. Proto-punk greatness with roots in glam rock, this album sounds so fresh you’d be surprised to realise it came out in 1973. Got a big Replacements vibe from it. Had a blast with this one.
Great, fun, electric rock with catchy songs, with hints of glam rock all over it. Very strong 4.
I just listened to this album a few weeks ago after the passing of David Johansen. I love this album and it did not hurt my feelings to listen to it again. Album 44/1001 4/5