Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I appreciate hearing this for the sake of what it is, his historical context, but it’s really not for me. I liked personality crisis, that’s about it. Two stars
Mas o menos... No me disgustó tampoco me gustó
it’s impossible to determine when punk rock began. but if it were possible, here’s a contender. still love this over 50 years later
There are so many cool things about this album and band but it lacked an element. The beat and sound reminded me of the Clash or the Ramones but something was missing. There were a couple songs liked but didn't love. Trash and Lonely Planet Boy.
the sound of my people
interesante
5/10
Not bad but not my style.
Fun, and messy. 3.5-4.0
3.25
Rip rocking and probably heavy for its time, but it didn’t grab me from a memorable point of view. There was however some really interesting production choices and tones I rated
A rare blind spot in my rock fandom, I had never listened to this album before now. It was pretty good, and easy to see why it influenced so many rock and roll bands afterwards, punk rock and otherwise. It’s raw and grimy, but with a softer hardcore sound; not pure punk, but not standard 70s classic rock either, a very unique record. I would absolutely call this a must-listen for any fan of rock music or music history in general. In the same way Nirvana killed the 80s hair bands, the New York Dolls killed what was left of the 60s bands with this album. Strong 4/5
What a lousy album! This may be punk rock from 1973 - but it's simply terrible!
I'd never heard the New York Dolls before. I certainly knew of them, as they're said to have influenced many of the bands I grew up listening to. I wasn't sure what to expect, but they were decent. Sort of a lighter version of The Ramones. Not really my jam, but much better than a lot of what this list feeds me.
Dope
Impressed with their old-school punk-rock vibe, I gave in to the deep dive and added context to what I was hearing. I find it interesting how critics at the time claimed them like less than the Rolling Stones, how the band themselves weren't looking or hoping to push the envelope, yet to me it's an obvious precursor to the punk rock we all know and love. I personally find this record significantly superior to the handful of Stones albums I've gotten so far. It's raw, it's rooted in folk so there's an American swing to it, but it also just is. It's the pure punk energy of just doing something because you can, do it with passion and from the heart even if you don't have the talent or the equipment. That said, the mixing for this record is pretty nice, I'm not the biggest Todd Rundgren fan but he did something amazing for this team of rebels. The drag queen context gives the lyrics added flavor, like a message meant to be unlocked with understanding. It was illegal to be a practicing homosexual at this moment in New York history. I don't typically get much out of the lyrical aspect in rock and roll, but I appreciate it here. The energy of the record feels a little bit like pop-punk, but it's not trying to fit in, it just happens to do so. It could be slightly uncomfortable, maybe feels a bit long sometimes, but it works just as amazing in the background as it does on a dedicated set of quality headphones. It isn't my typical jam, but I could see myself spinning this one when the album art calls for me. I'd love a copy some day. 3.6/5
Classic ❤️
This is a pretty decent rock album, but I didn't find it overly interesting. I think that the instrumentation across-the-board was fairly strong. But nothing really grabbed me at any point. Maybe on a different day I would've liked this more but I never got the urge to get up and move and connect with the album in that way. I can see why a lot of people would really like this, but it just didn't really hit that hard for me. Also, some of the songs are so long start to feel very repetitive. Would probably listen to it again. But probably not in the full album format, maybe just a couple tracks. Fav Track: Lonely Planet Boy
This was definitely something new. I loved the style, especially after coming from a dive bar.
Personality Crisis 3.8 Looking for a Kiss 3.6 Vietamese Baby 3.8 Lonely Planet Boy 3.7 Frankenstein (Orig.) 3.9 Trash 3.7 Bad Girl 3.5 Subway Train 4 Pills 3.8 Private World 3.6 Jet Boy 3.8 Score: 3.745454545
This one was... okay.
it's a wild stat how many bands were influenced by these guys. Ahead of their time
Britisk punk vibes, litt kjedelig
Ok. A period piece. Music is middling.
I want to learn more about whether they were a reflection of their time or hugely influential.
I mean, I get the impact it had but the music was bland and not for me.
decent
rollicking proto-punk (or post-Motown, depending on which direction you're facing) that goes completely transcendent for two songs and otherwise is just some satisfying bashing around. Frankenstein and Trash - the first an insane, towering brick wall of a song, the second lovely, fleet, gleaming jangle-punk - are just so outstanding they make everything surrounding them seem average. i quite got to like Looking For a Kiss, and in general enjoy this when it's on, but i just can't see coming back to it to much - too simple to be wholly memorable at the end of the day
Idag så er dette litt kjedelig punk før punk. Mangler litt hooks og edge. Det er ikke dårlig, men for min del høres det ut som at dette er med fordi de var tidlig ute og ikke sugde balle. Og innenenfor contexten av boka, tenker jeg det er helt rimelig. Spørsmålet er bare hvordan jeg skal score det. I '73 ser jeg for meg at dette lett er en 4er. Nå føler jeg 3.
Visste ikke at Todd Rundgren hadde produsert dette, kult! Egentlig rart han ikke har produsert mer punk etter dette, med tanke på hvor innflytelsesrikt albumet har vært. Mitt første møte med albumet var via PS2-spillet True Crime: New York City, hvor låta «Subway Train» er med. Det er fortsatt min favoritt fra albumet, og «Personality Crisis», såklart. Viber med energien på plata, men viber ikke så mye med attituden. Vanskelig å forklare. Uansett en klassiker.
Better than expected but not really my style of rock I can jam to all the time. Gonna bump up from a 3.5.
I've tried, broham, I really have. I love glam rock – and not only "high glam" like Bowie but "low glam" like Slade and Sweet. I appreciate some of these songs when done by others (Teenage Fanclub feat. Donna Matthews's "Personality Crisis"). I'm definitely good with lots of music that's messy and of dubious intonation. I like Jean Genet. I like "Drag Race." I like the Ramones, brodie, for chrissakes! A lot. And I understand the Dolls' role in cultural history, broseph, really I do. I think the thrift-shop androgyny is often unflattering in its more peacocky form, but it's also very nostalgic for me as it was my main aesthetic from around '96–'03 – and I get that this is "proto-punk," that "flattering" per se is not their aim. I think the Shangri-Las quote is cute (especially because I first encountered it via the Nation of Ulysses, just a weird little meme making its way down the river of life). In the end I just don't care about their cultural importance – and the New York Dolls I think would agree with me there: Cultural importance is not what these sweeties were aiming for, brobriath. Maybe we'll party together in the afterlife and I'll get it, but until then I guess it just comes down to I hate David Johansen's voice and this music sounds like ass.
86
New York’s finest rock 'n' rollers between The Velvet Underground & the Ramones, & the best interpretation of The Rolling Stones I think we've e'er seen, the New York Dolls generated two of the hardest, dirtiest, rockiest, & most profound records this rock thing has known. 'Cus we keep on / Ridin,' ridin' ridin.' It recalls the rottener content of '71's The Panic in Needle Park ('Pills') at the same time that it puts you in the upbeat moods of the city's machoest bars, i.e., this has got unironic continuities w/ ZZ Top & the lot. I know they're beloved by most of the right people, & that adds to their wide mystique as still unappreciated innovators, but I promise you, these songs sound & feel really good. 'Oh, trash, don't kick my night away / Oh, trash.'
This was great. Like a mix of television, the velvet underground, T. rex, the misfits, and the Rolling Stones. Unexpected and great.
Solid, unobjectionable rock
🌃
I was going to give this a 4 because I feel like I’ve been giving out way too many 5’s. The album is too good for that.
This had the sauce. I can’t really verbalise what it was I liked about this, but it’s just really competently made and effortlessly sleazy in a way that doesn’t come off as completely offputting.
I guess I'm just really in a punk/alternative mood right now. Incredibly fun time. Glam/punk is a genre I should check out more Favorite Songs: Subway Train, Pills, Jet Boy
Some good early punk rock. I thought the closer Jer Boy was pretty interesting and went back to listen to the album again after which is always a good sign. Good overall. 3/5
Solid Rock
Album was fun, no takeaways and probably wouldn't listen again, but it was enjoyable. Probably 3.25
A glam rock album- kind of reminscent of KISS? Fine, but kind of fell flat for me. Nothing really stands out. Overall- 2.5/5
Honestly this was a really fun listen. Glad i came across it. Low 4
The instrumentation is sloppy, the lyrics are nonsensical, he quality sounds like it was recorded in an abandoned basement and the vocalist sounds drunker than Barney from Simpsons I love it
Personality crisis - 4 Looking for a kiss - 4 Vietnamese baby - 4 Lonely planet boy - 3 Frankenstein - 3 Trash - 4 Bad girl - 3 Subway train - 3 Pills - 3 Private world - 3 Jet boy - 3
Not bad.
Maybe more important than enjoyable? Hmm. Still, the proto-punk sound is pleasant enough.
Nope.
Really fun - a great energy that mostly still feels exciting today? Gets a little samey over the course of the album though. Hard to really get the full effect without seeing them perform.
The Dolls were always a band I'd heard about, been aware of, even heard a handful of songs about. But nothing quite prepares you for a fully punk rock Rolling Stones with more attitude and platform heels. Gender-bending aside, it makes a ton of sense why the Dolls were credited with the birth of punk, and especially British punk. The Sex Pistols and the Damned both definitely took something from them, and most punk can be traced to a double or triple speed take on these riffs. And what riffs - Johnny Thunders, troubled as he was, has a guitar tone that bludgeons you right off the bat and can't be ignored. It overstays its welcome by the end but it's a great record all told.
Proto-Punk! This was a lot of fun. Solent the sound still lingers on late 60s rock while clearly venturing into unknown territory. Great vibe.
Groundbreaking in its time, but this music just seems generic now.
4.5 rounded up because it was ahead of its time and obviously influential. The music is a 5 for sure, but the vocals aren't nearly as good.
Nothing really stood out, I liked the first song tho.
I know for a fact that I’m not a hipster because I still think the Ramones are better than the dolls… but the dolls are still super enjoyable. 3.6
This was pretty fun! It was obvious they were having fun, and I enjoyed listening to it. 7/10 Quite Likeable
hell yeah
Honestly, found this to be a bit boring and inoffensive proto-punk. Because I don't want to make another review focusing just in what I don't like, this time, I want to give them credit for clearly having an attitude and some.. I guess decent guitars riffs and energy in their music. Not only that, but they also incorporate elements from other genres, such as Glam Rock, which is most palpable in the intro track "Personality Crisis" with the upbeat rhythms and use of piano; and there is also some rock and roll traits on other songs. In addition, these guys have an incredible legacy, influencing a whole lot of different artists and bands (most of them I don't like....), so that's very impressive. Ultimately, and personally, there is nothing here that does anything for me, so I can't say that my experience with this record was great.
It was pretty decent punk rock album.
Personality Crisis is a great song. I can see how the album is important and influential, but all the other songs are just ok at best
I understand why this was important, but I feel like there’s something I don’t get about punk.
Crazy for the year it came out
The piano in track 1 sounds like How Do You Fix a Broken Part by Iggy. This is interesting... 1973? Not a BIG fan of the vocalist, but the band sounds pretty good. Not great, but pretty good! Vietnamese Baby is sick - what the fuck is that evil noise that comes in during the hook though??? Hahaha Not sure I agree with the reviews saying they changed punk rock; Funhouse was 3 years prior. Actually wait a minute what the fuck do I know? Never mind. Apparently they were very important in New York... and New York is very important in punk music. And stuff. I like the vocalists strange deep register better than the one from the other day where the dude just sounded like bootleg Elvis the entire album (The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion). I still need to come back to give this one more attention, but overall it's ok! Favorite: Trash Least: None! It was all pretty agreeable. Shoutout: Bad Girl, Subway Train, Vietnamese Baby
Meh
Nada demais
Not bad. Sufficient amounts of cowbell. Favourite Track(s): Personality Crisis Least Favourite Track(s): Lonely Planet Boy
Another album that doesn't really do anything for me
Ennuyant dans l'ensemble, qlq sons passables/ok. J'ai pas aimé le moment je réécouterai clairement jamais
Boring
Punk
One of the main components of the creation of Punk? Yes please. It's what The Rolling Stones in the 70's WISHED they could sound like.
7,82
There's a certain kind of '70s music that just all sounds the same to me. This is that.
Fuck yeah. I'm here for David Johannsen's crazy vocals and Johnny Thunders' guitar. I know they call this proto-punk and maybe it is, but I call it straight up badass rock and roll.
I'm a fan of this record. Trash, Jet Boy, Personality Crisis are standouts, but there aren't many bad tracks here. One of my favorite moments on the album is on Trash when they reference Love is Strange by Mickey & Sylvia. It would be fun to put a playlist together of great songs that reference (not sample) other great songs.
This is good stuff! Glam-punk, I guess? Don't know much about them except that they were important. Sounds like the Clash listened to them a lot. Also, I just learned that the band's guitarist was named Johnny Thunders. A stage name, but still -- cool choice.
Falls of a bit towards the end, but still good!
Not bad. 3/5
Good Garage Rock. It is interesting that this had such an influence on Punk and New Wave bands in both USA and Blighty
This is a debut with good potential, especially the instrumentals are really good, making the tracks I'd say could compete for the album's best—Personality Crisis and Frankenstein—the peculiar works they are. However, the vocals are average at best throughout the album; the vocalist's singing techniques mostly fail to deliver. And then there's just too much of B-tier tracks not really worth the attention. Nearing the end, I was just witing for the album to finish, which is a really bad sign. However, the abovementioned tracks are nearing the quality of outstanding, the the record's overall liveliness makes it a C.
I just can not appreciate punk. I need rhythm and structure please Would I listen again: no. Deserves to be on this list: perhaps 2.4
Drag queen rock, not sure the vocals match the music. Would love to hear them on a harder metal track
Not my jam.
It does seem New York Dolls don't quite get their due (outside of rock critics and hipsters) for being such early punk rockers, but at the same time they didn't quite have the tunes of the Ramones or the Sex Pistols. Pills is a standout here.
Pretty great. Starts to get a bit samey in the middle and then bursts back at the tail end
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.
This did very little for me. Perhaps it's because I just listened to Metallica, but this album came across as lacking any real sort of weight or power. The rock sound felt surprisingly thin and never really grabbed me. That's only a minor criticism, though, and I recognise the fact that my opinion here is almost definitely being shaped by what I listened to beforehand. Overall, it was solid enough, but I don't see myself coming back to it anytime soon.
Full disclosure did not listen to the entire thing 😟 but I did not like it :/
FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN
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 don't like glam or punk or sleaze so this is a no from me.
Overall, I like this album and think it is just fine. It may be because this album was revolutionary and a trend setter, but to me it feels slightly bland and repetitive. Albums that came after perhaps would not have been as great without this one - I honestly do not know and I am not familiar with the history surrounding this album. I can hear the makings of something great, but the project never goes out to achieve that. I would not revisit this of my own accord, so I'll go 2/5. Not bad, though!
decent
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”
This sounds like the music from Rocky Horror Picture Show, but played entirely straight.
..
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.
solid punk or whatever album
Junk
514/1089 - I don't have anything to say. It's music.
Huh, this is not what expected to get for my next album. Honestly, this one was just ok in my opinion. I’m glad it wasn’t really awful, but it didn’t really stick out to me. Two things that I really did like on the album were the guitar tone, which I felt that I could pick up traces of later grunge and alternative rock in, and also the two songs in the middle of the album, Lonely Space Boy and Frankenstein. Lonely Space Boy being the only acoustic song on the album, and Frankenstein being a nearly six minute epic rocker, which was a welcome surprise. The rest of the album felt hit or miss to me, with some songs being fine, and others feeling kind of like blasé punk pastiches, with nothing to really set them apart from other bands. Looking for A Kiss and Personality Crisis were better, along with the song Pills, while songs like Trash and Jet Boy seemed to not really make an impression. Overall, not a bad start for one of the earliest incarnations of glam rock, but it could have been better in my opinion.
ok
Strong 3,5
Like a mix of the Rolling Stones and Kiss.
Finally something good
Not really a fan of punk, but I liked this.
Gives a rolling stones vibe. I enjoyed it
it ok!!
the jams were fine i just didnt like their tone of voice lol
Rod stewart but 10% gayer. A marked improvement but not incredible
Atrocious
cool, pakt niet per se m'n aandacht maar zeker niet slecht
Fine album
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.
musicalmente é mais do mesmo, de fato dá pra entender a influência que isso teve pra música, de forma geral legal
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.
4/5
No. 215 Energy behind the songs was good but the songs themselves were ok.
That was some pretty wild music. Glam and punk together—you don't see that very often. It was kind of fun, but the sound was pretty flat. A funny idea alone just isn't enough. I probably won't be listening to that again. 2/5
Not for me. 1/5
Punkier Stones. I dig.
Nope
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
I appreciate that they were pioneers, but they sounds too much like the many bands that came after them, and not as deep as the bands that inspired them. Fav track: Lonely Planet Boy. The only part of the album where they dropped the rock sound for a more reserved tempo but kept the vulgar vocal performance. Sounds sleazy and romantic. A more unique sound than the rest of the album.
budget ass shitty 70's glam rock derpy derp
Not fair for me to review because I've only listened to this album once or twice. However I respect its place in time and the influence of this band and their music. This record included.
Strutting, snotting, snorting faux-transvestites from the gutters of Scorsese's New York. They presaged punk and maybe no one ever made glamorous sleaze to the same level. A perfect album from a perfect band.
La première me semble familière, elle est bien ! Globalement l’écoute est facile et il est agréable que le groupe semble avoir autant confiance en lui. Mais aucun son ne ressort je trouve, L’Album est assez long au final, à la dernière musique j’en ai un peu marre 5/10
Such a phenomenal album. The sleaze is palpable. Super influential and great in it's own right. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
early glam punk, no complaints here
Seems kinda early punk-ish with a driving rock sound that complements the lyrics and topics. Was probably an inspiration for many hair metal bands that rose in the next decade. But that’s just the vibe I got. 3.3/5.0
9/10 Er, how have I never listened to this? Anything I say is going to sound stupid, but fundamentally this is my favourite kind of pink - a wee bit of polish, the relentless hooks and melody overlaid with some crunch and fuzz and a bit of danger. Excellent 👌 Gets an extra star in response to the review complaining of too much Classic 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
Yeah it was alright, I didn’t hate it, listenable
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.
Hardrock Punk
Day 3 - New York Dolls by the New York Dolls. A more punky version of the Rolling Stones or if mick jagger did rocky horror! Some fun songs and a bit different but not sure I’ll be listening to them anytime soon. 3/10
Brash and bold, the New York Dolls defined American punk music and it’s evolution into new wave. This is the sound of New York in the 70s. Blondie and the Talking Heads among many others owe something to this band and album. Maybe not the definitive American punk band (The Ramones are that), the music certainly has influenced the genre. 3.5 stars
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
Great album!!!
Musically almost my jam, but the vocals can sometimes be annoying. worst: "Frankenstein" 2,5
This was ok. I liked Personality Crisis but the rest just wasn't for me.
This is an album where I feel the trailblazers have been overshadowed by those in their wake.
In two minds. On one hand, really not a fan of proto-punk/early punk. On the other, this was alright. Nothing special, but it's pretty fun.
un buen solido 4, llegando a 5
Can’t deny this album. The prototype for GnR, glam rock, and even sadly Kiss.
“I like albums that don’t aim too high and land perfectly”. Not bad at all.
i enjoyed this more than i thought i would! i dont see how this ends up on a 'worst band' of their debut year. it rocks pretty hard, has some fun solos and licks, and overall has a good vibe. i think the one thing to say about this album is it gets a bit repetitive. there isn't much variation through the album, and some of the songs start to meld into each other. that also said, this really pioneers the 80's glam rock sound many years before it would take over the airwaves. i dig it, and respect them being ahead of the curve on that. realistic rating is 3.5, but ill bump it down to a 3.
The opening track was pretty good, but the rest of it blended together and was overall a little too out of the box for me. Not one I’m dying to come back to.
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.
You can hear the influences of this album on future acts
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!
la primera canción me volvió loca, dsp se volvió algo monótono. Muy bueno.
I wasn't sure if punk went back this early in the 70s. It has some edge and could masquerade as glam rock if it wanted to. I can certainly see why this would be regarded as influential in the rock genre, although I have to be honest in saying that I had never heard of this group before today. Wonder why that'd be? This sound wasn't the most interesting to me I guess, but I couldn't help but hear KISS in these guys (albeit a lighter version of them).
1. "Personality Crisis" 2. "Looking for a Kiss" 3. "Trash"
No.
Groundbreaking and great fun.
Impressive
Very cromulent punk album. Sounded a lot like other punk bands from the time. It seems they may have been influential to that sound, but from the perspective of hearing them for the first time, that's not relevant to how they sound or what I think of them. Good album, probably won't go back.
Didnt listen fully, got through like 3 quarters but not really for me yet some elements i liked
Some fun early punk / glam stuff. Just thought about Rocky Horror the whole time. Really only the first track is that Rocky-esque, but it put the thought in my mind. The album cover conveys that vibe as well. I guess I think about Rocky a lot since I saw it a lot - my ex loved it and would star in the productions at UVA. I remember when they played Eddie - when Frankenfurter kills him they staged it by falling into my arms when getting killed. I think about that a lot. They really did love me. It's been a long time since I broke up with them. They still remain in my mind the only time I've even attempted love - despite the fact they're such a distant memory and are so abstracted at this point that I can't remember what they look like very clearly, themselves as the romantic ideal still persists. I thought about showing them this album, that they might like it. I never much did stuff like that during the relationship, so I have thoughts like that a lot as some sort of coping mechanism. Maybe to indicate to myself what I should do in the future. As if these romantic ideals and fantasies don't immediately change if not entirely evaporate once in an actual relationship. One can only love at a distance, in the imagination. Perhaps it was a feedback loop - I was distant, so they loved me more, gave more of themselves to me, and further I went, and the more they loved me. There was no mystery. I kept my distance as I knew it'd end someday, of course. And it did. I've never been able to tell if love itself is the broken concept or it is just me. Either way, the unchanging variable in existence is loneliness. 3.5
Question: can you get me to like something I wouldn’t otherwise like by telling me that it is trans a little (ik drag ≠ trans but you know with it being from the seventies the lines were blurrier) Answer: yeah kinda
Is punk the only genre to have both a proto- and post- subgenre? I certainly don't hear it here. This is straight up glam rock! My thing about the New York Dolls is that when you turn it up, close your eyes and tune out the album art (as iconic it is) and actually listen to it, you can hear just how straight this band actually sounds (every major member's wikipedia page I checked "gay" "bisexual" and "homosexual"). I get that doing drag was really subversive in 1973, but still. Bowie dropped Ziggy a year before, and that has actually queer lyrical themes and features genuinely insightful analysis and deconstruction of notions of the "celebrity savior." This album was also ahead of its time, in being the genesis of straggot rock stars co-opting queer aesthetics in rock music. It sounds like a much more tolerable KISS. wow, another Suffragette City. and another one. aaaand another one. People talk about and praise this album for how sleazy this song is, but they never reach a point of sleaziness that rivals The Rolling Stones leading up to this year. When they're not ripping them off straight up (Lonely Planet Boy). They play kind of sloppy? Wow. Bad Girl's about picking up a prostitute? And she's asking you if you're gonna take it nice and slow? Some real edgy stuff here, ladies! This album also overstays its welcome. By Pills, I'm almost completely uninterested in what they have left to stay. Private World and Jet Boy are so whatever man. For all my bitching though, this was a really enjoyable listen. The singer's energy is contagious. The lead guitar lines kind of melt away and none stand out, but I kind of like that I can't lie. They feel like a candy bar that is half-melted and some of it is blob but there's still hints of indentions in the shape. You can really hear the influences this album had on the New York bands that followed, namely Television!! Oh my God!! This album has Richard Lloyd written all over it!! Where does this actually sit in the greater Glam canon? I guess it sits in a funny place. One of the things I love about Bowie, and Bolan especially, is an endearing gentleness that comes through on even their most raucous tracks, but here there's none of that bullshit. I don't get the sense they're going for anything gentle. I like that a bit. Sometimes it's nice to hear rock that isn't made by a bunch of fags. Fav moments: Personality Crisis all of it, weird ass SFX in Vietnamese Baby, Lonely Planet Boy is, admittedly, a really great Stones rip. UGH. Trash, while kind of grating at first, has a really lovely conclusion. You can totally hear their influence on Richard Lloyd influence in the Subway Train opening riff, and the lead playing in general!!! + YOU STOP AND YOU STARE!!! 3.5
i had heard for so long that this was an important precursor to punk, so imagine my surprise when it just sounded like the rolling stones. but regardless Personality Crisis is great, Lonely Planet Boy is great, Trash is pretty great. i guess you gotta keep in mind how subversive this was at the time (especially their appearance in a new york just a few years removed from stonewall), but i'm not sure the music itself really conveys that. 3.5
a calm, sedated, let's gooooo. i remember being underwhelmed by this. let's see if i'm #stoopid. as it turns out i'm not #stoopid. woke kiss. 3. (related but unrelated) "trash" (to quote noted cheese enjoyer james may) straddles the line between country & western rubbish and fourth album wavves. (actually related) apparently the last two albums suffer from chronic cowbell dependency.
Somewhat raucous rock
Not a fan
Just fine, hard to understand the cult following of this 3*
It's alright. It has energy and it's pretty rocky but can't give more than a 3
Highlights: Personality Crisis, Looking For a Kiss, Trash, Pill, Private World and Jet Boy. 3.8
Solid punk
More like a 2.5- not bad but I would never seek it out and no song caught my attention
Never listened to a Dolls album before just single cuts. It's a pretty good punk LP. Starts out strong but finishes a little weak.
Fun and chunky but repetitive. Played while making our Turkish Phaidon Feast.
Trash and Subway Train seemed to have marginal redeeming value. They’ll not make it on any favorites list of mine however.
Thought this was pretty cool
This was good
The New York Dolls are one of those bands I wish I could have seen live back in the day. I bet they put on one hell of a live show.
Finger
Fun enough
I feel like I should have liked this more than I actually did.
Classic, fun, and rocking
I'm feeling generous with a third start, just because I listened to "Personality Crisis" and "Frankenstein" a second time.
“Didn’t hate it” is probably the ceiling for this mess.
A little glam, a little punk. I love the attitude, and energy.
not for me but fine
not the best nor the worst. most of the tracks were nice and catchy especially the guitar but the occasional harmonica reduced its hype. pretty alright tho.
Has a vibe to it and would be willing to play some songs again. 6/10
Early glam punk. This was an incredibly fun listen.
As everyone has said, a punky version of the stones. Not what I expected, and a fun listen
It was good punk rock, but nothing really shook me better than anything else. All went together into one nice album.
It's some fun old skool New York punk rock. 1973. A great year for albums. Can hear how these dolls probably influence Ramones and The Cramps. Trash was my favorite song on the album.
This was a rockin’ time. I can’t say I was super into it or that I’ll bring them into my future, but it was fun while it lasted. I guess they are a one night stand kinda band.
Below average classic rock
Started out okay, but I grew weary of it pretty quickly.
I've heard of the New York Dolls but never listened to any of their music. Will listen again.
No thanks
The album the Stones should have made after Exile on Main Street.
I'm sure this has historical value, but it's one of those classic punk/rock albums that just sounds like nothing now. Not their fault, but 2/5
Hugely influential band, for better or worse. I mean they influenced a lot of great punk and glam bands, but also were the precursor to hair metal. This album is rockin’ and it was a fun one to listen to.
Phenomenal and influential, incorporating the sound of the Rolling Stones with the glam look and feel of Bowie, Mott the Hoople and T. Rex.
Not my favorite but it was ok
Enjoyed this one!
Kind of meh.
Never heard of it, surprising, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it again.
The New York Dolls' self-titled debut album is the exact definition of the punky version of glam rock. I know punk hadn't officially started yet, but that dirty, trashy take on glam was fully formed right here. Johnny Thunders' guitar playing is just so sloppy, but so, so good all at the same time. Couple that with David Johansen's singing—he keeps that thick Staten Island accent the entire time, and it just makes the sound even better. To me, the New York Dolls are pure, unadulterated, trashy glam rock, and that sound is absolutely awesome. They were playing at great venues like Max's Kansas City, preceding punk rock, and yet completely defining what punk would eventually become.
No private session used for Spotify. It was fun to sit down a listen to Buster's earlier stuff, but nothing convinced me I should do it 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.
Not as bad as I expected
i love this, can't believe I never heard it before
Nope. Should have never given these people any kind of notoriety. Wish I could give it/them zero stars
Sounds very much as what I was expecting from a rock band at this time. Nothing bad about ut but also nothing that really stands out to me. It seems like it might be on the list more because of their cultural impact which is totally fair considering the cover and lyrics. Nothing I will add to playlists or seek out again though.
Okey album good
One of the few 10s
man, this really hit today. reminded me how much i love 70s punk. still hard to believe it’s from 1973...
The rest of the album doesn't live up to the promise of personality crisis, but a solid set of rock 'n' roll.
New York Dolls has always seemed like a band that was meant to be seen in a small club at 2 am. Not after work on the way to the grocery store in your station wagon. For instance.
So ahead of their time without trying
I'd say more influential than great Best Song: Vietnamese Baby Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3
Always cited as a direct successor to punk rock when it clearly even more so is the musical and visual blueprint for 80s hair & glam metal. Kicks hella ass no matter what it inspired!
Pre punk album from Dave and the boys
3 de 5 La influencia de los NYD es inegable, entre glam, punk, rock y a la vez ninguno de estos géneros, gracias a esto, la banda creó un sonido muy propio y particular que junto con su imagen, sus integrantes y su capacidad para genera problemas, fincaron una corta pero muy importante carrera, que sería modelo a seguir para otras bandas más. A destacar: Track 1 - Personality Crisis Track 6 - Trash Track 7 - Bad Girl Track 8 - Subway Train Track 9 - Pills
Good fun
It’s a high 3
Clearly a very influential band and album but I didn't enjoy it.
❤️❤️❤️❤️ - 4 stars
💄💄💄💄💄
i really dislike punk
4/10
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.
Gets pretty annoying after a while
Found this boring in a few places, but I appreciate its significance in the glam scene.
Meh
Not too bad. I liked some of the songs. But it was a rock album, nothing too unique about it.
ehh
I can’t deny the influence these guys had on the metal and punk scene. The outfits, hair, and androgyny are my favourite!!! Go glam!!! It’s a good album but failed to capture me at moments. I can imagine how crazy this was at the time though.
I always love when a rock band has a piano, it just always makes me happy It's classic rock, and I like that sound. I did find that it didn't hold my attention that much but maybe that was just that I was working while listening The tone was good, the playing was good, and the album was good even if I couldn't name you a single song
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.
i respect the grind. unfortunately it's really not for me i just wanted it to be over the whole time
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
Feels like classic rock, but like Classic (i know its Glam and Post Punk). Feels like it really fits into the decade, and I'm sure it's inspired some music I really like It feels kind of like an evolution of the Beatles, especially songs like Lonely Planet Boy. There's definitely a range in the songs, but I actually really like how the album varies Would definitely listen to this again
Personality Crisis is definitely pretty glam. It's got the shouty punk vocals though. The piano is almost giving 1950s rock n roll, but after that the album settles into the proto punk I was expecting. It's not particularly fast, or frankly interesting. There's definitely some variety, a sort of ballad (Lonely Planet Boy) to go along with the midtempo rockers, and the longer Frankenstein is one of the better cuts. Trash ends up being actively annoying with the vocal refrain ("traaaash"... yeah, it is.) Whenever I think there's something promising, like the intro riff on Bad Girl, the song goes in a different and more boring direction. Subway Train is hard to get through, especially the first half (the vocals again). Less talk more rock please. Whatever this is, I'm done with it. Bottom marks feels harsh but I just can't imagine playing it again.
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.
I appreciate what The Dolls inspired. I love that they sound like they're having fun, I like the provocation of men dressing in drag because fuck the normativity, people should be free to be themselves. Let's talk about the music: They sound like a bar band. It's bluesy, it has swagger, there is a sneer in the vocals that's is undeniably punk in its attitude. This is all cool. Unfortunately I also hate the vocals, they sound awful to me and are sometimes merely aggravating, sometimes borderline unlistenable. The rest of the music seems generic because it inspired so much that came after it, but listening to it with 2026 ears I just don't hear that much to be enthused by and there are no standout bangers on this sound track that'll make it onto a playlist for me, nor will I be spinning this record in its entirety again. It's fine.
Seriously. What's more rock and roll than New York Dolls?
Influential? Yes, I guess so… Listenable? At a pinch…. Good? Not really!
A great album when I’m in the mood but right now is not that time.
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
Another great debut album on this list! Hugely influential and still holds up!
Great, underrated album and band! Like a bridge between the Stones and punk. Love it!
Saw another reviewer who said "Without the New York Dolls, there is no punk and new wave." Seems like an exaggeration. Punk would be a loss, but new wave would not. Neither would this album if it were cut from the 1001, but we all know the book editor would rather cut off an arm before he cut an album older than the late 90s.
Best geinig
Звучит крепко, надо будет переслушать.
Had a pretty negative review half-written. Dog woke me up at 4:30 am… put my earbuds in, this came on, and hearing it for a second time totally changed my mind. I’ll listen to this again, and maybe I’ll add another star…
A fun ride through early punk New York. Great energy, awesome lyrics. Stood the test of time? Yes
It was pretty solid and raunchy. I’m assuming it was super influential because it wasn’t that good. It seems this album was about all they’d done. Overall, I mean it’s alright I guess.
Mid
I didn't absolutely hate it, but also feel I didn't need to listen to it. Feels five years too late to the punk rock craze
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.
One of my all time favourites, Personality Crisis is the perfect opener.
Great old school punk! Love the dolls!
Pretty fun album
Like the Rolling Stones as an early punk band
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.
I wanted to like it but I couldn’t!
Yéyé
So fun
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
Nieko ypatingo.
Maybe doesn't quite hit the same hights as Ramones/Pistols, but I'm super impressed to see this album came out before either - seems it was a key precursor to some of these other bands. Cool sound, with good energy but also musically tight, and also incredible to see the Drag in 1970s New York. 7/10
I've been into punk for decades, but never got into the New York Dolls. I get their importance and influence in punk, but this just sounds more like rock 'n' roll to me. Decent songs, but nothing that would compel me to return to this band or album with any frequency.
It's hard to put my finger on, but despite me not really enjoying much on this album, it really does feel influential. Of course, that's taking into account the fact that it's a debut album and from the year 1973. The New York Dolls were on the edge of the punk rock movement, and they were clearly doing things their way here. It's leaning punk, but still not as rough a angsty as I'd expect from some of those leaning even harder into the genre later. Highlight: Trash Lowlight: Lonely Planet Boy
Enjoyed some of the songs. Mick Jagger vibe.
6.0/10
I like Buster Pointdexter, but outside of this group haha. This is not for me.
Okay rock
Utdatert musikalsk sett, men masse pluss for å bane vei både musikalsk og mangfoldsmessig.
Pretty good, nothing much to say abt this one. 6.6/10
pretty alright
I started out enjoying it somewhat but I got bored of it by the end Fav track: Lonely Planet Boy
wonderful introduction to this sound. definitely want more similar albums to this one in the future.
cool!
not my style of punk
music is love
6/10… glam punk / glitter rock / *1973
in new york i milly rock
The first punk bank, the Ramones did it better though
inoffensive but I didn't really enjoy that 👍
Quintessential record although when I first encountered it as a teenager it was like an alien life form. There was nothing like this being played on the record. I recall being 14 years old in 9th grade in Winnipeg, Manitoba and hearing it in a record store as I was picking up an Alice Cooper record. They had just played the Pink Fairies record - What a Bunch of Sweeties and then they threw this on the turntable. I did not pick it up at the time but the songs that caught my attention on the first pass were definitely Personality Crisis, Jet Boy and Trash. When I really discovered the record again was in late 79 when I was reading Melody Maker and NME as those papers were being carried in Vancouver. Thus began the reexamination of this record and the other Dolls records. The music finally clicked. The outrageous outfits no longer were relevant because the band was more than image. The Sex Pistols, another boy band, suddenly made sense. In the end the fashion was not the focus but the songs. And the Dolls on this album, had all the songs. Having enjoyed this record hundreds of times over the years you discover that it’s the not so well songs that resonate deeply. Vietnamese Baby is a gem. As are Lonely Planet Boy and Subway Train. To be fair, I’m a lot older now and my tastes have changed over the years. Also the weight of both knowledge and experience adds to my appreciation of tracks that in my teens had no context. I certainly didn’t have a personality crisis at that point. As a jumping off point for punk rock n roll the Dolls with the Stooges really were the play book for everything that followed. As for debut records, this one is pretty hard to beat. 5/5
Just fun and unexpectedly entertaining.
Didn’t really care for this; however, a couple of tunes elevated it from a 2 to a 3