Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Early NYC punk from 1973
I like Glam-Rock!
Not bad. 3/5
Drag queen rock, not sure the vocals match the music. Would love to hear them on a harder metal track
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.
FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN
decent
This sounds like the music from Rocky Horror Picture Show, but played entirely straight.
solid punk or whatever album
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
Gives a rolling stones vibe. I enjoyed it
it ok!!
cool, pakt niet per se m'n aandacht maar zeker niet slecht
Fine album
musicalmente é mais do mesmo, de fato dá pra entender a influência que isso teve pra música, de forma geral legal
No. 215 Energy behind the songs was good but the songs themselves were ok.
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.
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.
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
Yeah it was alright, I didn’t hate it, listenable
Hardrock Punk
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
Musically almost my jam, but the vocals can sometimes be annoying. worst: "Frankenstein" 2,5
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.
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.
You can hear the influences of this album on future acts
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).
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.
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
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
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.
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.
I'm feeling generous with a third start, just because I listened to "Personality Crisis" and "Frankenstein" a second time.
A little glam, a little punk. I love the attitude, and energy.
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
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.
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.
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.
Enjoyed this one!
Never heard of it, surprising, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it again.
Not as bad as I expected
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.
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.
I'd say more influential than great Best Song: Vietnamese Baby Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3
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
Found this boring in a few places, but I appreciate its significance in the glam scene.
Meh
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
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
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.
A great album when I’m in the mood but right now is not that time.
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…
Pretty fun album
Yéyé
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
Okay rock
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
6/10… glam punk / glitter rock / *1973
The first punk bank, the Ramones did it better though
Just fun and unexpectedly entertaining.
Didn’t really care for this; however, a couple of tunes elevated it from a 2 to a 3
One of the most important glam rock bands ever, despite their small discography and lack of big success. While they may not have brought anything new to the musical table, their impact on the style of the entire 1980s metal scene makes it pretty irrelevant.
2.8/5
okay, niet geweldig
They give me Rolling Stones vibes. Average album. Didn't knew the group.
Front loaded asf. Just feels like a bunch of songs with no real connection whatsoever.
Like the raunchy honk tonk era rolling stones with the gain turned way up, performed on speed and in high heels. This is the raw spirit of rock and roll delivered as a glammed up mess, it's full of swagger and snarl. Makes for a pretty clear stepping stone between Little Richard and Johnny Rotten. Big dumb debauched fun.
Ni fu ni fa. Puedo entender que hayan sido unos adelantados para la época, ejerciendo una influencia cultural y musical como precursores del punk rock, pero no siento que este álbum sea nada impresionante... Igualmente, me gustó. ↑: Personality Crisis, Vietnamese Baby, Frankenstein, Jet Boy ↓: Lonely Planet Boy, Bad Girl
At last , one I would actually listen to again .
Pas un mauvais album de hard rock, pas un super album non plus. C'est très attendu, aucune chanson ne nous surprend. Bien sûr, ça s'écoute et on passe pas un mauvais moment, mais je n'ai pas spécialement envie de faire une écoute active de cet album, plutôt en fond sonore. Note : 3 À réécouter : Oui
could be better but most of the time i like my punk not proto 3.5/5
I've used the phrase, "you probably had to be there" several times while commenting on these albums, and I'm going to apply it again for this one but with a slight adjustment - see if you can spot it: You DEFINITELY had to be there. I'm pretty certain that if I was fourteen in 1973 and living in a gloomy suburban housing estate, peering out of the window into the misty, grey, rainy, horizon, and Personality Crisis or Trash came on the transistor radio, it might very well have been a life-changing moment. They're the missing link between the Stones and punk - there's a lot of mould-busting energy in this record, and I bet they were great to see live in the early days. I get that they were a precursor for punk, and loads of the indie/alternative bands that I grew up with, but they're probably also responsible for an awful lot of poodle rock guff that should not be allowed to exist. I'm ultimately glad this record is out there and that it had the impact it did - it's just not for me.
The cover is pretty 70's punk Rock.
Solid album, I don’t know that I’ve actually ever listened to the New York dolls, but I noticed their influence that they have on many punk bands that I have listened to 3.5 stars
I think the first 2 tracks were the strongest, and I would need to revist to get a clearer opinion. For now its a solid 3.
Some solid punk
Fun album.
Some kind of midway point between The Rolling Stones and I dunno, The Clash, kinda. It’s actually crazy how much they exude a punk sound and image years before punk “started.” I dig the drag element. Gotta say, though, in general the songs are pretty typical and basic 70s constructions. As a listen it just feels mostly familiar for anyone familiar with 70s rock at all. So I guess I admire it more than I enjoy it.
I didn't think I'd like this but it actually worked really well. I don't really get punk - it just sounds too deliberately raw. But this was raw without being over the top.
Big city Barbies?
Its good fun. I had heard Personality Crisis and Jet Boy before. That said other bands do similar things but with a bit more depth. If I want a bit more menace and edge I can listen to the Stooges or if I want greater songwriting skill but with the same sort of teetering on the edge of collapse energy there's the Replacements for that. Nearly a four but not quite.
didnt finish, im sure they are worth listening to but the general sound felt overplayed
Enjoyable
New York Dolls entuudestaan jokseenkin tuttu (Personality Crisis), mutta nyt kun levyä kuunteli ajatuksella niin aika moni biisi sulautu samaksi massaksi. Ei ihan sitä 70's rockia mitä yleensä tykkää kuunnella, mut eipä tästä levystä jäänyt soittolistalle mukaan kuin yks tai kaks biisiä. 3/5.
Perus rokkia ja rollia. Ilmeisesti tämäkin joku massiivinen vaikuttaja nykyrockin ja punk rockin yms. syntyyn. Itseä ei oikein säväyttänyt, kun ilman kontekstia on hankala päästä muuhun tuntumaan, kuin perus rokkia joka ei oikein säväytä suuntaan tai toiseen.
This was a fun entry. Punky, peppy and the sound (if not content) of the vocals felt Nick Cave / TFS adjacent. Probably quite impactful at the time of coming out, though for me now it’s just some decent stuff to bop along to without setting my world alight.
Some cool sounding proto-punk which had me nodding my head all the way through. Perhaps more noteworthy on release, it felt like this wasn't giving me anything I haven't heard plenty of times before. It is a fairly standard musical offering and some pretty repetitive lyrics. All that being said,I enjoy the genre and I enjoyed the listen.
This is a lot of fun, but I don't know if I'd ever voluntarily listen to it again. It reminds me of a SAHB knockoff. Private World is my favorite, but the album cover is the star of this album.
★★★½
Poor not my taste
6 - AVERAGE
70s punk, glam rock. Very queer, very flamboyant. Considered one of the best debuts and very influential on punk rock.
Wait am I a NY Doll? the name fits the band so well but it’s just regular glam rock music not my thing but it’s fun to listen to
An entertaining listen, but not one I would probably ever revisit. 3.25 / 5
Generally I’m up for a bit of snotty punk, especially of the less manufactured variety. Musically, it’s good, quite mixed dynamically and interesting but I hit a ceiling on how much I’m gonna like it because I cannot stand his voice.
NY Punk is crazy. Sleazy and dirty. This band absolutely shreds. I put a handful of these songs into the playlist. I’ve heard a couple songs before and I only remember that because of the crazy artwork.
Kult dette, minner om det lille jeg har hørt av Ramones. Vet ikke om jeg kommer til å sjekke ut mer. Svak 3.
Heilt ok, men lite variasjon i låtane?
They were inspiration for many bands from KISS to Alice Cooper. They were/are a decent band.
I guess I can see why this was so influential, but I struggled to find something to hold on to, despite the Stooges-meet-Roxy-Music core that seems up my alley.
If I heard this in some action scene in a movie I’d probably be hunting down the song. But listening to this just as a normal person on a Wednesday in the office, it’s just not something I’d really listen to. It’s fun and cool that’s for sure, but wouldn’t return to it.
This is was Cocaine sounds like
Personality Crisis Looking For A Kiss Vietnamese Baby Frankenstein Lonely Planet Boy Bad Girl Trash
This was fine. Forgettable but I liked it while it was on
Oh the glam
Cool. I enjoyed it.
The music of New York Dolls was actually pretty good, I especially liked the blues-y(?) guitar solo in "Vietnamese Baby" as well as the drumming throughout the album. I just can't stand the first-wave punk style of singing that the singer did throughout the whole album. I am just not the right person for it, I really don't see the talent in guttural screaming, but to each their own. Of course, being a glam-rock album, I wasn't expecting any life-changing lyrics, and with songs like "Looking for a Kiss" and "Pills", my presumptions were correct. Favorite Song: "Vietnamese Baby"
Midway between Stones and Ramones. That it came to be at all in 1973 is more significant than the music’s greatness. I enjoy it plenty every time I play it, but I’m not often inspired to take it off the shelf.
I appreciate that this was a precursor to punk. It’s just not heavy or fast enough for me. Still pretty good though.
Zwüschedure paar geili, punkigi Musig vode Püpplis, wo paar denn aber doch so anstrengend gsi sind dasi mi nüm so gross ah das Album waage wird. Aber de punkigi fun Faktor git ihne denn doch es drüblätterigs chlehblatt. Will why the fuck not.
Song hend e range zwüsche nervig und cool. Da s album aber nöd standard grünpel isch, gämmer ihm 3 puntitolinos
Oh, how I wanted to love the idea of androgynous, gender-bending punk rockers. It got good ratings and it's sung by the Ghost of Christmas Past from Scrooged, so I thought it sounded solid enough. I got a little too excited. It's pretty generic. The songs pretty much sound like each other, and the production is nothing impressive. Something about his voice is really bland. I can't complain too much with rock music that follows a working formula, but I will complain that it doesn't have much creativity.
The New York Dolls undeniably had a huge influence on early glam rock, metal, and punk, so I’ll always agree that they deserve the recognition they get. That said, their music just doesn’t resonate with me. Once I’ve heard an album once or twice, I never really feel the need to go back. Their sound just doesn’t stick with me in a way that keeps me coming back for more.
This is my second time in the past year listening to this album and I liked it much more this time around. You can tell that the Dolls were a good bar band by how this album sounds. I am also able to hear the influence they had on the other groups that came out of NY especially the Ramones.
Mindless in a fun way
sounded a little bit rolling stonesy. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Interesting historically (I feel like I can detect their influence in a lot of later punk/post-punk) but it isn't an easy listen unless you are an angry young man/woman.
Dunno what it is but it feels dated but like I see why they were influential to a lot of 80s bands, it’s cool, but just a little too deep in the shadow of the Rolling Stones and I’m not the biggest stones guy anyway
This is really interesting. It sounds a lot like twenty or thirty albums that came after it by different, huge bands. Glam/hair metal look while playing more hard rock/punk forward songs. I just always assumed this album was the first finger tapping, guitar shredding hair metal album a la Ratt. I don't know that I love every song on this album or that I will ever listen to it again but this feels like a big your favorite bands favorite band situation. Maybe one day I'll come back to this and it'll be a masterpiece to me but I'm sitting at a high 3 light 4.
I enjoy bands that built upon this work more than the work itself. Solid middle the road for me.
Fun bluesy piano, proto-punk elements, glam rock strenght, and classic polish joke "haha chłop sie za babę przebrał" vibes. Anyway, this was quite fun but I wouldn't really come back to it. It's generally mid, lmao. But it's fun, it's just a fun musical experience that shall be forgotten at some point. Cool.
Rowdy and obnoxious - there's some really interesting production going on here, not bad at all
Definitely rocks but kind of a blur. Their live shows must have been nuts.
I can see all the ways this influenced later albums by countless different artists, making it still sounds timeless
I super-appreciate their gender transgressiveness in the early ‘70s, and being early punk pioneers, bringing back simplicity and pop structure to counter the indulgences and self-seriousness of prog rock. The music just goes too straight rock for me to get that into it.
This was surprisingly a pretty solid album. It brought together many things I normally hate, added a touch of proto-punk, and was good enough for three stars.
This one wasn’t available on Apple Music but I listened to some of their other stuff. It was ok, but nothing more.
I'm not sure what mood I have to be in to really enjoy this album or if I've ever been in it but I think I want to be at least once. Not everyday. God no. My life would be a train wreck.
Sympa moyen
Very influential band. Some great stuff on here.
Grei rock'n'roll.
I really enjoyed the sound of guitars on this record, guitars sounds nice and saturated. Reminds me a lot of Green River. Bass and drums seem a little buried. It's one of those albums where the energy is infectious.
Not bad.
Yeah this was good
Almost anything retroactively labeled 'proto-punk' I'm usually guaranteed to like, there's a great attitude and some cool ideas here but this was just a lukewarm like. 'Proto-punk' more in attitude than anything else, which doesn't translate well on a recorded album. It doesn't immediately speak to me like the Stooges or the Velvet Underground do but I also wasn't there in the '70s so I'm experiencing all this shit as artifacts of the past and studio recordings so it's never gonna be the same. There's a lot of punk bands - really always - but especially now that have this stripped down '70s glam rock and roll revival attitude to it, and they're fun to see live but similarly I just don't really gravitate towards them. There's a lot to appreciate here but I'm being honest with myself and will never revisit this other than as a reference point for what would shape the sound of punk... at least, unlike the Ramones, I don't genuinely dislike them.
На 1 раз послушать. Смешно, но по музыке не ахти.
Skemmtilegur andi yfir þessu
Solid pönk
Fine I guess. You can certainly hear their influences. But it starts to become repetitive by the end. 3/5
I don't usually like glam rock and at first glance this would be that. Yet this album is more gritty and sloppy. It's not polished like glam usually tries to be. It's an interesting album when viewed historically. You can see it being the roots for what comes later. I would love to know what someone said hearing it on release. Fun album.
I enjoyed Trash. Ironically, I grew up listening to a lot of punk rock, but I fear I have outgrown this genre.
Bold rock, reminds me of early femme Dead Kennedy's in a way
Solid project nothing major to write home about tho
Like many other reviewers have noted, these guys are pretty much a grimier, louder version of The Stones. Reading that their gender bending outfits and makeup were not well received made me chuckle because I guess New York wasn't quite ready for that sort of thing yet, but hang on for a decade or so and the glam rockers are going to make it cool. Music wise, it was just 'meh' for me. Some easily-forgettable stuff that I would have turned the channel on the radio had I been surfing and stumbled upon it. Giving them three stars because it does sound as if they majorly influenced many others and that's certainly worth something.
Goes hard at first, then slowly devolves to bland hard rock. I respect the New York Dolls contribution to music and punk rock, but no one does glam like the UK.
2.5. Some good songs. Love Buster but vocals are rough.
A bit repetitive at times and also a little samey but not too bad.
This really sounds exactly like a third of the albums on this list and it's now beyond me to say anything else.
Not bad for 1973 I reckon
good
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I was going to. I remember David more for his Buster Poindexter character than for his NY Dolls days. (great actor btw). Bowie inspired punk? I'm not sure how else to describe it. It wasn't technical, his vocal range is limited, but they put together some solid songs.
They sound like they’d put on a terrific live show. Good energy throughout, interesting sections in pretty much each song
It was ok.
I can understand the importance and appreciate that it is not fully punk, but i didn't particularly care for anything. Weird that the singer became a lounge act later in his career ....
Yeah, not exactly my vibe but enjoyable and I get it being groundbreaking for the time and influential.
Dit zit ergens tussen glamrock en punk in. De dames t/m heren doen hun best, er zit tempo in, er mag lijp gedaan worden en het heeft een rauw randje. Maar ja, het is gewoon niet erg goed. Niks valt op, en dan hebben ze ook nog eens de pech dat ze in de lijst ingeklemd zitten tussen toppers als Queen, Jimi en Bruce.
Met name door de 'zang' heb ik direct een punk-beleving. Het is een wat eenzijdig beeld. Want dit album is eens niet opgenomen in een schuur. En de piano en gitaar worden met aandacht bespeeld. Het heeft soms zelfs iets speels en is vrij dansbaar. Ergens pakt die muzikale tegenstelling wel. Maar ik had toch liever een fijne zanger hierbij gehoord.
Very much a record that's more talked about than actually listened to which is fine, it's not without its charms but nothing I'd every really go back to
protect the dolls
Cool early glam rock music, nothing particularly memorable. 3.2
It's pretty clear how ahead of their time this band was, managing to incorporate such a punky energy into glam rock. That being said, I think that the actual music itself could still be a lot better, mainly in terms of the production and just the general diversity of the whole album. But you still have to appreciate what they were trying to do, even if they didn't pull it off that well, but when you're the first to do something, you're never going to be the best immediately.
All I knew of New York Dolls is that Morrissey was a huge fan. It sounds like Iggy, Bowie, Pistols, Reed, Ramones, Bolan, Faces all at once. All the people influencing and influenced by it are in there, but I can't say it's particularly great. I bet they were amazing live.
Typical rock album, good sound and clarity in harmony.
this is a loud rock'n'roll album, and that's that. I don't understand the fuzz. I guess at the time the visuals were pretty daring.
They pretty much invented punk, a massively influential band for sound and drag style. I ignored punk at the time but I'm liking it more and more these days. Really don't like the Mick Jagger with less soul singing.
Glam rock party time. Not overly inspiring. I did end up enjoying some of this album, but I don't know if I will be coming back to listen soon.
This album felt like mediocre music that would be playing in a dingy tattoo parlor
I'm not really into Punk, so I didn't go in thinking much of this album. But it's not bad. It's like early Ramones, with elements of CCR. They can play, their singing is better than an average Punk band, but this was in the early stages. Very masculine sound. I expected more fem sound with their drag look, but this was a different time for sure. Not bad.
I mean, I respect it, but I'm not a fan
I used to have this album when it first came out. I don’t like it as much as I used to but it’s still nostalgic.
ramonsi prije ramonsa, plus malo bovija. neloše
Energy behind the songs was good but the songs themselves were ok
Ate my review, damn. Anyway, fun, sloppy, rock. Gets a bit one-note so it drags, but it's cool to see where so much stuff pulled from (like nation of ulysses). Impressed this is from '73.
This one was fun
Apple Music says when this album came out it was unlike anything rock n roll had ever heard before. Now it sounds like everything I’ve heard before. Must’ve been crazy influential then I guess.
3 evtl 4
Fine but not a repeat
IDK, it's music?
That first chord was so Poison. Pretty obvious these guys were instrumental in that band. Great party rock. Makes me want to drink gallons of cheap beer. Or Boons. Or Mad Dog.
Serviceable 3
Rather good proto-punk
Klingt etwas wie der Vorgänger der SexPistols
This was fun, fit my mood. Can’t say anything but this is what punk rock should be.
Enjoyed more than I thought
I generally avoid the ‘influence’ element, but bloody hell this album and their fashion is undoubtedly and impressively so. However, that doesn’t entirely remove the fact it’s pretty shit.
That's gotta be the zestiest album cover you could realistically have in the 70s. As for the music, this is extremely generic rock. It’s energetic and decently fun but doesn’t offer anything interesting. It’s not bad or boring, but painfully forgettable and unremarkable.
Nostalgic but a little dated…
Enjoyable glam but feel there’s better around it
First time hearing by a whole album by the New York dolls. Overall pretty fun, seems like some gritty, drug fueled looseness ala The Rolling Stones or the deadly snakes (for a more modern take). I get they influenced a lot of punk and progressive rock later but I’m getting more velvet underground rock and roll vibes. Solid but not blown away.
Klassischer 70er Rock, hat sich für mich nicht von der Masse abgehoben. War mal ganz nett als Abwechslung sowas zu hören, aber jetzt nichts was ich mir abspeichern werde
Nicht so ganz mein Style, aber auch nicht super schlecht. Von den ganzen Punk Sounds die wir bisher hatten, ist dieser noch angenehm zu hören.
Vietnamese Baby, Lonely Planet Boy and Frankenstein are good. Sound feels similar throughout the album
This is a band (and album) that gets cited as a big influence by a lot of bands I really like, and I know is a favorite of Christgau and his ilk. Maybe it would mean more to me if I heard it in the context of when it came out, but as is it's just kind of- good? Not earth-shattering or anything.
Fun and punky, though unremarkable and forgettable. Favorite: Frankenstein
Not my usual style, but a decent listen.
man hört den punk raus, und als inspiration für viele spätere bands taugt das album auf jeden fall.
Influential for the development of punk music, mind blowing that this came out in 1973. Not many musicians sounded like this at the time. At the same time I only enjoyed a handful of their songs.
wow what a discovery, they sound like a punkier version of the Rolling Stones
Started well and I enjoyed a fair bit (and now know where the Hives came from) but it got a little samey.
I think returning to this album for the third time now I really realize that glam rock is maybe not for me, at least in most instances it doesn't seem to quite click with me. I will say though, the NY Dolls knew how to rock and could really pull some really crazy fun performances for music that may not look that punk or heavy, it's a fun album but not quite for me
This is one of those artists that probably only really, truly hit if you were there and receptive to the vibe. I can listen to this for the first time now and hear them in dozens of bands I love, but the raw material is just that, raw. It's cool, but as more of a historical curiosity for me.
Its NY. Its pre punk. Its attitude and not giving a fuck about it. ... It's also just meh.
I enjoyed it, but not so much the vocals. LUV
I like this album… I don’t love it or hate it I’m just kinda neutral about it! It’s a good album I know people who’d enjoy it! That being said that person is not me… it’s good music but I wouldn’t relisten to this album.
personality crisis- 5 or 6 looking for a kiss- 5 vietnamese baby- 5 lonely planet boy- 5 frankenstein- 5 or 6 trash- 5 or 6 bad girl- 5 subway train- 5 pills- 6 private world- 5 jet boy- 5
Yeah you can see how this was influential
1973. Some cracking early punk to be found here. You can hear the sound of all the artists that have been influenced by NYD and I'm sure a fair few pub bands too. I was surprised by how many tracks I recognised... I may go back 🤔 Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 Strong punky ★★★☆☆(6/10)
It's a really great sound that is clearly influential to lots of bands I've listened to. I think it's impossible to understand how innovative it was without having lived through the era. That said, as innovative as the sound is, it's also clear why it didn't hit mainstream.
I liked this album. Good mix of early punk and blues. It did start to taper off towards the end. Still good though. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Favorite Track: Lonely Planet Boy
Didn't really find much redeeming in this album. The vocals were not ideal and the instrumentals/rhythms were a bit too repetitive. It's hard to give this one a fair shake with all the punk that's come since then and improved on these early influences. Have to give it a bit more for being an influence though and it was a fun listen on good headphones.
Solid yet not very exciting punk.
It was alright. A bit like thin lizzy? Not majorly interesting but not bad either.
Este es uno de los discos que influyó al primer punk pero, además, incorporó sonidos adyacentes al glam. De hecho, la influencia de Marc Bolan y Bowie está muy presente durante los temas. Son esos toques los que hacen que sea algo más disfrutable. 3/5
thoughts: todd rundgren produced this?! fun album, particularly thinking about it for the time it came out. very formative early punk rock, with a very late-60s british rock detour with “lonely planet boy” songs: “personality crisis”, “looking for a kiss”, “trash” rating: 6.8/10
This is just shouting over rock n roll riffs. It’s fine, but nothing special
Ahh this was fine. Heard it all before, which may well be because they invented, but still… Simpsons: No
It was alright. Probably not one to listen to again.
Good early punk rock album for me, raw and energetic.
3- Stars (7/15)
Das Debütalbum der New York Dolls, erschienen 1973, wurde in den Record Plant Studios in New York aufgenommen. Die Band stammt aus den Vereinigten Staaten und gilt als frühes Bindeglied zwischen Glam Rock und Punk. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Album im Bereich des Rock, wobei Einflüsse aus Proto-Punk, Glam Rock und R&B hörbar sind. Bekannte Titel wie „Personality Crisis“, „Trash“ oder „Jet Boy“ zeigen die rohe Energie der Gruppe und die für damalige Verhältnisse ungeschliffene Produktion. Die Kombination aus verzerrten Gitarren, klarem Rhythmus und auffälliger Bühnenpräsenz prägte das Image der Band ebenso wie die musikalische Ausrichtung. Die Songs wirken bewusst unfertig und direkt, was dem Album einen dokumentarischen Charakter verleiht. Die Texte bleiben dabei oft lakonisch und greifen urbane Themen auf, ohne in Erzählstrukturen auszuufern. Die Stimme von Sänger David Johansen bewegt sich zwischen Gesang und Sprechstil, was die Eigenständigkeit der Band zusätzlich betont. Insgesamt ist das Album eine stilprägende Veröffentlichung, die weniger durch technische Perfektion als durch Haltung, Klangästhetik und Kontext wirkt.
Personality Crisis // Frankenstein // Trash //
Nothing really stuck with me, but I wouldn’t say it was unenjoyable.
A solid rock album, but nothing to spectacular. The early 70s have some of the most amazing prog so I don't see why I should waste time with the New York Dolls.
Not sure I'd heard this before but it was really good. No doubt genre defining. Mid 3s
It was fine, but every song sounded the same. I couldnt tell you how one song was different from the other except the lyrics.
Ight
Solid
It's a bit punk, a bit glam, and the lead singer sounds like Mick Jagger. It's alright.
Decent
One of those records I wish I’d had earlier. Finally came across it sometime in the 10s and was like maaaan where was this when I was younger, this kills! And David was from Staten, so it’s entirely possible he was kicking around the ferry terminal freaking my parents out in the early 70s, perfect.
6/10 Looking at this purely from a modern angle, one could consider this to be pretty tame, but given that it was released in 1973, I suspect it was far more of a fresh and heavy sound at the time. It seems to take a lot of older rock ’n roll stylings and throw a bit of aggression and attitude over the top of it. It worked better in some places than others, but I thought the general vibe was good. You can definitely hear a load of things across the album that are direct influences to bands that would follow. I bet these guys were an absolute riot live. From a musical point of view, I think you’re either going to gel with the vocal style or absolutely hate it. As someone who listened to a variety of punk growing up, it worked fine for me, except when he tried to actually sing in a more traditional way, when it just fell to pieces. On my second listen, I felt the second half of the album was stronger, but maybe I was just getting into it a bit more. I’m definitely glad to have heard this and I did really like a few of the songs. Not one for the regular rotation, but a great pick for the project. Personality Crisis - This is quite fun. A bit of bluesy r&b slapped about with a proto-punk attitude. Looking For A Kiss - This is a bit more tame and doesn’t really pull off the attempted attitude as well. Vietnamese Baby - A decent Little Rock ’n Roll number. Nothing that special but ok. Lonely Planet Boy - A softer song like this really exposes the singers voice. It works for the more punky, heavy stuff, but it doesn’t sound good here. Boring song too. Frankenstein - Again, this one doesn’t do anything that interesting. The attitude and vocal works better here and I don’t mind it, but it’s just a bit samey. Trash - This is a weird crossover between punk and jangle-pop. I can hear elements of a lot of things that were to follow in this track alone. Fun if a little too repetitive. Bad Girl - The structure of this was less repetitive and I quite liked it. The vocal worked really well with a song like this. Dirty Rock ’n Roll. Subway Train - Another decent one. There was a nice groove to it and it had a good dynamic change between the verse and chorus. Pills - Anther good one. It’s a fairly straightforward bluesy rock ’n roll number, but it’s good and has a nice bit of attitude. Private World - Another good little tune. Maybe a bit too similar to the songs that surround it, but decent nonetheless. Jet Boy - This one seemed to be going the same way as the last few tracks, but it really hit its stride about a minute and a half in. Good riffs, good pace and a good mix of vocal styles from the lead to the backing vocals.
I get why this album matters. In the middle of all the polished rock coming out in the early 70s, the New York Dolls were loud, messy, and didn’t care what anyone thought. You can hear the early seeds of punk all over this thing. And for that alone, I have a lot of respect for what they were doing. That said, it's not really something I’d revisit. Outside of “Personality Crisis,” none of the tracks really stood out.
No doubt they nailed the vibe though
Pioneers of punk rock, not my preferred genre but gave me more appreciation for the genre.
Pretty decent, but repetitive. More of a "historical importance" pull, which was long overdue. Favorite tracks are the opener and the closer, interestingly enough.
High 3 Good punk and clearly influential
В силу странных причин (первая из которых - охуенная обложка) я ожидал от этого альбома совсем другого, и возможно поэтому мне, вероятно, было трудно словить волну этого глэм-панка. Здесь есть и полный пиздец, и как будто бы поп-смежные вещи с хуками и всё такое. Итс файн, но будто бы ни туда, ни сюда. Лучшая песня - Personality Crisis.
Glad to finally hear this. Heard about the NY Dolls my whole life. Wasn’t blown away. But good for the early glam / punk scene.
it's an interesting mix of fun and unengaging
They get “respect points” for their place as pioneers of the punk genre. But their music didn’t really stir any strong emotions for or against, which kind of runs counter to what I thought punk should do.
Proto-punk that's decent enough for the genre. Still not my bag, though, baby.
Nunca entendí la estética del glamrock (sigo sin entenderla). Al final el disco está mejor de lo que parece, si dejas a un lado los prejuicios. Me he guardado "Personality crisis", "Looking for a kiss" y "Trash".
Punk rock, pure and simple. Great energy
Sounds like if Mick Jagger went punk. Good song writing but still not really my choice
2.6 Can't quite get the New York Dolls. Get praised for being groundbreaking but I just find them completely unoriginal. It sounds like a tribute act that primarily play Stooges & Stones tracks had a go at writing their own stuff. Each element just not as good as the real deal. Happy to not hear this again.
Cover fooled me. Great Punk'n'Roll.
Rätt bra skiva egentligen men av någon anledning så orkar jag inte riktigt behålla intresset, kanske är det avsaknaden av låtar som sticker ut eller så är det genren som inte riktigt är min kopp te. En stabil trea dock.
Yep. Pretty good.
Solid street rock album
Not bad. Hard to say what this albums tries to be but. I kinda like it.
I seem to remember the Dolls were a bit of an "shock rock" troop who're lumped in as punk rock band. I'm not the correct person to (dis-)prove that, but this sounds remarkably like Hanoi Rocks did later. This sounds more like rock 'n roll with some attitude, than punk rock to me, sort of like garage vibes. Not really my bag of riffs, but I don't mind listening to it and edjumacatin' meself on sum rockin'.
fav: lonely planet boy, pills least fav: everything else 6/10 probably a good album its just not for me, forcing myself to finish it
Like a punk version of the Rolling Stones, lots of energy, didn't overly blow me away
3:5
Fun
Glad I finally took a listen.
Random thoughts: * A little bit punk, a little bit glam, a little bit KISS. a little bit Twisted Sister. All rock n roll. * They had to be the inspiration for Rocky Horror Picture Show. * None of the songs particularly stood out to me as "hits" but also none of the songs were "duds" either. Just solid rocking straight through.
I liked the beginning, the middle was not good, I liked the end
Not what I was expecting but in a good way. I enjoyed it.
I think this is somehow the first time I've heard NY Dolls, and gotta say it was not what I was expecting. Didn't love it...
Did not feel like a special album. Usual good ol' rock and roll.
Archetypal “band who the bands you like like” for me. Had so much fun listening to this and can see the influence it had on so many bands I’m in to. Regret not having listened to them before. 3⭐️
Good, but at bit onedimensional
Good enough punk record, but nothing amazing. Can take it or leave it.
Liked it at first but grew tired of it by the end
It's just rock.
Nice moving rocker from early 70's . Good energy
It's definitely fun old skool punk! Three stars for obvious influence on the culture, but the music didn't touch my cold punk heart. The Damned, with an album also on this list, was similar old skool punk era but had emotions and movement behind it, so this stays at three stars. Some good tracks on this for sure, but tracks like Lonely Planet Boy are absolute snoozefests.
You can definitely hear their influence on the many artists that would came after. For me personally nothing really stuck out to me. It's got a nice energy and vibe to it but the listening experience as a whole felt drab and lackluster since I heard nearly the same stuff before. Not to say that the album was bad but it was just, fine. Good if you will. It does have a fire album cover though. Top 2: Personality Crisis and Trash no bad songs maybe mid but no bad 2.75-3.25/5
3.5
Ah drag. The wonderful art form deemed too spooky by the world’s dumbest. I am inclined to give this album some credit already, but that would simply be unfair. We have returned to the 70’s once again on this arduous trudge to musical Mordor. Is this punk? Rock? Who knows. Enter the dollhouse. Leave your shake and go wig at the door. Personality Crisis - Oh god the piano is dreadful. The vocals though. That’s a redemption arc. Good punk energy. Solid opener. Looking for a Kiss - Yes. Wise choices abound. Get rid of the piano. Gruff rock music with a foot firmly planted in the world of punk. Very good despite the horrifying sound effects near the end. God, I hate intimacy. Vietnamese Baby - This infant is from Vietnam and we are going to sing a loud song about it. I can’t dissect this too heavily for multiple reasons. The primary reason being my lack of musical expertise and inability to express the intangible emotions associated with listening to a decent song. Lonely Planet Boy - A quieter, gentler New York Doll. Kind of a silly one, but it seems to have a sense of humour. Context is so important. I could actually see parts of this appearing on albums in the late 90’s. Those dreamlike sighs at parts could absolutely show up later in music history. Not my favourite, but certainly interesting. Frankenstein - I love the vocals here. Not necessarily a comment on this specific song but it just gets reinforced as I move through this thing. The screams at the end are so emotionally vibrant and bordering on unhinged. The repetition even adds to the frantic atmosphere. Hell yeah. Trash - Don’t ask this guy anything, alright. Let’s just play it safe. Man this has a sweet drive to it along with a fun melody and a very creative chorus arrangement. I think that’s what this is called. Who cares. Song sound gud. Bad Girl - The moment of truth. A song referencing a girl. Will she be of age? Bruce Springsteen couldn’t do it. Hell, half the artists on this list refer to little girls or whatever, so this could really sour me. No mention so far! Gotta get some love before the planet is gone. Subway Train - all aboard the Subway train. A choo choo chariot en route to every subway franchise this side of the mighty Mississip’. Load me up with some ham and cheese footlongs and don’t skimp on the banana peppers. On second thought, hand me that puke bag, the subway crawl was a bad idea. This song was a let down too. Not horrible, but a slight let up Pills - Surely they’re talking about pills that help manage cholesterol or other life saving care that is available to us now in this advancing world. Prison music off the bat. Kind of stays there. Private World - It really do be a private world. At least I’m convinced now after hearing the phrase 279 times. I hate that this is dragging slightly. Jet Boy - Jet Boy was born with an impossibly rare genetic condition where he was born with steam propulsion capabilities. Will he use it for good? Or will he become a scalding geyser of evil? This song is an excellent collection of riffs. A wake up call of a final track. If the New York Dolls got in and out in 35 minutes instead of 45, this probably would’ve been a classic. It’s still pretty damn good, but there was repetition that felt like there was a time quota to hit here. Besides the minimal negatives, this thing was aggressive, fresh, and ultimately very fun for most of its track listing. It’s nice to hear some in your face punk attitude once in a while, and this thing insists that it’s heard and that parents don’t like it. Slap on your dancing heels, don your slay-est wig, and confound the establishment. Punk lives. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Looking for a Kiss, Frankenstein, Trash, Jet Boy