“New York Dolls” by New York Dolls
This highly influential punk-rock LP turns 50 today!
Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick celebrates the 50th anniversary of an indispensable alt-rock document from a band that was far, far ahead of its time.
Genre: Glam Rock, Punk Rock
Label: Mercury
Release Date: July 27, 1973
Vibe: 😮
It’s the kind of old tour poster that would likely get the New York Dolls banned in several states now: five grown men, decked out in fierce wigs, makeup, and high heels, daring you to look away while posing under the slogan: A band you’re gonna like, whether you like it or not. And, for as untidy as it sounds by today’s standards, there’s no denying how true that statement has remained in the half-century (!) since the group’s eponymous debut was released. Listening to this collection of tracks now is to witness the birth of modern alternative rock and punk. Artists like the Ramones, Blondie, the Clash, David Bowie, the Smiths, and countless others owe at least a small debt to the Dolls and their unabashed combination of sleaze and subversion.
In a sense, the New York Dolls’ debut is an antidote to their overwrought prog rock and art rock counterparts of the day. The band outright rejects the polish of the likes of The Dark Side of the Moon and Quadrophenia, to name just a couple, in favor of manic, red-lining energy. The explosive opener, “Personality Crisis,” with David Johansen’s screeches cutting through Johnny Thunder’s razor-sharp riffs (or is it the other way around?) lets listeners know exactly what they’re in for right away. Ditto for cuts like “Looking for a Kiss” and “Pills,” where Johansen issues a mission statement of sorts on the former: “You know I can't be wasting time/Cause I gotta have my fun.” The more unhinged the album gets, like on “Trash,” the more fun the listen becomes.
If you’re down for an indelible, indispensable part of rock history, don’t skip this one.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈
Got thoughts on this album? Did you love it? Sound off in the comments.