New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This Review
by Zane Ewton
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The New York Dolls remaining members reunited in the summer of 2004 to play the Meltdown Festival at the prompting of the year's organizer, Morrissey. David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain and Arthur "Killer" Kane were the last of the original Dolls and shared the stage for the first time in 30 years.
Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan died in the 1980's and original drummer Billy Murcia died before the band signed a record deal. All three were victims of rock and roll excess.
With only two albums the Dolls have been regarded as the godmothers of glam rock, punk and hair metal. The band indulged heavily in the spoils of a rock band on the road, imploding after two albums with each member going their separate ways. The music and the band's image endured far better. The trashy and greasy rock of the Dolls is a timeless jewel from the staid early 1970's.
The Dolls always faced incredible hardships whenever success was near. The reunion was no different. Only 22 days after returning to his Los Angeles home from the festival in England, "Killer" Kane died the same day he was diagnosed with leukemia.
January of 2006 brought the two remaining New York Dolls into the studio with producer Jack Douglas and a new cast of characters. The results are a blast of rock confection that plays like the Dolls never went away.
One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This is a glossy, trashy and simply fun rock and roll record. It is driven by guitars and an upbeat attitude. Johansen's voice has some hard-earned grit and his lyrics are completely absurd, in a good way.
The New York Dolls raid the blues, bubblegum pop and that pure punk energy to plow through 13 tracks with names like "Dance like a Monkey", "Fishnets & Cigarettes" and "Take a Good Look at My Good Looks".
Michael Stipe, Tom Gabel and Iggy Pop share vocals with Johansen on a few tracks, but they never outshine the core band.
Reunions can be a complete disappointment, going so far as to taint the original image. The New York Dolls are in grave danger. The first two albums and the original band are held with such regard that a bloated reunion tour and album could just leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
Fortunately, One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This is a fantastic rock record. Sometimes old friends can still deliver the goods.
CD Info and Links
New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
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