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New York Dolls

Dancing Backward In High Heels

Written by: PP on 24/02/2011 06:09:59

None of the resident writers of Rockfreaks.net were around when New York Dolls laid down the foundation for the popularization of punk rock, influencing the likes of Ramones, The Clash, Talking Heads and a number of other 70s bands with their two full lengths in 1973 and 1974, respectively. They disbanded before the ball started rolling properly, and continued on in other bands like The Heartbreakers, before Morrissey (of all people) finally convinced them to reunite back in 2004. Since then, they've released an album about every two years or so, which makes "Dancing Backward In High Heels" their fifth full length overall.

And what a full length it is. Rich in protopunk attitude and glam rock flavour, it's really a throwback to the 70s music scene before the heydays of punk and metal, where 60s influences are strongly afloat amidst rock'n'roll swagger. But what really draws me to the record is how relaxing each spin is. There's a ton of blues and hints of soul, with quiet harmonica passages smoothly contrasting garage rock undertones, perfect for setting an end-of-the-night mood even during mid day (just check out "Kids Like You"). A song like "I'm So Fabulous" sounds like quintessential glam rock, and then you have the hand-clapping of "Round & Round She Goes" reaching into rock'n'roll in the vein of The Kinks. All in all, the Dolls come out the gates with a distinctly old school, but not dated sound. This is contemporary rock for adults from the old eras unaffected by today's scenes, in fact if you asked any member of the Dolls about it they probably wouldn't even know what scene means. It's all very classic rock'n'roll, but without the attitude shoved down your throat rather than implied through the sound and structure of the songs.

"Dancing Backward In High Heels" might not be a classic album, but it's good enough to make you wonder how big the Dolls would've been today had they not disbanded so early on in their career. It sounds so distinctly different from anything else being released these days that this alone guarantees it an audience, though it helps to have (mostly) strong material on the record, too. The 70s are calling, are you going to pick up the phone or let it ring?

Download: I'm So Fabulous
For the fans of: 70s glam rock, protopunk
Listen: Myspace

Release date 15.03.2011
Blast Records