#301 New York Dolls, 'New York Dolls' (1973)

Previously #215

Well before Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash came New York Dolls, pioneers of, not only the US punk scene, but the punk scene in general. Listening to this album, it’s hard to believe that punk didn’t really exist before this. New York Dolls took the joyous fun of 1950’s Rock ‘n Roll, scuffed its knees, gave it a mohawk and took it to the basement of New York City clubs. On the way down, they grabbed acclaimed producer, Todd Rundgren (remember him from #396?), and got him to add his pop sensibilities to the record. They later said that Rundgren would capture the live feeling of the band perfectly.

‘Personality Crisis’ opens the record and it’s such a great punk song. One of those songs that’s just such a part of the fabric of punk, I was sure it had been written and recorded by another artist. Into ‘Looking For A Kiss;’ “I need a fixin' a kiss, I've been looking for a kiss/I didn't come here, lookin' for no fix, I know.” ‘Lonely Planet Boy’ could be Velvet Underground. All in all, this album is so influential and so important to punk rock and alternative music. The album that really kicked it all off. It’s got swagger and it’s got attitude. And that’s 200 albums down.

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