"Shout Above the Noise" Radio Show

New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
(Roadrunner Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

It has been over thirty years since these highly influential pioneering legends of rock and roll have recorded an album. The New York Dolls were definitely one of the bands that inspired the music which would come to be known as punk rock. The band released two albums in the early 1970s, the self-titled New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). After all of these years and only two remaining members of the band, who would have ever thought a new album would be released by this band in 2006? Well, hell yes! It is here, and I really like it. Of course, a lot has changed in the past thirty years. However, this doesn't mean that David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, and friends can't dish out one more great record.
Overall it is a great-sounding blues inspired rock and roll record with no filler. There are songs that remind me of the Dolls' early sound, such as "Dance Like A Monkey", "Rainbow Store", and "Running Around", as well as some really beautiful sounding ballads like "Plenty Of Music", "Maimed Happiness", and "I Ain't Got Nothin'". "Plenty Of Music" is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in a long time. Also, the song "Gotta Get Away From Tommy" is a high energy rock and roll thrill ride from beginning to end. And the song "Dancing on the Lip of a Volcano" features additional vocals from Michael Stipe of R.E.M. If the music industry weren't rigged, this song sounds as if it could be played on the radio!
Lastly, when I hear the song "Take A Good Look at My Good Looks" and hear David Johansen sing, "Take a good look at my good looks and close your eyes, keep the picture in your mind cause I'll be gone", this really makes me realize that life is definitely a wonderful thing. And although it will come to an end for everyone at some point, we should all appreciate the time that we have on this earth.
--- Dave Getzoff September 26, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on September 26, 2006)