New York Dolls - 'Cause I Sez So

DumpJack · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:24 pm

Didn't even know they had a new one coming out.

Quote:

Listen Up: NY Dolls Sez So

03/03/09 1:43pm

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mattel's Barbie and 38 years since the New York Dolls formed in New York City. While hundreds of Barbie models have passed through little girls' hands over the years, the Dolls are just releasing their fourth studio album.

But the quintet featuring original members David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar, vocals) and 21st century additions Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums) and Sami Yaffa (bass) will do their best to keep those girls' naughty mommies happy with Atco Records' May 5 release of 'Cause I Sez So and tour dates in support of it.

The New York Dolls teamed up for 'Cause I Sez So with producer Todd Rundgren (Lords Of The New Church, The Tubes), who was also at the controls for their self-titled 1973 debut. The 11-track album was recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii and includes a new version of the glorious "Trash" from the first record.

"It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present," says Johansen.

The Dolls followed their debut with 1974's prophetically titled Too Much Too Soon before they broke up in 1977. The surviving members of the glam-punk band reunited in 2004, but bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane soon died of leukemia. The current lineup released the underrated One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This in 2006 and have toured pretty regularly ever since.

The Dolls will play a night-time showcase at Smokin' Music on March 20 and an afternoon set at television food show host Rachael Ray's party at Maggie Mae's the next day in Austin, Texas as part of the South By Southwest Music Festival. A U.S. tour is slated for May, but no dates have yet been announced.

Here are the songs on 'Cause I Sez So:

"'Cause I Sez So"
"Muddy Bones"
"Better Than"
"Lonely So Long"
"My World"
"Ridiculous"
"Temptation To Exist"
"Making Rain"
"Drowning"
"Nobody Got No Bizness"
"Trash"
"Exorcism Of Despair"

Mick · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:42 pm

Oh shit I saw them last year or the year before and it was THE WORST show I've ever seen. Everything sucked, the sound was terrible, they were playing like shit, and they were loving it, which made it even worse.

This will fucking suck. I'm imagining that new Stooges record times 5.

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:03 pm

Awesome that Rundgren gets a chance to ruin another Dolls album.

And those song titles don't bode well. Although I could never get into that last album. It sounded more like Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs" than a NYD release.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

I can't let Mick's comment stand without a reply. They were really good when I saw them. I even enjoyed the songs they played off their last album. That said, I never checked out the last Dolls album and don't really need a new one.

Danny Don't Rapp · **Joined:** Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:20 pm **Posts:** 1530

Any way you look at it, two out of five original members is not the original band. I really, really wish they would give up the New York Dolls title.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:24 pm

The worst part of the last album was that it was 52 min long. They could have whittled it down to something more reasonable.

nobody · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:03 pm

Last album was pretty mediocre, but the songs translated well live when I saw 'em. Of course it's not like seeing them in '75, but they could have all original members and considering they're all 30 years older it still wouldn't. I'd say musically the sound may actually get a bit of help from a few younger hands on stage who can bring a bit of energy. I expect the album to be pretty mundane again, but I'd probably go check them out again too.

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 12:52 pm

Finally listened to this over the weekend, and it's pleasantly surprising. Waaaay more mellow than I ever would have expected, and probably that means it's way more of an honest depiction of where Johansen and Syl stand at the moment. The new version of "Trash", fer instance, wants to be some kind of lazy reggae groove. Which is good, I guess - and if it had been put out as a Johansen solo album I'd rank it #2 behind his eponymously titled debut - but no way in hell should this be considered a Dolls album.

And the few times they attempt to rawk the songs get smeared by that old 80s hair metal geetar tone. I guess Conti prefers Eddie Van over Johnny Thunders. Dumbass.

nobody · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 1:13 pm

Yeah, I like the more laid back tunes on here better as well. The faster tunes get a bit cheesy with none of the real ragged glory and menace of the older songs. And yeah, that version of Trash is kinda fun.

Speaking of Johansen solo, I still really like the 2 records he put out over the last few years with David Johansen & the Harry Smiths.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 2:02 pm

hurrah for 80s hair metal guitars. I'm putting this on next.

New York Dolls - 'Cause I Sez So

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