New York Dolls | CD review by Maggie Woods

“Stop dead in your tracks and listen to
the heady mixture of the fabulous album
Dancing Backward In High Heels from
the creative New York Dolls...”

DANCING BACKWARD IN HIGH HEELS sounds cool. We're talking here about the latest album from the New York Dolls, those wonderful guys with charisma and talent who turn out such great music.

The follow-up to 2009's 'Cause I Sez So, Dancing Backward In High Heels was recorded in September, 2010, at Blast Recording Studios in Newcastle, England, with producer Jason Hill (Louis XIV/The Killers). The album features original NYD members David Johansen (Vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (Guitar) together with Brian Delaney (Drums), Jason Hill (Bass) and original Blondie guitarist Frank Infante.

The CD is packaged with a bonus DVD, filmed during the recording of the album and which incorporates previous unseen footage along with 'live' audio tracks from the band's three 'Sold Out' performances at The Cluny venue in Newcastle early in September 2010.

“The New York Dolls’
Dancing Backward In
High Heels… A
cornucopia of fantastic
tracks meld into a
thoroughly enjoyable
album with gorgeous,
seductive vocals”
— Maggie Woods

A cornucopia of fantastic tracks meld into a thoroughly enjoyable album with gorgeous, seductive vocals. Starting out with a large slice of sweetness served up with luscious notes, Streetcake is a compulsive track. From the superb I'm So Fabulous and A Fool For You Baby, through the terrific Kids Like You that is instantly recognisable as being reminiscent of the work of Leonard Cohen, the album's songs are worthy in their own right.

Check out the magnificent Round And Round She Goes — which will have you getting up and Dancing Backward In High Heels! — and the simply divine You Don't Have To Cry with those sexily husky vocals. And we loved the cover of the Sixties' Pattie LaBelle and The Bluebelles number I Sold My Heart To The Junkman that reeks of nostalgia. The smile-a-second Funky But Chic is exactly what it says on the can and who could fail to be moved by the poignancy of End Of The Summer?

Sylvain Sylvain is justly proud of the new recording: "I think this is the most creative record that the New York Dolls, and me and David in particular, have ever done. We've worked with a lot of great people and I'm not putting anybody down and I'm not trying to compare it with earlier versions of The Dolls; but as far as song-writing goes I think that these are the best songs that we have ever come up with." You cannot help but agree.

Sylvain Sylvain [Photo by Paul Bachmann]

Sylvain Sylvain [Photo by Paul Bachmann]

New York Dolls, best known for influencing a generation of artistes in New York and London, originally formed in 1971 and went on to form the first punk rock and heavy metal bands. Largely influenced themselves by the rock 'n' roll of The Rolling Stones and The Stooges, as well as the glam rock from the likes of David Bowie and T Rex, the legendary original Dolls' line-up only recorded two pioneering, seminal albums — New York Dolls and Too Much, Too Soon — before disbanding in 1976.

After reuniting in 2004 (at the behest of Morrissey, the head of the band's UK fan club in the 1970s), the band went on to record a pair of critically-acclaimed records: 2006's One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This and 2009's 'Cause I Sez So. More of this to come!

David Johansen [Photo by Victor Frankowski]

David Johansen [Photo by Victor Frankowski]

• Blast Records is proud to announce the signing of the legendary New York Dolls and the UK release of the band's fifth full-length album Dancing Backward In High Heels, on Monday March 14 2011. The full European release is on Friday 18 March 2011.

"The New York Dolls' Dancing Backward In High Heels… A cornucopia of fantastic tracks meld into a thoroughly enjoyable album with gorgeous, seductive vocals" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar

Dancing Backward In High Heels Tracklisting: 1 Streetcake | 2 Talk To Me Baby | 3 Fabulous Rant | 4 I'm So Fabulous | 5 Fool For You Baby | 6 Kids Like You | 7 Round And Round She Goes | 8 You Don't Have To Cry | 9 I Sold My Heart To The Junkman | 10 Baby Tell Me What You're On | 11 Funky But Chic | 12 End Of The Summer.

Check out nydolls.org | facebook.com/nydolls | myspace.com/newyorkdolls.

Check out Mick Burgess' exclusive interview with Sylvain Sylvain.

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