New York Dolls - Dancing Backward in High Heels (Album)

Ah reunions…Do you love ‘em or hate ‘em or love to hate ‘em? So the story goes that the New York Dolls regrouped after a 28-year hiatus in 2004. Two members including the infamous guitarist, Johnny Thunders have passed on, leaving the two sole surviving members David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitars) to carry the torch along with some newbies. They have since released three albums (over the band’s original two) and have already outlived the first incarnation.

But has it all been worth it? Sadly, these things aren’t easily answered and all too often are a double-edged sword. On the one hand you have über-fans like Morrissey (who helped kick-start the reunion) that just “Want the boys back together, stat!” While others are quick to sharpen the knives because if it’s gonna be more of the same then they’re tired; if they start acting too young then they’ll chant, “Act your age!” and God forbid if you dare to experiment and go off on too large a tangent! Thankfully, Messers Johansen and Sylvain don’t seem to give a f**k either way, and are trying to get back to their key influences (most notably- 60s R&B, Motown and Spector’s girl groups) but all while nodding at the styles they spurned and influenced (i.e. punk and new wave).

For “Dancing Backward in High Heels” the pair got in Killers producer, Jason Hill and former Blondie guitarist, Frank Infante. Gone is the rough n’ ready lo-fi rawness of their original efforts in favour of some more laidback and radio-friendly music. The result is that the 12 tracks (11 songs and one 25 second intro) clock in at 37 minutes and are damn melodic and sunny, even when Johansen is singing about the “end of summer”.

“Fabulous Rant” is 25 seconds of sneering bravado and bile from a grumpy old man directed at the source of all evil – AKA hipsters – and is followed by a song with the same sentiment, albeit one bolstered by a wailing sax. On “Talk To Me Baby” we get that “old time rock ‘n’ roll” spilling from a jukebox while one of Spector’s groups sing ever-so-sweetly in the corner. “You Don’t Have To Cry” meanwhile, is a soulful ballad and a cover of a Patti LaBelle hit. Another old song made anew is “Funky But Chic”, a reworking of a cut from Johansen’s first solo album where we get to shake our groove thang before “End Of Summer” finishes things off with a Specials-meets-UB40 pastiche.

The New York Dolls have made a decent attempt to recapture some of the fire in the belly-type fuel that underscored their earlier releases. But they are aware they’re not the same band. This LP will polarise people (heck, even the guitars downplayed for keyboards will annoy some) but you can’t fault the band’s desire to experiment and make varied music. They may be the new New York Dolls but this LP proves that a different incarnation doesn’t need to spell death for those after swagger-filled pop with whiskey and cigarette-charged vocals.

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