New York Dolls
One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This

THE REVIEW

Sometimes They Come Back.

Who would have ever thought of the return of one of the most seminal and often underrated rock bands of the last forty years? 32 years after the band's last and second album, and especially after the death of three-fifths of the group?

Let's immediately state that the album is as enjoyable and skillful as a Rolling Stones album could be in the last twenty years: no surprises, few sharp guitars like in the '70s, a wise balance between rougher rock'n'roll songs and slow, melodic ones. For a couple of years, the surviving members, DAVID JOHANSEN and SYLVAIN SYLVAIN, have gotten the show back on the road with famous (the former HANOI ROCKS, SAMI YAFFA) and less famous unknowns, to once again tour the world performing their old songs live.

Now, whether for fun or for mere money?! here comes the band's recording comeback, which in the '70s simultaneously anticipated two musical movements: the eighties Glam street and the seventies punk rock. Certainly, one might wonder, for hours, what purpose is served by a lineup missing its key members who have passed on: JOHNNY THUNDERS, JERRY NOLAN, and ARTHUR DANE were difficult to replace. Thus, this reunion becomes a sort of two-man project in which JOHANSEN dominates with his voice, roughened by time and something else. It starts well with two good rock'n'roll tracks, WE'RE ALL IN LOVE with its harmonica inserts and RUNNIN' AROUND with the refrain that instantly gets stuck in your head.
By the third song, PLENTY OF MUSIC, the pace slows with a slow and romantic ballad. DANCE LIKE A MONKEY is the catchy track chosen as a single. PUNISHING WORLD, FISHNETS & CIGARETTES, GOTTA GET AWAY FROM TOMMY are a nice old-school rock trio, punctuated by MAIMED HAPPINESS, a ballad in which JOHANSEN sings with a Dylan-esque voice. The first guest is MICHAEL STIPE from REM, who duets on the beautiful DANCING ON THE LIP OF A VULCANO, followed by the mainstream I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN'.

There's still time for the punkish rock'n'roll of RAINBOW STORE and GIMME LUV & TURN ON THAKE E LIGHTAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY GOOD LOOKS where the second guest, the old friend IGGY POP, appears. It all closes with T and the bonus track SEVENTEEN available in the limited edition of the CD along with a DVD showcasing the "Making of the ALBUM". Far from the self-destructive times of the '70s, this album brings back a band capable of still writing fun songs, far from the provocation of the good old days, but hopefully able to encourage younger generations to explore the two hidden treasures recorded more than thirty years ago and to restore importance and prestige to a band that deserved more.