New York Dolls New Album Out Soon

Of all of the "influential" or "seminal" bands that have reunited in recent years, only one has really knocked my socks off hard enough to really make me pay attention...The New York Dolls. Their "reunion" album, 2006's One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This was dead solid, and the tour that followed was nothing less than a ball.

Now comes word that The Dolls have reunited with Todd Rundgren, producer of their influential 1973 debut, to record their fourth studio album, ’Cause I Sez So, on Atco Records. Recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, the album features original Dolls David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar) plus Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums), and Sami Yaffa (bass). The 12-song track list features 11 original compositions, including the first single “'Cause I Sez So” and a new version of “Trash,” which was originally on their 1973 debut album. “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.

From what I've heard on the advance tracks posted on the online listening party, the new album kicks out the jams in a big way. ’Cause I Sez So is out May 5.

Pre-order ’Cause I Sez So here.

NY Dolls Official site
Facebook page
MySpace

To hold you over until the album comes out, check this video featuring the original version of "Trash", along with a montage of images from from "Born to Lose: the Last Rock and Roll Movie," by Lech Kowalski:

K-Rock Flipping to Top-40 on Wednesday

The lamest sounding station in a market full of lame stations, NYC's K-Rock (92.3 FM) will be changing to Top-40 on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.

The new format will feature music from acts like “Kanye West, Beyoncé, Pink, Flo Rida, Akon, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake,” according to the announcement...which is good news in case you might be tired of Z100's format featuring Kanye West, Beyoncé, Pink, Flo Rida, Akon, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake. Thanks for nuthin'.

This would be a great time for rock fans to check out WRXP (101.9 FM) and their recently much improved format. Spearheaded by the arrival of Matt Pinfield as their morning guy a few months ago, 'RXP features a great mix of classic and current rock, with a healthy dose of NYC-centric R&R.

Check this list of songs they played this afternoon:
4:39 PM "BEATLES AND THE STONES" - THE HOUSE OF LOVE
4:34 PM "FAME" - DAVID BOWIE
4:25 PM "FOREVER" - LIVE
4:20 PM "SYNCHRONICITY II" - POLICE
4:17 PM "LOOKING FOR A KISS" - NEW YORK DOLLS
4:13 PM "ELDERLY WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER IN A SMALL TOWN" - PEARL JAM
4:09 PM "MY LUCKY DAY" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
4:05 PM "PULLING MUSSELS (FROM THE SHELL)" - SQUEEZE
3:57 PM "US & THEM" - PINK FLOYD
3:53 PM "MY FAVORITE MISTAKE" - SHERYL CROW
3:45 PM "CAN YOU TELL" - RA RA RIOT
3:41 PM "RUNNING ON EMPTY" - JACKSON BROWNE
3:38 PM "EVER FALLEN IN LOVE" - BUZZCOCKS
3:33 PM "6TH AVENUE HEARTACHE" - WALLFLOWERS
3:29 PM "USE SOMEBODY" - KINGS OF LEON
3:24 PM "ANGEL" - AEROSMITH
3:14 PM "RUNNING AWAY" - HOOBASTANK
3:10 PM "LOLA" - KINKS
3:07 PM "SEQUESTERED IN MEMPHIS" - THE HOLD STEADY
3:03 PM "AND SHE WAS" - TALKING HEADS
3:01 PM "INTO YOUR ARMS" - LEMONHEADS
2:56 PM "AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG" - ROLLING STONES
2:54 PM "WIRE TO WIRE" - RAZORLIGHT
2:49 PM "JANE SAYS" - JANE'S ADDICTION
2:45 PM "BROADWAY" - GOO GOO DOLLS
2:37 PM "TOUCH ME" - DOORS
2:33 PM "HUMAN" - KILLERS
2:29 PM "SEMI-CHARMED LIFE" - THIRD EYE BLIND
2:24 PM "MEAN STREET" - VAN HALEN
2:14 PM "SPEED OF SOUND" - COLDPLAY
2:09 PM "THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE" - LED ZEPPELIN
2:02 PM "ROOSTER" - ALICE IN CHAINS
2:00 PM "MAGICK" - RYAN ADAMS
1:56 PM "AUTHORITY SONG" - JOHN MELLENCAMP
1:50 PM "BALL AND CHAIN" - SOCIAL DISTORTION
1:47 PM "ROXANNE" - POLICE
1:43 PM "COME HOME" - BACK DOOR SLAM
1:40 PM "AFTER MIDNIGHT" - ERIC CLAPTON
1:31 PM "RUN" - COLLECTIVE SOUL
1:28 PM "POP SONG 89" - R.E.M.
1:24 PM "CRACK THE SHUTTERS" - SNOW PATROL
1:21 PM "IMAGINE" - JOHN LENNON
1:13 PM "ANARCHY IN THE U.K." - SEX PISTOLS
1:11 PM "DUMB" - NIRVANA
1:08 PM "SHIMMER AND SHINE" - BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS 7
1:05 PM "DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT" - TOM PETTY
1:01 PM "PRETZEL LOGIC" - STEELY DAN
12:55 PM "HOUSE OF CARDS" - RADIOHEAD
12:52 PM "YOU REALLY GOT ME" - KINKS

Buzzcocks, Pistols, Ryan Adams, Dolls, House of Love, Lemonheads, Bowie, and "Semi-Charmed Life"?  It sounds like a great mixtape I'd left under the seat of the car I had before my last one...and that's a good thing.