May 5th will see the release of the legendary New York Dolls' second studio album since reuniting after a 30-plus year hiatus. Cause I Sez So has the punk godfathers joined by their original producer, Todd Rungren.
Cause I Sez So finds David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain and company in a more laid back mood than they were on their 2006 comeback album One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This. In this case, that's not a good thing.
While the album kicks off with a band courtesy of the title track and it's infectious Glam gang vocals, it quickly retreats into banality. In place of blazing rockers we're discouraged to find tepid tracks like the awkward '50s doo-wops "Lonely So Long" and "Better Than You", the latter oddly spiked with punk bravado. Even more bizarre is the Dolls' impression of a mariachi band on the soon-to-be Mexican fiesta standard "Temptation To Exist".
Faders do get elevate on "My World", however it's with a too-close-for-comfort "Pinball Wizard" guitar riff. That's not the only moment to give us pause. "Mama I'm Drowning" may be one of the strongest tracks on the record. It's a shame the intro is eerily similar to "Paint It, Black" in both sound and feel. In a bizarre reversal of fortunes "Nobody Got No Bizness" sees Johansen doing his best Steven Tyler impersonation.
The blues jam "Ridiculous" is good for a groove, and things do pick up with the gritty rocker "Making Rain". We also get a Beach Boys-influenced re-recording of "Trash" from the band's 1973 debut.
As a fan of the New York Dolls, and someone who appreciates their contribution to music, it pains me to say this, but Cause I Sez So probably should've stayed on the shelf. There's clearly no fire in the belly.
Best tracks: "Cause I Sez So", "Mama I'm Drowning"
Track listing for Cause I Sez So:
- Cause I Sez So
- Muddy Bones
- Better Than You
- Lonely So Long
- My World
- Ridiculous
- Temptation To Exist
- Making Rain
- Mama I'm Drowning
- Nobody Got No Business
- Trash
- Exorcism of Despair
4.0/10
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