The Dolls

The Dolls

Track Listings

1. Martini Never Dries

2. White Dove

3. Soul Skin

4. Dolls

5. Night Active

6. Choices

7. Kukkuu

8. Collect the Blue

9. Star-Like

10. Motor City

11. Favourite Chord

12. Sunbird

Tracks:

Don't Cha
Beep
Wait A Minute
Stickwitu
Buttons
I Don't Need A Man
Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)
How Many Times, How Many Lies
Bite The Dust
Right Now
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go
Feelin' Good

Amazon.com

Roll your eyes or--worse--invoke the Spice Girls all you want: Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like any one of the members of this revolving collective? Dissing the Pussycat Dolls is like denying you want a peek at the Victoria's Secret runway show--a foolhardy stance nobody's going to believe anyway. Never mind, for a moment, the semi-lewd pleasures of the disc's visuals (midriffs galore!): the pop on parade by this gang of writhers and eyelash-batters isn't bad. Nicole Scherzinger, a former member of the failed prefab teen pop act Eden's Crush, brings it with determination and carefully distributed shots of sweetness. More important, she gets high-wattage help. Busta Rhymes, Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am, and Timbaland all step in to dress up the Dolls' sound, and the songwriters' and producers behind PCD clearly know how to sexify a disc without sinking it into the gutter. What's best about the Dolls' debut, though, is its shamelessness. This is manufactured friskiness that doesn't take itself seriously; these girls don't want a Grammy, they only want to pounce. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

"Inside every woman is a Pussycat Doll," says Robin Antin, the creator of the singing-and-dancing ensemble that has risen from underground cool to major-label hot. "It's about female empowerment, about being confident with who you are. It's about singing and dancing in front of a mirror by yourself and having fun."

With their debut album released by A&M Records in summer 2005 (led by "Don't Cha," a duet with Busta Rhymes, written and produced by Cee-Lo), the Pussycat Dolls go beyond being extraordinarily beautiful. With tremendous voices, and after working with today's top songwriters and producers, the Pussycat Dolls are ready to stamp their mark on music and on attitudes. "To me, a Pussycat Doll is fearless but also vulnerable," says lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. "We're strong but we like to play too. The line in 'Don't Cha'--'don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me'--is meant to be empowering. The Pussycat Dolls are not about just being hot but also about saying something with real feeling."

From Scherzinger, who earlier scored a Top 10 album and single while in girl group Eden's Crush, to Jessica Sutta, the one-time captain of the Miami Heat dance troupe; from Carmit Bachar, the La Vida Loca girl on Ricky Martin's world tour, to Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt, two of the most talented young dancers in Hollywood, and Melody Thornton, a stunning singer chosen from an open audition, these Pussycat Dolls are the new incarnation--more contemporary, more street--of the group whose Sunset Strip performances became the hippest ticket in Hollywood.

Customer Reviews:

THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS ARE REAL BEAUTIES.......2007-06-27

WOW, WOW AND WOW! THIS ALBUM IS ON THE MONEY! ALL OF THESE SONGS ARE INFECTIOUS AND DELICIOUS! THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS DISPLAY REAL TALENT AND GREAT VOCAL RANGE ON THIS ALBUM! THESE DOLLS ARE SOME PUSSYCATS THAT HAVE THE SKILL, THE PROWESS AND THE FINESSE TO ENTERTAIN AND DELIGHT FOR YEARS TO COME!

About that 2nd song...........2007-06-22

I wish I had known about the second song before I bought the album. Not appropriate for my company.

PUSSYCAT ROX!!!.......2007-06-13

Pussycat Doll (PCD)

Do you like music? Maybe hip-hop? Then you should get the "Pussycat Doll's (PCD)" CD with the lead singer Nicole and the back-up singers Kimberly, Carmit, Ashley, Melody, and Jessica. There are 12 songs and hot and sexy artists sing all of them.
I think that the CD is totally cool and amazing. It's all thanks to Robin Antin. She was the one who made the songs on the CD and she was the one who created the Pussycat Doll's. Robin also made the CD a cool, hot, sexy, and amazing CD. She makes a good feeling on the last song, "Feelin' Good"! The price is $[...].
I recommend this CD to people 10 and up! This CD will make the Pussycat Doll's be more famous and live out there dream in L.A.! On this CD I can tell the best songs from the worst songs. The best songs are: "Don't Cha", "Beep", "Wait a Minute", "Buttons", "I don't need a Man", "Hot stuff", "Bite the Dust", and "Feelin' Good"! To the fans the CD is totally amazing and to the first time listeners it's totally amazing, too!
In conclusion this CD has awesome songs, great singers, cheep price, and is a blast to listen to!!

solid debut album.......2007-05-25

the pussycat dolls are the new spice girls. the only difference between them is that the pussycat dolls have 6 girls instead of 5, and they are even getting a new member. Here is my rating for each song:

1. Don't Cha f/ Busta Ryhmes- "Don't cha wish ya gulfriend was hot like me". this song was a hit when it came out and it is still popular today. i just wish that Busta Rymes wasn't in it. he completely ruins the song and what it's about. the song is about a hot girl (Nicole) who loves a guy who has an unpretty girlfriend and makes him wish he had her, but Busta Rhymes raps about stupid stuff that has nothing to do with it. 4/5

2. Beep f/ Will I Am- I LOVE this song! This is one of my favorites. I like Will I Am because he is part of my favorite band, The Black Eyed Peas. This song is funny and cute. I love how they almost cuss, but it is blocked out by a "[BEEP]"! 5/5

3. Wait A Minute f/ Timbaland- What can I say? Timbaland is just plain awesome. He has transformed artists such as Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake; i didn't like either one of them at first, but because of Timbaland, they have both won my respect. but he didn't transform the pussycat dolls. 5/5

4. Stickwitu- This song is okay. i never really liked it that much. 3/5

5. Buttons- This song shows off their dirty side (as seen in the video). but don't let that change your opinion about them. the only time i misjudged this song was the first time i heard it. in the first line when she says "Fall for", it kind of sounds like the "F" word, but it really isn't. 5/5

6. I Don't Need A Man- 5/5

7. Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)- This song is hot hot hot. i absolutely love it! 5/5

8. How Many Times, How Many Lies- 4/5

9. Bite The Dust- 4/5

10. Right Now- This song sounds jazzy and broadway-ish. it kind of makes me think of the movie "West Side Story".

11. Tainted Love/ Where Did Our Love Go- this track copies two songs. "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell and "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes. 3/5

12. Feeling Good- The most boring one on the album. of couse i'm not sure, but i think it was copied as well. 2/5

I hope their next album is just as good a this one...no wait...BETTER! but i'm not sure if they are coming out with a new album or if Nicole is going solo.

Wonderful album!.......2007-05-21

This is a wonderful album. The Pussycat Dolls really make you move when they play. Great songs, excellent vocal. Tremendous addition to my collection. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

Contrasts from their usual style
Great tunes!
Goo Goos At There Best
JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THEY HAD NOTHING MORE IN THEM...
I love the Goos!

Let Love In
The Goo Goo Dolls
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

How To Save A Life
Dizzy up the Girl
Two Lights
For Me, It's You
Gutterflower

ASIN: B000EGDC82
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Tracks:

Stay With You
Let Love In
Feel The Silence
Better Days
Without You Here
Listen
Give A Little Bit
Can't Let It Go
We'll Be Here (When You're Gone)
Strange Love
Become

Amazon.com

The Goo Goo Dolls have long since traded the bracing, Replacements-lite abandon of their early days for an ethos of heart-on-their-sleeve emotionality wed to a solid heartland pop craftsmanship that's too easily been casually mislabeled. Superstar producer Glen Ballard (who shares many a writing credit here as well) pushes that latter sensibility to its logical extremes, ensuring a slick sonic experience that won't disappoint those who hitched themselves to the Dolls' wagon circa their mid '90s commercial breakthrough. But there remains a nagging sense that this is a band that isn't pushing itself very hard: even the hook-solid opening single "Stay With You" seems downright cautious. Coupled with Ballard's penchant for polish, Johnny Rzeznik's introspection on "Without You Here" hews close to the center line before Robbie Takac's "Listen" gives the album a much-needed jolt of energy. The album's featured cover, a faithful, contemporary AOR-friendly take on Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit," is emblematic of the Goo Goo Dolls fortunes here: They often seemed boxed in by a past that's not necessarily their own. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Better days are here again as one of America's favorite rock bands, The Goo Goo Dolls, returns with its first studio album since 2002. Opening the doors for Let Love In-with the renowned Glen Ballad producing the band for the first time. Let Love In welcomes The Goo Goo Dolls back to the top of rock.

Customer Reviews:

Contrasts from their usual style.......2007-07-11

The Goo Goo Dolls have grown softer in their music style. Compared to their last album (Gutterflower), Let Love In seems to be the work of a different band. Nevertheless, they have reached a new level that will appease Goo fans everywhere.
Let Love In is one of those CDs in which a few songs are phenomenal, and the rest is nothing special. "Stay With You" is an excellent, upbeat rock track that draws the listener in without reservation. The mood is then settled with "Let Love In" and "Better Days" which are smooth, inspirational tracks. Then to me, the remainder of the CD provides nothing interesting for me, though "Feel the Silence," "Give a Little Bit," and "Can't Let It Go" are pleasant tracks, but nothing I would skip immediately to upon listening. "Become" is the closest thing to "Black Balloon" on this CD, very passionate and compelling. It leaves the audience in awe.
Though I don't believe LLI is one of their best overall CDs, tracks like "Become," "Stay With You," "Let Love In," and "Better Days" make me want a brand new Goo CD and continue to call the Goo Goo Dolls one of my favorite bands of all time.

Great tunes!.......2007-06-23

All but the last few songs are really good. You might also like Lifehouse who is opening them on tour. Lifehouse - Everything

Goo Goos At There Best.......2007-05-12

The name does not identify with the music but this is an album that will suck you in, just listen to the lyrics and identify. Definitly not for the grunge brigade of hard rock but the Goo Goos have shown that they can do rock music that is appealing to the ear. A lot different to the early stuff. This will probably be for all you romantics out there but dont be put off, the music is awesome the lyrics twang the heart strings. A definite must have album and will be played for decades to come.

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THEY HAD NOTHING MORE IN THEM..........2007-05-03

In my opinion, A BOY NAMED GOO, until this CD was released, was their BEST album. 1998 and 1999 saw huge record sales of DIZZY UP THE GIRL and at the time I thought the album was OK, but I never was a huge liker of it...and now that times and my own musical tastes have changed, that CD seems too straightforward and at times far too abrasive. However, I did buy their follow up GUTTERFLOWER and aside from "Big Machine", I found that CD to be apallingly awful. How could they just write a batch of stale grungy type stuff with heartless tinges of balladry thrown in and expect anything good out of it? The CD had no direction, no focus, no distinct melodies...nothing original, that's for sure! Now this CD comes out and I had to give it a listen, knowing the Goo Goo Dolls from their multiplatinum days of DIZZY UP THE GIRL and having been to their concert @ The Show-Me Center (which was my first concert) and, of course, what better things do I have to do with my time? Amazon and Launchcast keep trying to introduce me to 'new' music and most of it sucks (I'm hard to please, I know!) so I spend most of my life BORED or mildly amused...I was very surprised with this album. It has a beautiful melodic tone to it, the texture of the soundscape isn't bad at all...my only complaint is that the songs are kinda cheesy...A BOY NAMED GOO probably still suits me better given my 'cynical' (aka realistic) attitude, but this was a huge relief given the lacking of their last two efforts (which took over 6 years to get to the public...).

I love the Goos!.......2007-03-09

Being a huge fan of the Goo Goo Dolls, I think their new album is brilliant. It's nice to see that musicians are including more social commentaries in their music.

A must have for any Goo Goo Dolls fan.

Average customer rating:

One of the best bands of the generation
Their best album by far
I'm giving it 5 stars despite my gripes
Good
words cannot describe.

Dizzy up the Girl
The Goo Goo Dolls
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Gutterflower
A Boy Named Goo
Let Love In
Yourself or Someone Like You
Third Eye Blind

ASIN: B00000AG8K
Release Date: 1998-09-22

Tracks:

Dizzy
Slide
Broadway
January Friend
Black Balloon
Bullet Proof
Amigone
All Eyes On Me
Full Forever
Acoustic #3
Iris
Extra Pale
Hate This Place

Amazon.com

The orchestral-pop hit "Iris" (from the soundtrack to City of Angels) proved the Goo Goo Dolls were no one-hit wonder with 1995's "Name." One listen to "Slide," the crafty, yearning second track off their sixth release, suggests the streak continues for Buffalo's finest. Not surprisingly, aspects that make the aforementioned songs memorable--warm, acoustic stylings; strings; heartrending hooks--also make Dizzy come alive elsewhere. Ultimately, the effort documents the band's continued migration from indie rock toward the mainstream. Thus, while "Slide" and the reprise of the wondrous "Iris" might shine for weeks (or even years) of repeated listens, attempts to keep alive the group's power-trio past often have a been-there/done-that feel. --Neal Weiss

Customer Reviews:

One of the best bands of the generation.......2007-07-11

I cannot believe I hadn't discovered the Goo Goo Dolls before! I was rather young when they released this album, but nevertheless I've recently become a diehard fan! Great rock album. For me, standout tracks consist of the extremely popular Slide, Broadway, Acoustic #3, Iris, and All Eyes On Me. And I must say, Black Balloon has to be one of the GREATEST songs ever written; it conveys so much passion! Definetely my favorite track.
I am not a huge fan of Robbie's songs at all, mostly because I find his voice rather whiny. But his instrumentals are not bad.
Without a doubt, the Goo Goo Dolls are one of the best bands of this generation.

Their best album by far.......2007-02-28

Their best album by far. I bought this when it came out. I remember the single Iris and Slide. Excellent album. Brings back memories.

I'm giving it 5 stars despite my gripes.......2006-11-22

When it comes down to Goo Goo Dolls albums, most people tend to be in 3 camps: flat-out hate the band, love the band but wish they were more hard rocking like their pre-Name days or the people that love them regardless. After the success of Name they became bigger and more popular so of course this record feels like the band making that move to the big leagues. Now my gripes are actually down to my track-by-track review: and that deals with bassist Robby Takac's songs. Now they're admirable and nothing against the guy personally but you almost end up appreciating John's songs more after listening to his so this review will only be about John's since less face it, I'd give really low marks to the other stuff.

Dizzy: A very hard rocking riff leads us off and then the chorus comes in which arguably has my favorite guitar riff John has written. The quiet bridge works well and crescendos to the final chorus. Overall, an excellent album opener. 9/10

Slide: Everyone pretty much knows it. An insanely catchy riff leads into a song about decisions about abortion? And it's such a upbeat happy sounding song? Go figure. While it's certainly one of the band's well-known songs, it might not be their absolute best. 8.5/10

Broadway: This song probably won't get the attention of Iris or Slide which is too bad cause it's actually a really upbeat and rocking track. My one gripe I guess is just that: it's a great track when you actually listen to it but otherwise you might not head straight for it. 8/10

Black Balloon: One of the best songs the band has done, period. Lyrically honest and frank with a great chorus but oddly my favorite section is that little bit before the chorus such as "that swallowed the light from the sun, it was your room, yeah!". Luckily radio didn't kill this one. 9.5/10

Bullet Proof: Some people only gives this halfway marks but this is one of their best rocker tracks with an absolutely stunning vocal performance during the chorus. I literally went "holy **** this guy can actually sing!" It's either a highlight or just merely an okay song. Personally I love it. 8/10

All Eyes on Me: Similar to Ain't It Unusual from Boy Named Goo, this is one of those kind of songs that never gets attention but it's awesome regardless. Bit low-key during the verses till it kicks into high gear for an effective chorus. 8/10

Acoustic #3: Just John, an acoustic(in standard for once) and small orchestra backing but it's effective. Some don't like it's really short length, others think it's perfect. I'm in the latter. 7.5/10

Iris: Every band worth tends to have that one signature song that they can't escape, for better or worse. Pearl Jam has Jeremy, Pink Floyd has Another Brick in the Wall Part II, Nirvana has Teen Spirit. Iris is the Dolls'. An incredibly unusual tuning but effective vocals by John. If I do have one gripe, besides the overplayedness, is the string section as it makes the song a bit too "produced". Initial listen you'll love it. 100 times later? Maybe. 9.5/10

Hate This Place: As a closer, it slightly disappoints but as a song on its own it's definately great. A straight-forward rocker that at least will get some toe tappings. It probably won't latch onto you right away and it probably won't have the impact of Naked or Here is Gone but it's still a fine listen nonetheless. 8/10

Now you'll notice it's a short review and that's because like I said, I omitted Robby's songs. Now, they're not really outright terrible but you get so wrapped up in John's that when somebody else starts it's kind of like "ugh". But there's not a single John song here that's just average so if you program your player to only play his, you'll probably have one of the better rock releases.

Good.......2006-11-05

Most of the songs are great; I didn't know I knew them, but when I heard them, they were amazing. A couple left something to be desired, however.
Overall, though, it was a great CD.

words cannot describe........2006-11-03

If only the rating system could exceed 5 stars! This album has proved to be quite possibly the best-spent 15.00 of my life. I bought it back in 2005, having been a goo fan for years but never buying any albums. Many of the reviews on here rave about the obvious mega-hits on the album: slide, iris, black balloon, broadway, and dizzy. Don't get me wrong- these are amazing songs too! But I know that as an avid review reader, I like a breakdown of every song on an album, and not just the singles.

Dizzy - - One of my favorite songs on the album. Among my friends and I, it's called the "bi-polar" song, because the chorus is so different from the rest of the song. Fast-paced and full of emotion, the melody is great and the overall song as a whole just has a great feel to it. 4.5/5

Slide - - Oh, the famous Slide. This song has become almost a staple in 90's pop/rock/alternative. The tune is catchy enough to reside in your head all day, but there's something about it I feel I can relate to on a deeper level. Something about how upbeat the music is in contrast with the sad theme of the lyrics. Timeless song. 5/5

Broadway - - What I like best about the Goo Goo Dolls is that they produce material that everyone can identify with. The lyrics are crafted from situations that we've all experienced, to some extent. I remember reading somewhere that John Rzeznik wrote this about his alcoholic father. Whatever the meaning, this is a great, solid song with a fun chorus. 4/5

January Friend - - First song by bassist/singer Robby Takac. I'm not the biggest fan of his voice; i prefer Rzeznik's. But Robby's lyrics have a different style to them, and I have to respect it. The song is a little harder to interpret, but overall great to just let loose to. Robby has this energy to him, it's pretty infectious. Not a bad song. 3/5

Black Balloon - - What a difference in style. This song is nothing like January Friend, but somehow the transition is fine. Probably my favorite song, black balloon illustrates a story of love complicated by drug abuse and a girl who Johnny Rzeznik just can't seem to reach. This song is so deep and beautiful, and Rzeznik really shines both lyrically and vocally.
5/5

Bullet Proof - - Not a song that initally popped out at me, to be honest. But after listening to this album for nearly two years, you develop a respect for all the tracks. The guitar is great! Rzeznik's voice seems a little strained, but it actually adds to the fast-paced, almost depserate attitude of the song. Very good. 3/5

Amigone - - Robby Takac's second song. Named after a Buffalo funeral home. I don't care much for this song, but it's not one that I skip over very often, either. Robby's voice again has that infectious, upbeat attitude. Lyrics seem a little repetitive, but not annoyingly so. Okay. 2.7/5

All Eyes On Me - - This song is one of two that, I believe, deserve more recognition. Many albums today are a collection of one to three singles, and the rest of the songs are "fillers", or so-so attempts that all sound the same. This is certainly not true with Dizzy Up the Girl, and All Eyes On Me is not a filler in the least! The chorus has this incredibly real chorus. You can feel the emotion in Rzeznik's voice. What an amazing track; I'd give it 10/5 if I could (: 5/5

Full Forever - - The third Robby Takac song. Despite a mild beginning, the song picks up tempo around the one minute mark, and becomes very catchy! The chorus is backed with great guitars and Robby's raspy voice adds to the diamond-in-the-rough feel of this song. 4/5

Acoustic #3 - - The album's shortest song times in at 1:56. I've seen many a review that complains about the length, and personally I think that adding any more to the song would ruin it. It's short and meaningful, with a simple acoustic guitar and violin in the background. Beautiful message, beautiful melody. 5/5

Iris - - Here it is, the song that everyone in America was singing when the movie City of Angels premiered. It's become less of a song and more of an anthem to every misunderstood person experiencing love. The lyrics are overquoted, but it does not make this any less of a song. I want this played at my wedding. Incredible track. 5/5

Extra Pale - - I find this a rather strange song to follow Iris, and I don't really care for it. Musically, it's a good song. Takac's vocals are strong and I really enjoy the drumline. I do like the lyrics, but I just don't care much for the song. 2/5

Hate This Place - - What a great way to seal the album. This is my second favorite under-represented song. "Hold on, dream away/You're my sweet charade." The chorus is so beautiful and strong. Really defied my expectations. 5/5

In summary, if you haven't yet purchased this album, get in your car and head to your nearest walmart/target/FYE. Or scroll up and add it to your Amazon Cart. You won't be dissapointed.

Average customer rating:

The Dresden Dolls - LOVE 'EM!!
Dresden Dolls
wow this band rocks
I'm Not Sadistic!
And no one cares if your back is bleeding

The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls
Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Yes, Virginia...
The Dresden Dolls - Paradise
Diabolical Streak
A Is for Accident
The Ditty Bops

ASIN: B0001XARKE
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

Good Day
Girl Anachronism
Missed Me
Half Jack
672
Coin-Operated Boy
Gravity
Bad Habit
The Perfect Fit
The Jeep Song
Slide
Truce

Album Description

Combine the smoky cellars of a Weimar-era cabaret with the rock n' roll fury of Joan Jett, PJ Harvey and The Violent Femmes and you have a remote idea of what to expect when experiencing The Dresden Dolls.

Customer Reviews:

The Dresden Dolls - LOVE 'EM!!.......2007-01-27

I don't usually like music with voices and words; I much prefer to listen to instrumentals and not have to concentrate on anything but the tune itself; words usually just get in the way of a good listening experience. *However*, all that changed as I was driving home from work the other afternoon, listening to a segment on NPR devoted to how up-and-coming bands have to spend so much time marketing themselves and paying out money to do so, that they don't have as much valuable time to devote to their songwriting as they would like or need. They spotlighted The Dresden Dolls and played excerpts. And I love them! I love the songs! The edginess, the words, the melody, Amanda Palmer's piano and voice (which by the way, can be soft & sweet or totally in your face). There's only 2 of them: Amanda Palmer on piano and Brian Viglione on drums - add the words and melody, and that's all you need for a great band! This particular CD has two of my favorites on it: "Missed Me" and "Coin-Operated Boy". Now I find myself singing along to the songs whenever I play them in the car (when did I start doing that??). I'll be buying all their other CDs, and singing along to them as well!

Dresden Dolls.......2007-01-12

The album has a few really good tracks, but overall it could use more variety.

wow this band rocks .......2007-01-12

do you ever get bored with bands sounding the same or the tired old crappy radio. you must pick up this cd. you will not dissapointed. I was surfing roadrunner records for some songs, i happen to stumble apond d.d. and i loved them from the start cause to me i never heard such type of music. im used ot bands like slipknot, rage against the machine, hatebread, audioslave, lamb of god, Crisis, ect. the best song has to coin operated boy.

I'm Not Sadistic!.......2006-09-20

Hello all. This review is to help you decide whether or not you want this album, right? Well. i have to tell you, you're stupid if you don't buy it. but apparently. you need more than just an insult to convince you. so....On with the show. I'll rate the songs by tracks.But First, what you have to realize about the Dresden Dolls, is that their is only 2 members. Amanda is piano/keyboard/toy piano/Vox, and Brian is percussion/drums/guitar/vox. Their sound is VERY UNIQUE, there is no other sound like them. It's a mix of Punk/Cabaret/Rock. Now, you may think that if it's only got a keyboard and drums, then it can't be rock. it can't be viscious, it can't be head-bangingly beautiful. You're wrong.

1. Good Day-4.5/5-Starts slow, but gets into it halfway through.Catchy chorus. Great opener track to ease you in to what they call "Punk Cabaret"!

2. Girl Anachronism-5/5-My favorite track on this album, hands down. The lyrics alone are incredible. but the dueling piano and drums gets to be too much to handle, it's that good. I find myself singing it at work, and i head-bang during the first minute while driving. Kinda hard to do, but...

3.Missed Me-4.0/5-A Great song about pedophilism. It plays like a musical song. Reminds you of cabaret, but viscious. A Truly great song.Catchy tune.

4.Half Jack-5/5-This is another favorite on the album. It starts out kinda slow like "Good Day" but then gets powerful later on. Lyrics are beautifully connected to one another.

5. 672-3/5-Its a 1 1/2 minute intermission. It has few lyrics, but good piano. I'd listen to it just to get to Coin-Operated Boy.

6. Coin-Operated Boy-4.5/5-The song is about a girl who wants a coin-operated boy, to "play" with. So she won't be alone. it's romantic really. It was the first song i heard by the Dolls. It gets sorta old after you hear it a zillion times.

7. Gravity-5/5-Another great track. Great lyrics. AWESOME CHORUS! I see myself cruisin on the countryside, hand out the window. just chillin' with this song. A+

8. Bad Habit-4.5/5-Fast paced and great. One of the better songs on this album.

9. Perfect Fit-4.5/5-This is the one of those songs you skip because it's slow, but later realize, it's truly an important part of the album. You want to scream the lyrics at the end. Very catchy.

10. Jeep Song-4.5/5-This song is hilarious. It's a nearly 5-minute song about how all she sees are Jeep Cherokees in town. How she'll "skip Town till the cars go out of style". It's very funny, and great instrumental accompanyment.

11. Slide-5/5-This song is the CREEPIEST thing i've ever heard. It's about this orange man,(maybe an escaped convict?or...*correct me if i'm wrong) who's going to kidnap a "red little girl" from a slide. At the very end when she's screams "The Orange Man's Got You!" I freaked out (i'm driving by the way), and got a little disoriented, because it sent chills all over my body. Pedophilism. Only Dresden can do a song, and make it stick.

12. Truce-3.5/5-This is the 9-minute epic on the album, and the last track. It's tune you can't get into for very long as it changes constantly. But the Violin solo at the end is mind-blowing. "You can fake it for the papers, but i'm on to you, i'm on to you!"
And then when you thought it was over you hear Amanda's mother or grandmother i'm guessing. "Amanda...You're telling me a fairytale."

Then that's it. A Great Album! Listen to the samples on Amazon. They really do help. Rate MY REVIEW! It's mY FIRST!

And no one cares if your back is bleeding.......2006-08-18

My introduction to The Dresden Dolls came in the form of Yes, Virginia... That CD blew me away and I expected nothing less from this, their self titled release. This CD doesn't pack as hard of a punch as Virginia does but it's there, and it's as swift as can be. The lyrics aren't as controversial and comical as they are on Virginia, yet there's still room for controversy with Missed Me and Coin-Operated Boy. The one thing that is completely the same as Virginia is the fact that Amanda and Brian sound amazing playing off of each other, and Amanda's vocal adventures from song to song are fascinating to listen to.

Beginning this CD with Good Day was by far the best choice. After a slow and quiet intro Amanda churns out the eery sounding lyric "So, you don't wanna hear about my good song?" From then on this CD is just one big rollercoaster ride. Driving piano/drum combos, soft piano laced songs, mid tempo sing alongs, everything is here. But that doesn't mean everyone will love this release, and The Dresden Dolls for that matter. This band is over the top a lot of the time, and I think that's what they go for. So if you can't deal with that then don't even bother.

The Dresden Dolls (CD, not the band) is an achievement upon itself. In this age, when I thought everything has been done musically, a CD like this comes along and just takes you for a trip. It's not traditional, you don't know what to expect, and that's the way music is supposed to be. Bands don't create music that breathes new life into you often enough nowadays. The Dresden Dolls do just that, breathe new life into you musically. Through and through, this is one of the most solid CDs I've heard recently. Every song is completely different from the last, and the creativity is outright.

My Favorite songs are Good Day, Half Jack, Gravity, The Perfect Fit, and Slide. The Dresden Dolls have proven to be in a league by themselves. No one puts out this kind of music nowadays and it's unlikely that anyone will. Basically, as far as debuts go (I think this is a debut at least), it's near perfection. I love every second and enjoy myself thoroughly everytime I hear it. So if you haven't heard The Dresden Dolls yet, the band and the album, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Average customer rating:

A Little Late to Review this..
Deep.
Worthwhile
Some good moments, some not so good
Absolutely amazing album

Yes, Virginia...
The Dresden Dolls
Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Dresden Dolls
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ASIN: B000EGEJWK
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Tracks:

Sex Changes
Backstabber
Modern Moonlight
My Alcoholic Friends
Delilah
Dirty Business
First Orgasm
Mrs. O
Shores Of California
Necessary Evil
Mandy Goes To Med School
Me & The Minibar
Sing

Amazon.com

It's hard to resist a singer who fully indulges her sexual obsessions on CD, especially when they involve songs about transsexuals and--to paraphrase a bit--girls who leave out used condoms on their bedroom dressers to make their boyfriends jealous. And that's just Amanda Palmer in her tamer moments. As the mouthpiece for the carnival-like Dresden Dolls, she certainly knows how to scintillate. The Boston cabaret-punk duo's second album is a no-holds-barred affair that sees her singing about Nazi sympathizers ("Mrs. O") and bedroom antics ("First Orgasm") with equal zest, while the music she bangs out with drummer Brian Viglione fits the very definition of perverse. For some, it's the soundtrack to a kabuki-faced nightmare; for others, the stuff of strangely captivating dreams. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

A Little Late to Review this.........2007-04-17

I hoped onto the Dresden Dolls Bandwagon rather randomly... wow, MySpace isn't a total waste of time! Anyway, I started of the Self Titled one, and enjoyed it enough to eventually purchase this disk, which is great leap forward in my opinion. This disk rarely left my player for weeks! I can't say much about the Dresden Dolls that likely hasn't been said already. I love the interplay between Amanda & Brian... a seamless marriage of instruments that truly compliment and contrast in very pleasing, exciting ways. I look forward eagerly to their next effort. My faves are BackStabber, Delilah, Dirty Business, Mrs.O, Shores of California, and Sing, but most of this disk is great, I think.

Deep........2007-04-15

The Dresden Dolls are unique... they have a really deep lyric base, paired with strong hits to the piano and light to heavy vocals. It is a rather cool mixture of everything from dark to light, and soft and loud. Each song is totally different and overall this in my opinion an awesome album!

Worthwhile.......2007-03-25

This disk is competently done -- good melodies, quality instrumentation/playing, gutsy and dynamic singing. The lyrics are interesting, off the beaten path... definitely worth a listen for those who enjoy, say, Rasputina (although I think that Rasp. is superior).

Some good moments, some not so good.......2007-02-06

I can see why people like this music - it's better than a lot of what's out there. But personally I think they need to introduce more players in their band, more instruments. The vocalist does not have enough in her arsenal to carry the outfit with just a piano and drums, and the eccentricity is sometimes forced and abraisive to the point of being annoying. There are good moments, which other reviewers are not shy of pointing out, but there are some that just make you want to slap the singer.

Absolutely amazing album.......2007-01-17

This album forges on from their first "The Dresden Dolls" with a more cohesive collection of songs. My favorite on here is the haunting "Delilah" which inspires different imagnined tableaus on each re-listen. The lyric, "he's going to beat you like a pillow" reverberates in my mind. The lead-in of "My Alcoholic Friends" gives a dizzying shift from darkly humorous pain to torturous empathy. Best album of the year.

Average customer rating:

LOVE IT!!!!
Another Great Album By The Goos!
Underrated genius
Not as great as people claim, but still good, a little rough
They Amaze

Gutterflower
The Goo Goo Dolls
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005YW3I
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Big Machine
Think About Me
Here Is Gone
Ya Never Know
What A Scene
Up Up Up
It's Over
Sympathy
What Do You Need?
Smash
Tucked Away
Truth Is A Whisper

Amazon.com

On the surface, the Goo Goo Dolls' Gutterflower is a seamless continuation of 1998's Dizzy Up the Girl, with sinewy guitars; muscular, anthemic choruses; and Johnny Rzeznik's perfectly articulated rasping vocals. But on closer listening, the Goos' eighth album is made of much sterner stuff. Those quixotic, yearning lyrics of yore have taken on a darker cast, no doubt due to Rzeznik's divorce. As a result, Gutterflower almost has the feel of a concept album about love gone wrong, with Rzeznik providing anxious commentary rife with images of dislocation and agitation. The listener is given barometric readings of the singer's bruised psyche as he attempts to put himself back together again. Luckily, Rzeznik is a clever and facile lyricist with a knack for elevating garden-variety neurosis into a rather compelling soap opera, sketching edgy characters that would feel right at home in David Lynch's world. "Swallow all your bitter pills, that's what makes you beautiful," he advises in "Big Machine," while in "Sympathy" Rzeznik appears to be apologizing to his former wife for his past transgressions, only to lash out with an elegant deftness, chastising her for "all these thoughts you stole from me." While he may have a face like an angel, Rzeznik unleashes a cunning and a fascinating brutish force not seen before, making this a much more interesting album than previous offerings. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

2002 release and follow-up to 98's 'Dizzy Up the Girl'. 13 tracks including 'Here Is Gone', 'Big Machine' & 'What A Scene'. Plus internet key to access exclusive Goo Goo Dolls material.

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT!!!!.......2007-07-13

I'm a biased commentator because I am a HUGE Goo Goo Dolls fan, but this cd is great. It's a great blend of faster songs with a couple of really good slow songs as well.

Definitely a recommended buy, as it's the only GGD cd that I've found with lyrics in the liner notes.

Another Great Album By The Goos!.......2007-04-10

I think that the Goo Goo Dolls are a great band, and this may be of their best albums yet! Sadly, this album was WAY underrated because everybody thinks that nothing can compare to Dizzy Up The Girl. Different than Dizzu Up the Girl, but definately as good. This album has a heavier sound than DUTG. This album shows the Goos darker side and songs inspired from living in LA and John Rzeznik's divorce. Amazing lyrics in this album, and I would highly reccomend it to everyone. Here are some stand out tracks.

Big Machine- Goos always always have great openers. Hard-rocking and catchy, could get stuck in your head for days. Love the guitar. 10/10

Think About Me- Another great song! Songwriting is amazing! At one point in the song before the guiatar solo, I heard John scream Oww!. It turns out he was shocked. 9/10

Here is Gone- This song is Gutterflower's equivalent of Iris or Name. It got a lot of radio play. Great Lyrics. 9.5/10

What a Scene- Undoubtebly the heaviest song of the album. Great song! Only thing I have to complain about are the endless na na na's at the end of the song. 8/10

Up Up Up- This is the best Robby Takac song of the album! It is very catchy, but short. It is a very happy upbeat song. 8/10

Sympathy- Great Song! This song has just an acoustic guitar and John singing. It is short, but complete. The guitar is very catchy and the lyrics are genius! 9.5/10

Truth is a Whisper- Perfect song for closing! This song is so good, it's almost haunting. 7.5/10

Underrated genius.......2007-04-06

All kinds of negativity towards this album, and any other Goo Goo Dolls album, baffles me. Gutterflower is a direct collection of songs overflowing with emotion, and it's very underrated because many people believe nothing else can ever live up to 1998's Dizzy Up the Girl. That was indeed a fantastic album and just as great as everything before and after it, but Gutterflower's darker focus and heavier sound are rolled up into a fantastic follow-up that earned its place on 2002's charts.

After a listen to the CD's twelve tracks, which are expertly but not overly produced and have some of the most veteran lyrics on the market, it's hard to believe that this is the same band that spawned lines like "And when I get some cash it's already been spent / Oh, I can smoke and drink but I can't pay my rent". This is in no way a knock to their earliest work (I own and love all but their first release which I am dying to get), but you can tell the evolution this band has undergone.

That being said, the Goo Goo Dolls journey back to their rock roots here after a string of hit ballads from Dizzy Up the Girl. Starting off with the explosive "Big Machine", the Buffalo trio's prowess couldn't be more obvious - this song has some of the most amazing lyrics and captivating hooks the band has ever generated. It's succeeded by the humid "Think About Me" and the album's tender, polished single, "Here Is Gone". Bassist Robby Takac takes the lead for the first time in "You Never Know", and then thrice more in "Up Up Up", "Smash", and "Tucked Away". His songs have a wily flair and his voice a gruff, crusty quality; both of which are far too often berated or overlooked.

The album's shady and ruthless side surfaces at last in countercultural anthem "What A Scene" and "It's Over", the latter giving off waves of despair John Rzeznik has only barely hinted at in other tracks. His voice begins in a hollow whisper that fits the mood perfectly. Other standouts among the gloomy half of the CD include "What Do You Need?" and concluding song "Truth Is A Whisper", equally murky and guitar-driven, while the pure acoustic piece "Sympathy" is clearer in sound but just as sensitive in wording. The aforementioned "Smash" and "Tucked Away" let some light shine through the rafters, with the vigor that the Goos have had for all twenty years of their career.

Though many passersby would be disappointed by the band's decision to stray away from Dizzy Up the Girl-esque material, even casual or passing fans should pick this up regardless, for the skill in songwriting and musicianship speaks volumes, and with the album's theme being more rock than string pop it may even pique the interest of fans of the older recordings. With Gutterflower the Goo Goo Dolls succeeded in branching out to a unique approach to their decades-old passion, and it's a beautiful thing.

Not as great as people claim, but still good, a little rough .......2007-02-28

Not as great as people claim, but still good, a little rough. Not their best album. The first track is excellent.

They Amaze.......2006-12-30

This is another solid album from the Goo Goo Dolls. Robby and Johnny do their own things and then come together well, too. My favorite is Tucked Away, it goes right at you. But the whole thing is great. It really is a trip, it still has some rockin' edge, more than that of Dizzy Up The Girl and Let Love In, but it also has some nice hooks/ballads/singing. This band really knows what they're doing, and oh the success, wow. What a good album by a three piece rock band.

Average customer rating:

I wasn't feeling this at first....
My Goo Goo Dolls Review !
beginning of something to loathe
Goo's Name
Great

A Boy Named Goo
Goo Goo Dolls
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce

ASIN: B000002MUE
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Tracks:

Long Way Down
Burnin' Up
Naked
Flat Top
Impersonality
Name
Only One
Somethin' Bad
Ain't That Unusual
So Long
Eyes Wide Open
Disconnected
Slave Girl

Amazon.com

Having undergone numerous not-so-subtle musical transformations since their first album in 1989, the Goo Goo Dolls have matured into a powerful trio that seems to instinctively know its way around a catchy tune. With vocalist Johnny's Paul Westerberg-influenced delivery and songs packed with exciting dynamics, the Goo Goo Dolls have really hit their stride. However, the stride they've hit is probably not going to appeal to most fans from their punk rock years, and some may actually think A Boy Named Goo has more in common with a harder-rocking Eddie Money than, say, the Ramones. --Adem Tepedelen

Customer Reviews:

I wasn't feeling this at first...........2007-01-21

I must say when I first listened to a boy named goo I was disappointed. I really did not like it, and I was surprised because in general I really like the goo goo dolls. I saw them live once and they were pretty awesome. It's hard to explain why I didn't enjoy this cd, but I guess it just didn't have that oomph that makes a song or an album great. I also didn't like how on one song Johnny was the lead singer and on the next Robby was, back and forth throughout the entire cd, it felt and sounded sorta amateur (and not in a good way) and just seemed kinda disconnected. I can't say any song was bad, but I didn't fall in love with any except for the one I already knew. All in all after the second and third listen it has started to grow on me. I find the best songs to be: name, flat top, naked, ain't that unusual and eyes wide open.

My Goo Goo Dolls Review !.......2007-01-12

I had the cassette tape of GooGoo Dolls in 1995 and I was listening to the music constantly 20 year old ! It was the greatest band I heard caming out of my hometown in New York !

beginning of something to loathe.......2006-09-09

Here is the commercial breakthrough of the worst group of the nineties. Songs like name & long way down define how lousy modern day rock has become. It doesnt get much worse than this

Goo's Name.......2006-08-03

A BOY NAMED GOO was a remarkable album to the Goo Goo Dolls for many reasons. It was their fifth record, and that is a record producing number that any band should be proud of. The record's cover caused some contrevesy over what the picture was really trying to display and depict. For awhile, Wal-Mart boycotted the record because of the cover material. On this record, all of the songs are well put togethered and performed, even the bass player's songs. A BOY NAMED GOO was also the record the finally brought the public's attention to the Goo Goo Dolls with their much requested single: "Name". This time around, Johnny Rzeznik steps up his accoustic sound with both performance level and lyric writing. He also has more inverted chord progressions than before, both clean and grudgy. His melodies are even more apparent than in any of his previous work. Rzeznik also leads the band well with his instrument and vocal techniques. This traits are very indentifiable on the bass player's songs because, these piece are for more melodic than ever before. The great thing about A BOY NAMED GOO is, that all the parts and songs flow perfectly from one piece to the next. Goo Goo Dolls fans have to hear this record because A BOY NAMED GOO displays what the band sounded like right before they hit it big and went to their Mainstream sound.

Stand out tracks include:
"Long Way Down"
"Name"
"Only One"
"Ain't That Unusual"
'Eyes Wide Open"
"Disconnected"

Great.......2006-06-06

This is one of the best cds I've ever heard. I remember in 1996 when I first heard A Boy Named Goo I was in 8th grade, and I've been a big fan ever since. Pretty much every song on here is excellent. It also has Robby's best song, Burnin' Up.

This is the last album by the Goo Goo Dolls before they noticeably altered their sound again. This cd has a pretty hard sound, which they mostly cut out of their cds after A Boy Named Goo. They presently don't sound anything like they did on this cd, in my opinion, but they are still good. Sadly, after this album, they cut out guitar solos entirely. Before Dizzy Up The Girl, every song had them. Its a shame too, because Johnny was really good.

Average customer rating:

thanks, new york dolls.
Hello Dolly
New York Dolls - self-titled (Mercury)
What more can really be said?
Something Happened in Lower Manhattan

New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001FMX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Personality Crisis
Looking For A Kiss
Vietnamese Baby
Lonely Planet Boy
Frankenstein (Orig.)
Trash
Bad Girl
Subway Train
Pills
Private World
Jet Boy

Amazon.com

In 1972, when rock & roll was all but dead in Manhattan, five cross-dressing glam punks from the boroughs convened and began hammering out crude, sub-Chuck Berry rock for the downtown in-crowd. It took another year before a record company dared to sign them, thus foisting The New York Dolls on an essentially uninterested world. Taking their cue from the band's guitarist/Keefalike Johnny Thunders, hardcore Dolls fans pooh-poohed Todd Rundgren's production as wimpy: twenty-five years after its release, songs like "Personality Crisis" and "Looking for a Kiss" sound more trashily invigorating than ever. With the Rolling Stones finished as a vital force by '73, the doomed Dolls were there to step into the void. A classic. --Barney Hoskyns

Customer Reviews:

thanks, new york dolls........2007-04-12

i had just lost my little boy, my husband of 19 years had recently left me for a woman 22 years my junior, and i had a horrible rash all up and down my left side. i was DEPRESSED! i wasn't the old me anymore. kicked by life one too many times, if you know what i mean. then i heard this album. and suddenly i wanted to wear lipstick again. i wanted to put on lipstick and go out dancing. i was back! thanks, new york dolls.

Hello Dolly.......2007-03-09

After recently seeing the movie, "New York Doll," I was jogged back to a time before we ever knew about The Ramones, Graham Parker, Cracker, and The Psychedelic Furs. This was sometime around 1973 where the glam sound was subtly mutating into early punk. And The New York Dolls may have been ground zero for that morph.

With the possible exception of The Velvet Underground, I can't trace any more seminal linkage to what was to come in the late seventies than The Dolls. Listening to this CD is like going back before the time of Constantine: no Sea of Marmara, no Anatolia, no Ephesus, no Byzantium. Just Rome as the center of the universe in the way The Beatles and the Stones staked an Augustinian claim to that center. The eastwardly itinerant Constantine seemed to be swiping at the wind; who could expect anything to come from that.

But listening to this eponymously titled debut, you begin to see the shape of things to come. At the time of its release, I remember the song "Trash" being introduced on a local New York FM station as the flagship cut from this raw new band out of the dross of Hells Kitchen. I remember thinking it to be a discordant, sneering mess of cacophony, scratching it off my list, searching more for the mellifluous sounds of emerging early seventies semi-prog Brit acts like The Strawbs, The Electric Light Orchestra, and Stealer's Wheel in addition to new acoustic, Dylany singer songwriters like Elliott Murphy, Daydo, Ralph McTell, Nick Drake, and, of course, Jackson Browne.

The Dolls simply didn't register on my new-bands-to-follow meter. But hearing them now, and placing them into the context of the post-Constantine period in rock and roll, I can suddenly feel their greatness. How they, maybe singlehandedly, constructed a new musical cosmos through a counterpoint of Shirelles cooing and Peter Wolf goof-shouting.

If you were alive in the early seventies, this is a great way to go back to a time in your life that was right at the dawn of modernism. As Chrissie Hynde said in the movie, The New York Dolls were "the one pinhole of light" coming out of this time. I still like Elliott Murphy, but there is no arguing with the vital sensibility The Dolls created that is with us today.

New York Dolls - self-titled (Mercury).......2006-10-05

Review number 63.Originally unleashed to an unexpected public in summer of 1973,this was of course the glam rocker's very first record.If you think the Stooges were great,step aside,this CD reissue is ALSO a true Proto-Punk classic. Every one of this album's slamming tunes 'practically' pulls you in,like "Personality Crisis", the radio friendly(?) "Looking For A Kiss", "Lonely Planet Boy" (one of my personal favorites), "Bad Girl", "Pills" and "Jet Boy". So glad they've recently reunited,aren't you? Highly recommended.

What more can really be said?.......2006-08-21

I'm a big fan of Bowie, Iggy, T. Rex and other bands of that glam/early punk era. This album provides a perfect mix of those genres. It's really hard to listen to this album and not hear how their influence spread to a lot of bands that would proceed them.

There really isn't anything I can say about this album that hasn't been said already. If you like the bands that I mentioned above, this is a must have addition to your collection.

Something Happened in Lower Manhattan.......2006-08-11

I had pretty high expectations for this CD when I first listened to it way back when. I understood that it was a recording of high historical importance and influence, and the fact that Morrissey endorsed it as his favorite CD - and does to this very day - certainly bode well for it. Besides, I couldn't help but be drawn in by a bunch of guys dressed as red light district Barbies playing trashy, menacing rock 'n roll in a brew of Rolling Stones-style blues and reckless proto-punk abandon. Moreover, in the wake of the glam rock of T. Rex and David Bowie, the New York Dolls imitated their fashions so as to flatter them, but took it to the extreme and gave it an irresistibly kitschy quality. Image was very important at the time, and the Dolls were wise enough to embrace it.

The best examples of what make the New York Dolls' debut so interesting are the manic opener "Personality Crisis", the jaunty, appropriately-titled "Trash", the absolutely superb swagger of "Jet Boy", which fully captures the "trashy glory" which is guaranteed to the listener by almost every reviewer out there. This is probably the best song that the band ever recorded. But the Dolls have more than sloppy rock 'n roll going for them. The poignant "Subway Train" - the first few lines of which are often used live by Morrissey as a segue way into other songs - and the acoustic "Lonely Planet Boy" highlight the band's softer side. "Bad Girl", on the other hand, sounds like a cover of a Rolling Stones song, and "Pills" is an actual cover (of a Bo Diddley tune), and a pretty inspired one at that.

There is much talk of the Dolls' debut as the definitive proto-punk album. I am reluctant to agree with this wholeheartedly, as the emergence of American punk rock was a very gradual one. From the unlikely spring of the early Love singles "My Little Red Book" (1966) and "7&7 Is", to the 1967 release of The Velvet Underground & Nico and the 1969 debut by The Stooges, through the New York Dolls (1973) and up to the first release by The Ramones (1976), it is difficult to pinpoint when the punk aesthetic was first realized - fully or partially - in the form of a single or an LP. (And it was surely before The Ramones started making an entire career out of it.)

Whatever the case, the debut by the New York Dolls and its follow-up, Too Much Too Soon, are fascinating artifacts in rock 'n roll history. By artifacts, I definitely don't mean that they are outdated or worthwhile as simple historical curios. Rather, I mean that they capture moments when rock had become more image-conscious, and less concerned about whether the music was tailor-made for mass consumption. As mentioned previously, the Dolls took the image thing to a ridiculous extreme, most likely for the sake of actually ridiculing it. On their first record, they were unrefined but accessible, thanks to Todd Rundgren's production, which gave the songs the muscle and sprinkles of pop sweetness that they needed for their intended impact. Overall, this is a must-hear record, and I recommend it highly.

Guys and Dolls (1992 Broadway Revival Cast)

Average customer rating:

A classic updated
Guy and Dolls Revival 1992
If you loved the Movie -- YOU WON'T GET ADELAIDE
Great Recording
Damon Runyon was Smilling on Broadway...

Guys and Dolls (1992 Broadway Revival Cast)
Frank Loesser , Nathan Lane , Faith Prince , Peter Gallagher , and Josie de Guzman
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Guys and Dolls
Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)
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ASIN: B000003FBL
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

Runyonland
Fugue For Tinhorns
Follow The Fold
The Oldest Established...
I'll Know
A Bushel & A Peck
Adelaide's Lament
Guys & Dolls
Havana
If I Were A Bell
My Time Of Day
I've Never Been In Love Before
Take Back Your Mink
Adelaide's Lament (Reprise)
More I Cannot Wish You
The Crapshooters' Dance
Luck Be A Lady
Sue Me
Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat
Marry The Man Today
Guys & Dolls (Reprise)

Amazon.com

This 1992 revival cast rewrote the standard for Guys and Dolls, with costumes and sets decked out in splashy colors, a crack pit band conducted by Edward Strauss, and a perfect cast. In the classic setting of Damon Runyon's tales of the New York underworld, Peter Gallagher and Josie de Guzman excel in their respective roles as the suave Sky Masterson and the innocent but hopeful Sarah Brown, but Nathan Lane and Faith Prince are even better as the hopeless couple Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. Walter Bobbie brings the house down with the grand showstopper, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," and the other ensemble numbers, including "The Oldest Established," are also thrilling. Frank Loesser's score, of course, is one of Broadway's greatest ever, with "Luck Be a Lady," "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I've Never Been in Love Before," "A Bushel and a Peck," "More I Cannot Wish You," and "Marry the Man Today." The list goes on, as does Guys and Dolls, in this definitive recording. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

A classic updated.......2007-07-03

I saw the show on Broadway with Nathan Lane, so this album functions as a memory. The music is American Standard Broadway classic and should be in the collection of anyone who loves musical theater.

Guy and Dolls Revival 1992.......2007-06-09

This is an excellent CD with the music from the 1992 Revival of Guys and Dolls. All of the performers do an excellent job, particularly Josie de Guzman, who plays Sarah Brown. Her voice is exceptional.

If you loved the Movie -- YOU WON'T GET ADELAIDE.......2006-10-11

Sorry, I didn't get to see the Broadway show. I really loved the movie --Frank Sinatra & Stubby Kaye are spectacular. Brando can't sing, but tries to sing and dance. One of my favorite songs NOT AVAILABLE ON THE BROADWAY ALBUM is "Adelaide" ... is taking a chance on me. That was disappointing.

Love Nathan Lane generally, but he just brought a new and satirical twist, Gallagher is OK - sounds very voice trained Broadway singers.

When you start with the movie -- the music from Broadway is disappointing.
Sure you get "Marry the Man Today", but "Adelaide" will be missed.

Great Recording.......2006-07-23

Great recording of one of the greats. The original is now difficult to listen to due to the tinny sound and mono recording. this revival was wonderful, with a great cast and now a definitive, excellent recording. Skip the movie soundtrack.

Damon Runyon was Smilling on Broadway..........2005-09-21

Drats ! I can't believe I let myself miss this revival... If the stage production was as good as the cast recording I can only say that I really hope that the chaps in Great Britain who are currently rehearsing up the latest revival are on up on their jippers (or whatever they call them) on this one... (Actually the New York dialect doesn't seem so authentic on this one... strange... guess Gulliani really did clean up Time Square...)

The orchestration on this is swinging... And it better be... IF I WERE A BELL, LUCK BE A LADY and I'VE NEVER BEEN IN LOVE have been major entries in the GREAT AMERICAN JAZZ SONG BOOK since the musical came out... in fact, as many versions of IF I WERE A BELL that I've had to sit and play through, I have to say that the big band swinging Entr'Act version is really boppin' ... and the decision to take the REPRISE of GUYS AND DOLLS uptempo makes the CD even more must have.

As for performances, while I think in many ways the score out-tops the cast, its still fun to listen to, overall its good enough to warrent listen after listen after listen from this BROADWAY and JAZZ FANATIC, and SIT DOWN YOU'RE ROCKIN THE BOAT is still the unforgettable showstopper it was the first time I experienced this music.

Now - - I know this comment might be off the wall, but I wonder if some of the other great writings of Damon Runyon will ever hit the stage hencefoith ? And is it just me, but despite some great new musicals on Broadway this season, there is still a greater need for more revivals.

Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Perfect rehearsal help!
you can't beat the original!
Guys and Dolls: Great cd
One of the All Time Greats
one of the all-time greats

Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)
Frank Loesser
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Guys and Dolls

ASIN: B00004U0QI
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Tracks:

Runyonland Music/Fugue For Tinhorns/Follow The Fold
The Oldest Established
I'll Know
A Bushel And A Peck
Adelaide's Lament
Guys And Dolls
If I Were A Bell
My Time Of Day
I've Never Been In Love Before
Take Back Your Mink
More I Cannot Wish You
Luck Be A Lady
Sue Me
(Sit Down) You're Rocking the Boat
Marry The Man Today
Reprise: Guys And Dolls
I'll Know
If I Were A Bell
A Woman In Love
Luck Be A Lady

Amazon.com

The original 1950 production of this classic played the mythical Damon Runyon world of New York City gamblers a lot straighter than the 1992 Broadway revival did. In fact, 1950 reviewers called this the "South Pacific of crapshooters." Alas, Guys and Dolls plays a lot better as a cartoon-like "fable" in the 1990s--which is why the revival is probably the definitive recording while this one is more a historical artifact. Still, it's a gas to hear Robert Alda (Alan's dad!) and Sam Levene originate the roles of Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit, while both Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye (who actually gets most of the showstoppers) would repeat their roles in the otherwise dreadful 1955 Brando/Sinatra film version. And the Frank Loesser music is always great. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Perfect rehearsal help!.......2007-07-12

I am a local actor and purchased this to help with rehearsing a local production of the musical. It is VERY close to the material you rent from the licensor (the new revived version is WAY off). Although the sound quality is VERY tinny for today's standards, it is a good rendition of the ORIGINAL version of the musical. Wish the ensemble was a little stronger, though. (The added few BONUS tracks from the movie version are cute, but you have to wonder "why?"...)

you can't beat the original!.......2007-06-10

I attempted to watch GUYS & DOLLS, with Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, and I couldn't bare it. I'll tell you why. My mind kept drifting back to the Original Broadway Cast recording. For me, it was like watching stand-ins for the real thing. The problem was, the "real thing" never arrived in the film.

GUYS & DOLLS is the story of petty criminals and gamblers, and the women who love them. While Skye Masterson (Alan Alda) is a high roller with a penchant for playing craps games, Nathan Detroit (Sam Levene) runs an illegal "floating craps game" and has been engaged to his fiancee, Miss Adelaide (the wonderful Vivian Blaine) for fourteen years. Adelaide is a burlesque dancer at the Cat Trap (I think the name is self-explanatory). Skye makes a deal with Nathan to snag a "doll" and take her to Havana, the craps game. He finds Sarah Brown (Isabel Bigley), sargaent of the Save-A-Soul mission, and agrees to bring her a dozen sinners, in exchange for a date.

Some of the best music by Frank Loesser is here. My personal favorite songs include "I'll Know," "A Bushel and Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," and "Luck Be a Lady." The cast is marvelous and charismatic. Vivian Blaine is hilarious as the long-suffering fiancee. She plays Adelaide as a beautiful, wonderfully comedic pin-up girl to the hilt. You hear anyone else playing this role, and you just can't shake Blaine's incomparable performance. The singing is strong and the story is filled with shenanigans that will definitely hold your attention through to the end of the album. Classic!

Guys and Dolls: Great cd.......2007-05-21

I bought this because I wanted to get the soundtrack from the movie with Marlon Brando, and Jean Simmons. This cd was the closest thing I could find; it has the broadway version but also some songs from the movie. The music is wonderful, and the cd is great!

One of the All Time Greats.......2007-04-07

What a pleasure to hear the original Broadway cast recording of this musical comedy classic! The CD contains what they call "Bonus Tracks" taken from the movie version. I heartily recommend skipping these altogether - why listen to Marlon Brando whisper his way through "Luck Be a Lady" when you can hear Robert Alda deliver it the way it was meant to sung?

one of the all-time greats.......2007-03-07

GUYS AND DOLLS, with a score by Frank Loesser, is one of the great milestones in the American musical theatre. Based on the colourful and comedic characters created by Damon Runyon, the show originally opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre in 1950, and went on to run for 1,200 performances.

The story concerns a handsome young gambler called Sky Masterson, who makes a bet with Nathan Detroit that he will be able to seduce 'mission doll' Sarah Brown. A subplot features Nathan's long-suffering fiancee Miss Adelaide as she conspires to get Nathan firmly down the matrimonial aisle.

The original, unforgettable cast included Sam Levene (as Nathan Detroit), Isabel Bigley (as Sarah Brown), Robert Alda (as Sky Masterson), and Vivian Blaine (as Miss Adelaide). They imbue their characters with lots of warmth and feeling, transcending the cartoon caricatures to create full-blooded, emotional beings.

The score by Frank Loesser includes so many wonderful numbers, including Sarah's jubilant, post-Bacardi milkshake "If I Were a Bell"; "I've Never Been in Love Before", "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat", and "Adelaide's Lament".

This new CD reissue from Decca Broadway also includes four worthwhile bonus tracks, from the 1955 film soundtrack of GUYS AND DOLLS. Marlon Brando (Sky) performs "A Woman in Love", and "Luck Be a Lady"; and joins Jean Simmons (Sarah) for "I'll Know". Ms Simmons also delights with her rendition of "If I Were a Bell".

One of the essential titles in any Broadway collection.

[Decca Broadway/Universal 012 159 112-2]

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