Customer Reviews

Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth

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I should probably preface this review by saying that I've been a fan of Steve Conte for quite some time. Over the years, I've bought and listened to Company of Wolves, Crown Jewels and The Contes.

However, this album by far exceeded my expectations. This is Steve Conte reaching his prime as a songwriter and a performer.

I've read the other reviews here and at other sites (and there are a lot of people saying good things about it), and lots of people are trying to define its genre or compare it with other artists. I suppose a reference point is helpful for someone who is wondering whether or not to listen to or buy the album ... but the plain fact of the matter is that if you like rock and roll (or used to like rock and roll), you're going to like this album. It doesn't matter what subgenre you're into or what other artist you're a fan of.

This is 100% pure rock and roll with a punk attitude over a poet's heart. What does that mean? Probably nothing. I can't turn a phrase like Steve Conte (and few people can). Stop reading reviews and listen to the music.

My favorites are "Strumpet Hearted Monkey Girl" and "The Goods Are Odd" ... well, I also really dig "Gypsy Cab" and "The Truth Ain't Pretty". But this is an album with depth ... I've actually enjoyed reading others' reviews of this album as they've made me go back and listen more closely to other songs that others have favorited in their reviews.

I'm planning to buy copies of this CD as Christmas gifts this year. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an album enough to do this.

...that this CD is really very good!

A solo effort by the guitarist from the New York Dolls, Steve Conte & the Crazy Truth, was finally released in October this year. I had been waiting for it for a while. I've been a New York Dolls fan since 1977 (thanks to a guy named Steve Heckman who I hope is doing OK) and when they started up again a few years ago I started listening again.

Originally, the only replacement members were the drummer (Gary Powell replacing Jerry Nolan) and the guitarist (Steve Conte replacing Johnny Thunders).

While both were good, Conte - as a guitarist - was much more visible (obviously, eh?).

So you're seen much more readily when you're in a position in front, and that can be good or bad. Talent has little to do with that. Whether you're good or you're bad, you're still gonna get noticed.

Conte looked like he fit perfectly with the Dolls, and as a Dolls fan I started doing some research and found that he'd been around for a bit. So now I'm embarrassed because I pride myself on knowing stuff like this. But Conte is still touring with the Dolls so I'll have more chances to find stuff out about him, right?

Enough of the history lesson. Another chance to find something about Conte came about earlier in October when `Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth' released the self-titled CD.

11 tracks on the CD. For this to make any difference to you, you have to understand that I grew up in the age where you would buy an album and be happy if three of the 10 tracks were good (a.k.a. any Steve Miller release). Of these 11 tracks there's only one I'm not terribly fond of - and that's the third track; Texas T. It's still decent and the solo is great, but the rest of the CD is so good...

I pay a lot of attention to lyrics so this review will be no different than others I've done because there are some excellent words to accompany the excellent music. But we have to start with track six "The Truth Ain't Pretty;"

"I'm always putting the last things first. That's why I'm starting out with the second verse."

That might explain why the first song is "This Is The End" with the line "Just get off and get on with the show." Good tune.

Also from "The Truth Ain't Pretty" comes the line "I ain't no saint and that ain't no sin." Aside from grade A lyrics, Conte has a way of phrasing things so that the words are delivered with maximum effect.

"Gypsy Cab" is the next track and it's very good also. "Don't wanna be no thug. Don't wanna be no saint." Caught between influences? "Way up in Harlem. The things I used to do. Sink down in that black sedan with the windows you can't see through."

"Busload of Hope" talks about taking a chance to make it. "Shakin hands with one armed bandits. Livin on credit debt. Oh thank heaven for chapter eleven. Or should you make just one more bet."

On a CD full of very good lyrics, "Busload of Hope" has what I think is the best line from a CD with a whole bunch of good lines;

"Get on the busload of hope. You got the dream and just enough rope."

I have a problem going on and on after either I've said enough or people get tired of listening. That's an issue when there's something I could go on and on about - like this CD. You could compare it to a lot of different people. Listed influences include Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Bo Diddley, The Clash, The Who, Jeff Beck Group, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and others.

It doesn't really sound like anything else you could name. Sure, like just about everything in the whole wide world, there are things that different parts will remind you of. Just when you think you nail it down the next song starts and you think "Now what was I talking about...?"

If you Google Steve Conte and find out the Dolls connection, you're going to be surprised I think. About the only thing this CD has in common with the New York Dolls is the attitude - which both bands have plenty of. That's a very, very good thing.

To give you an idea of how much I like this CD, I got my copy for free and I've since bought six copies to send to friends. So far the worst review of it has been "Wow! This is really good!"

I saw Steve play back up with Eric Burdon and saw and heard his great style. Since then I have brought NY Dolls LPs and now his own band The Crazy Truth, Truth be told I am impressed, The guitar work and lyrics are great, There is good rock mixed with some pretty serious lyrics , My favorites songs Gypsy Cab and the more serious Busload Of Hope. There are no clunkers in this LP just one smooth ride thru Steve's NY scene on the strings of his instrument. There ain't no dents in his Fender!!!!

I am very impressed with the music on this CD. The lyrics and the music are amazing! I highly recommend this artist to everyone. I purchased it for myself and shared it with my teenage kids and they loved it also. I suggest that you go out and get your copy today!