Customer Reviews

Too Much Too Soon (Spkg)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A lot of covers, but thats not a bad thing. "Too Much Too Soon" is as great as the first Dolls LP, and certainly needs to be reissued. There is certainly a better production, with cleaner guitars, and female backing vocals. This may not be a good representation of what the Dolls sounded like live, but its still sleazy as hell. Its dangerous but fun and soulful, like all good rock 'n' roll should be. Theres a perfect balance of originals and covers, which prove the Dolls know their roots. David Johansen obviously has an incredible knowledge of popular music of the last fifty years. This is what Malcolm McLaren wanted the Sex Pistols to sound like. Like the Velvet Underground, the Dolls where way too different to be appreciated by the music-buying public of the time. Only as time passed on and the bands cult grew where they proven to be one of the most influential bands of the decade.

I agree, it's a CRIME this album is out-of-print. The New York Dolls were around for a very short time. They couldn't attain mainstream success, and both of their studio albums flopped, but their music has aged well. Not only did they prove to be godfathers of punk (which really took shape soon after they broke-up), but both of their studio albums are now considered classics. The debut gets written about far more often, but TOO MUCH TOO SOON is probably the better album. Everything is a touch better: songs, performances, and most of all the production.

This used to available as cheap but excellent sounding CD (mastered by Dennis Drake, a good, reliable engineer who does good work). That CD was tough to find in stores and now they stopped making it. Fortunately if you go to Hip-O Select's website (I posted a link earlier, but Amazon.com censored it), you'll find that it was re-issued in late July in a special edition! Some specialty stores also carry it, but it's easy to spot because it comes with a Lp style jacket instead of a jewel case. Unfortunately it's a limited edition (another crime), and only 5000 copies will be pressed period. I doubt Universal will do the right thing and bring back the old budget CD, so go to Hip-O Select or ask your local indie music store (chain stores won't order it) and order it before it's gone!

While not the rock milestone as the NY Dolls' debut, Too Much Too Soon is an essential addition. The cover songs are as much about who the Dolls were as the originals - Stranded in the Jungle is a loopy chestnut that was a blast on stage as the band imitated the monkey house in Central Park. Showdown was grungy soul strut, Philly by way of the #7 subway line. Human Being remains one of my favorite Dolls songs, an anthem and reaffirmation. Johnny Thunders' recycled Chatterbox under a variety of names and lyrics, but this is the definitive version. Shadow Morton producing is an obvious nod to the godfather of the Shangrilas - where do you think the "When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love - L-U-V" came from in the middle of Trash came from? Not to mention the Dolls (later JT's) great cover of Give Him a Great Big Kiss. They belong together! The Dolls benefit from the sound clarity, bringing their chaos right up front and personal. To "get" the Dolls you need #1, Too Much Too Soon, Hard Night's Day, LAMF, Johnny's So Alone & Que Sera Sera. They really were too much too soon - you still hear them all over nuevo garage rock & punk. RIP JT, Jerry, Arthur & Billy.

While some might feel the album's title to be an apt description of the band's all-too-brief history, the album's contents are anything but the death throes of a band going through the motions. This is all the remarkable, considering that their chance of a major label record deal was scuppered by the tragic death of Billy Murcia nearly two years before this record was released, and their resultant notoriety (apparently) precluded any further major label interest.

Quite to the contrary, this album is positively inspired. From the choice of producer (Shadow Morton), to the choice of covers (Stranded In The Jungle, Showdown), to the songwriting and performance of the band themselves, this is a masterpiece that fulfilled the promise shown in their debut album. A lot more attention obviously went into songwriting (long guitar solos and unwieldy 5 minute epics are conspicuously absent), and the album as a whole sounds more coherent than its predecessor. Apart from the aforementioned covers, highlights include the punk mini-masterpieces "Who are The Mystery Girls?" and "Human Being", the bluesy blast of "Don't Start Me Talking", and Johnny Thunders singing on "Chatterbox" - but there isn't really a dud song on the album. Even my least favourite song on the album (Babylon) isn't actually that bad.

What really makes this album stand out is that the consistent high quality of the the album didn't impinge on their raw energy and passion, which married to their ear for a good tune and a good lyric, resulted in some of the most enduring and engaging rock'n'roll music of the era. The greater level of discipline shown on "Too Much, Too Soon" brought about a record that is a fitting testament to what was one of the great rock'n'roll bands.

Recommended? Sell your Mother....

I love this album, not because of its stellar musicianship or sterling
production values, but because of its *attitude*: there's a party goin'
on, and guess who's there? David Johansen and his pals!

Let's get completely wasted! Let's dress in drag! Let's pull out my old
record collection and play a whacked-out version of "Stranded in the Jungle"!
Hey, everyone join in on the chorus! It just keeps getting weirder and more
wonderful as the night goes on. Then after everyone leaves, you can almost
imagine having to pick up the empty booze bottles and cigarettes ground into
the carpet, wondering "who were those people, anyway?"

A wonderfully demented confection, served with a healthy dose of humor.

Utter gutter rock throw-down! This is the mighty Dolls at their greasy, raunchy, rockin' best. Punk rock turned out to be a huge disgrace after "hardcore" dweebs and Brit. "punks" took all the soul out of the music. Punk should have been an American rock'n'roll revival instead of the trendy fashion show that English punks exploited. But, for a moment there, way back in the mid to late seventies rock'n'roll ruled and The New York Dolls were kings!

I couldn't find this baby on disc and thought I'd never hear it until I unexpectedly received the record of it as a gift from my younger brother who surprisingly came across it. I don't own a record player so had to go over to a friend's who did have one. Once I got over there about a week after owning it, I plopped down on the floor and listened to the whole thing on my own, from start to finish, while staring at the ceiling.

When it got to the last song, 'Human Being' and that riff happens right after David Johansen yells '1, 2, 3, 4' I thought, 'well, even if this song starts to suck after this so-good opening, rock n' roll just doesn't get any better than this album. Did these guys sell their souls to the devil or something.' But then I remind myself that selling your soul to the devil doesn't have anything to do with just being really really good at something and the New York Dolls are just that: real real good.

Too Much Too Soon may be a bit better than their first effort; in fact, I think it is, if just barely. It moves from one song to the next without being disappointing on even one song (the only song that I questioned the production and mix of was 'Bad Detective,' which sounds better on the demo Hard Night's Day than it does here).

On Too Much Too Soon the New York Dolls seem gloriously unaware that they would cremate any other band on the universe who would dare take the stage after they rock n' rolled right off it. If you dig music that goes after it 100% while at the same time remains funny and uplifting amidst all those raunchy, aggressive and sloppy guitar licks, this one's for you.

Despite (un)popular opinion, I think "Too Much Too Soon" is superior to their first album. Shadow Morton's production sharpens up the guitars and adds horns and girl-group sounding vocals (he did produce and write songs for the Shangri-Las). "Puss N' Boots" is almost as good as "Personality Crisis" from their first album, and their cover of "Don't You Start Me Talkin'" is blistering. Johnny Thunders guitar work is greatly represented here, and Sylvain Sylvain's melodious guitar style also comes through on this album. There is not a bad song on this album, and it is among my twenty favorite albums of the 1970's.

YEAH! There's gonna be a showdown! I have or had the original vinyl, the generic mercury,the hip-o select, and this is the one with all the lust,sparkle, and sheer drive of the excellent vinyl. The guitars rip and pierce, the bo-bo- a-doop girls hang in space like they are right there, and the drums and bass are so clear! The generic mercury from long ago is no fun at all, the hip-o select always sounded a bit dry and dull in spite of excellent dynamics. This version is wet and wild!

This album seems to look backwards, I think. It has grating guitars, boogie rock'n'roll and rowdy vocals. However, it lacks the quality originals of the band's debut. This album lacks terrific tracks like "Private world", "Frankenstein" and "Trash". If you didn't like these three songs on their debut, then you may like this album more than me! How much you like this album depends on how much you like boogie rock, with grating guitars. Could see fans of bands like Status Quo enjoying this album more than I did. Album runs to 37:22 minutes in length.



The songs - in album order:



Babylon - maybe a little country boogie type song with laddish backing singing. One guitar is on the right hand channel and the other on the left hand channel.

Stranded in the jungle - nice drum tone/rhythm to the intro and alternative parts. Lead singer alternates his 'white' voice with a faux 'black man' voice. Has 1950s style rock'n'roll backing singing.

Who are the mystery girls - grinding guitar rock with rock'n'roll type music. Lead guitar and backing vocals.

(There's gonna be a) showdown - perhaps the best song on the album. A 1950s style song with a touch of 1960s girl group type material...think "Leader of the pack" but with a 'dance-off' theme instead of mayhem. Sorta catchy singing with attitude.

It's too late - nice drum intro and harmonica. Bassy. Screechy guitars. Harmonica features later too. Think my notes suggest that this song reminds me of tracks like Kevin Borich's "Gonna see my baby tonight" (The La De Das) and "Alone with you tonight" by The Sunnyboys. Both acts are from Australia or New Zealand...the former song pre-dated this NYD track. It's the lead guitar on this track which reminds me of The La De Das song.

Puss 'n' boots - boogie riff with grating guitar at times. Backing vocals are of the surf music variety. Has gospel elements at times too, as far as the female backing singers go.

Chatterbox - jarring sound to this boogie riff. There's a passage in this song which reminds me of The Rolling Stones' "Brown sugar", I think. Bass guitar melody is familiar too, but I can't place it. I like this bass line in any case. Features the lyric "ring my bell".

Bad detective - has an interesting Oriental flavour to it. 1950s style scat backing vocals. A song with a narrative.

Don't start me talkin' - piano and harmonica feature. 1950s style rockabilly with a chugga-chugga rhythm...there's that Elvis song about a train...forget what it's called...maybe similar kind of vibe to it. A honky tonk boogie piece. Features brass instruments, I think.

Human being - 5:44 minutes in length. 1950s style rock'n'roll with a punk guitar sound. Boogie rock with brass instruments and sax or such like. Dual guitar riffing with sometimes one guitar playing lead and this being heard on the right hand channel.



Recommendations:



New York Dolls - New York Dolls. A terrific album from the last song on the A side to pretty much the entire B side. Has their best songs in "Frankensteing", "Private world" and "Trash". Reviewed here. Scored it 77.5/100 at this site.

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F. After the New York Dolls wound up, guitarist Johnny Thunders made this terrific album with his new band. Gave it a score of 85/100 at this site.