One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This
Three decades-and-change since they disintegrated in a burst of self-abuse and self-fulfilling prophecy, the darlings of '70s proto-punk/glam stage a return to the recording studio that's as unlikely as it is good-natured. The opening triptych of "We're All in Love," "Runnin' Around," and the downright nostalgic "Plenty of Music" argues that remaining band members David Johanson and Syl Sylvain are more interested in celebrating their survival with a little sass than rehashing the sonic anarchy that made them. Yet veteran producer Jack Douglas never lets the band (now featuring Hanoi Rocks bassist Sammi Yaffa, guitarist Steve Conte, Brian Koonin on keyboards, and drummer Brian Delaney) become too absorbed in more focused songcraft here, injecting the same edgy, pop-buzz he imparted to Cheap Trick and Aerosmith on the infectious soul-punk single "Dance Like a Monkey" and elsewhere. Helping celebrate the Dolls revival in fine fashion are guest turns by Iggy Pop (the frantic "Gimme Luv & Turn On the Light") and Michael Stipe (who harmonizes on the ballad "Dancing on the Lip of the Volcano"), as well as Against Mel's Tom Gabel on the trademark rave-up "Punishing World." The Dolls have always been a triumph of attitude over art; ultimately little has changed here other than the bracing exuberance they bring with them this time 'round. First pressings of the release contain a 45-minute "making of" featurette as well as the bonus track "17," a lugubrious workout featuring Dolls inspiration/rock progenitor Bo Diddley.--Jerry McCulley