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Dancing Backward in High Heels
Rock · 2011

Dancing Backward in High Heels

New York Dolls

A polished, soulful farewell from the glam legends. Swapping punk chaos for sixties girl-group hooks and mid-tempo r and b grooves.

March 14, 2011 · 429 Records

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Dancing Backward in High Heels is the sound of the New York Dolls finally embracing the 'girl group' DNA that was always buried beneath their 1970s distortion. It is a remarkably sophisticated record, trading the raw, shambling energy of their youth for a warm, soulful glow. David Johansen has fully transitioned into a gravelly-voiced crooner, sounding more like a street-wise cabaret performer than a punk provocateur. The album feels like a late-night conversation in a booth at the back of a legendary bar: nostalgic but never bitter, and still possessing that unmistakable Manhattan swagger.

Moments Worth Listening For
The brassy soul explosion on Street Tea that recalls mid-period Rolling Stones.
The Shangri-Las style backing vocals on I'm So Fabulous that lean into the band's feminine roots.
The weary but defiant croon on End of the Summer where Johansen sounds like a seasoned cabaret singer.
Reviews
BBC Music
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The Quietus
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telegraph.co.uk
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AllMusic
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The A.V. Club
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Dancing Backward in High Heels sound next to the rest of New York Dolls's catalogue?

Studio Polished+2.0σ

The production is built around studio polished than this artist usually allows.

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