Professional ratings
Retrospective reviews
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Sun-Times
Christgau's Record Guide	A+
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Los Angeles Times
MusicHound Rock	3.5/5
Q
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Spin Alternative Record Guide	10/10

New York Dolls is the 1973 debut studio album by American hard rock band the New York Dolls. By the time of the album's recording, the band had developed a following by playing regularly in lower Manhattan after forming in 1971. However, they were unappealing to record companies because of their onstage cross-dressing and vulgarity, while most record producers were reluctant to work with them. For shock value, the group was photographed in exaggerated drag on the album cover.

After signing to Mercury Records, the New York Dolls recorded their first album at The Record Plant in New York with producer Todd Rundgren, who was known for his sophisticated pop tastes and held a lukewarm opinion of the band. Despite stories of conflicts during the recording sessions, lead singer David Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain later said Rundgren successfully captured how the band sounded live. Their music on the album incorporates carefree rock and roll, Brill Building pop influences, and campy sensibilities, while Johansen's colloquial and ambiguous lyrics explore themes of urban youth, teen alienation, adolescent romance, and authenticity.

New York Dolls was released by Mercury on July 27, 1973, to widespread critical acclaim but sold poorly and polarized listeners. The band proved difficult to market outside their native New York and developed a reputation for rock-star excesses while touring the United States in support of the album. Despite its commercial failure, New York Dolls was an influential precursor to the 1970s punk rock movement and has since been named in various publications as one of the best debut records in rock music and one of the greatest albums of all time.

...
Wikipedia