If there ever was a rock and roll guitar album that could kick start a sense of rock and roll adrenalin in the tradition of Lou Reed, Johnny Thunders, Mink DeVille and Television, it has to be Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth.
Best known as the guitarist who joined the legendary New York Dolls when Morrissey reunited the band at the 2004 London Meltdown Festival, Conte has played guitar on the Dolls last two studio albums, including the outstanding Todd Rundgren produced 'Cause I Sez So.
His new solo album "Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth" illustrates in flying colours how diverse and rootsy his brand of rock and roll really is. It is often difficult to embody the spirit of New York City rock and roll, and the last time this kind of sound was popular was back in the late seventies when the Heartbreakers, the Ramones and Television were kicking it large.
The stand out track on the album is the doo-wop flavoured "Gypsy Cab" - which is so cool, even Weezer wouldn't know how to follow it up. But then again, this is East Coast rock and roll, stripped down, turned up and ready to rip.
If you thought the recent Dolls album was no fluke, then listen again and do the math. I've seen the future of rock and roll, and believe it or not, it's pretty crazy.