Sylvain Sylvain

After Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan exited the New York Dolls in 1975, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain attempted to keep the Dolls afloat with replacement members. But the magic was gone, and shortly thereafter the group was finally taken off life support. But Sylvain didn't retire from music altogether, as he fronted his own band, the Criminals. Unlike other proto-punks who attempted to update their sound by the end of the '70s with new wave-ish synthesizers, Sylvain doesn't stray far from the rough-and-rocking Dolls approach on 1978's Bowery Butterflies. Included is a holdover from the Dolls' latter days, "Teenage News," as well as an acoustic-based ditty, "Casting Couch," and the rollicking album opener, "The Cops Are Coming." If you're looking for a solo release by a Dolls alumnus that sticks closely to the famed New York band's unmistakably trashy sound, then Bowery Butterflies is especially fitting. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide