Steve Conte to release 'the Crazy Truth'

2009 has been a good year for Steve Conte fans.

This May the Matawan native, along with his fellow New York Dolls, released the powerhouse Todd Rundgren-produced album "‘Cause I Sez So," Conte's second studio album with the band and the band's fourth studio LP overall.

Conte's solid year on record continues this month with Tuesday's release of the self-titled debut album by his down and dirty power trio, Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth, on Varese Vintage Records. And as someone who's had the opportunity to give this disc a spin, I can tell you first-hand that it is simply a great album.

Local Conte fans who remember his days crafting solid pop-rock with brother John Conte (currently holding down bass duties with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes) in the Crown Jewels and the Contes will be happy to hear that Steve's ability to craft catchy, honest tunes hasn't withered at all, while folks who discovered Conte through his work with the Dolls will be more than satisfied with the albums gritty, rough-around-the-edges feel. 

The band recently shot a video for the rock-solid cut "Gypsy Cab" and deep tracks like "Texas T" and "Busload of Hope" speak to these uneasy times we find ourselves in, but for my money the standout track on the album has to be "The Truth Ain't Pretty," a song that, in a perfect world, would be an inescapable hit single.

And trust me, I'm not the only one out there digging this album. Grammy-winning producer Steve Lillywhite, who has worked with artists such as U2, the Rolling Stones and the Smiths, had this to say: "There is very little genuine rock and roll out there at the moment but Steve Conte has hit the nail on the head with this one."

You'll get a chance to help Conte and the Crazy Truth celebrate the release of their debut at a few events this fall. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 20), Conte will hold an in-store performance and signing at Vintage Vinyl in the Fords section of Woodbridge, and at 8 p.m. on Nov. 11, Conte and the band will be holding a record release party at Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery, New York City.

For more information on Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth, check out the band's MySpace page. Also, be sure to check out my Q&A with Conte from last year here.