Move over Courtney Love, there is a new bitch in music and her name is
Amanda Palmer. Together with Brian Viglione, the Dresden Dolls are a
piano and drum tag team that rock like no other band in the history of
music. Self-proclaimed “…brechtian punk cabaret…” their music is
faintly reminiscent of a 1950’s circus gone horribly wrong. Their most recent
(and debut) release is approaching its first birthday, and the momentum
is about to knock the Dolls through the glass ceiling of homogenized
rock and whiny emo bands.
From the start of the album (produced by Martin Bisi who brought you
bands such as Swans and Sonic Youth), you know that you’re in for a
roller-coaster ride that you won’t soon forget. In the opening song Good
Day, you are greeted with the soft vocals and the intricately simple
piano styling of Amanda Palmer. This seemingly intimate look into
half-felt optimism resulting from a recent break up is beautifully moving in
its quiet crawling manner. But as one will quickly find out, nothing in
the Dresden Dolls is ever as it seems. As the song takes a turn,
Palmer’s half-felt optimism is replaced with a backbone and a drum beat.
The interplay of Palmers piano and, fellow Doll, Brian Viglione’s drums
turns you around like a lop-sided carousel.
“…but I'd love to have you up to see the place & I'd like to do more
than survive I'd like to rub it in your face…” Lyrically, Good Day,
like the rest of the album, is riddled with subtle humor, pride, and a
devil may care attitude that compliments perfectly the sound, the look,
and the whole concept of the Dresden Dolls. In Gravity, Palmer sings of
the effects of gravity and her absence of responsibility for anything
it does. Laced with mystery, it’s unclear whither she is singing of a
body on the ground, or her planned descent from the top of a building.
Despite her plea of innocence, it’s hard to hide her attitude as she
taunts an officer to watch her fly.
Painted faced and dressed in period clothing, The Dresden Dolls were
manufactured in the musical hub of Boston Mass. in mid 2000 (despite
their antiquated look). In the four since their first appearance, they
have built a cult following that screams for more. They’ve sold out show
all around the east coast and have recently begun a tour heading west.
A new album is in the works, but it’s unclear as to how long fans have
to wait in antici… …pation. But it is confirmed that local producers
Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Courtney Love) will be adding
their 2 cents to the album if Palmer will let them. But with songs
like the angsty Girl Anachronism and comical The Jeep Song there is plenty
of Doll to go around. Will the new album rip them from their Rocky
Horror style cult stardom and thrust them into the spotlight? We’ve got
quite a wait to find out. But until then, enjoy the small venues and
intimate show, because something is going to happen whither the industry
is ready or not.
For more information on Dresden Dolls visit their official website for tons of
photos, audio samples, tour dates, news, and to purchase some of their
EP's that are available.
by: Dann Dykas
