The Dresden Dolls are releasing No Virginia officially on May 20, 2008, but luckily my searching tactics have found me a copy early. Fans, this is what you have been waiting for, and it’s finally out. If you are a fan of artistic punk rock music, this is defiantly one to stack with the collection. Brian Viglione and Amanda Palmer play with music in a way that no other band does. The sound is not your average genre and can’t be classified as anything specific. I found on wikipedia’s listing of The Dresden Dolls that the two actually describe their style as Brechtian punk cabaret, which was a phrase that Palmer invented because she was afraid that the press would come up with a name that would involve the word ‘gothic,’ and that they were part of the underground dark cabaret movement that started taking off in the 90s. Well with all said and done, Viglione and Palmer have, again, come up with another unique album using their jumpy vocals, the simple but fun music box type piano, and drums to tie it all together. The lyrics in this playful album are what make it great. From Night Reconnaissance’s night club Hollywood story to Pretty In Pink’s girlyness, this album tells stories from beginning to end. If anything else, this one is worth picking up simply for the fun, amusing stories the two talented dolls tell with their authentic musical playfulness.
4.5/5 stars
Track Listing:
Dear Jenny
Nigh Reconnaissance
Mouse and the Model
Ultima Esperanza
Gardener
Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner
Sorry Bunch
Pretty In Pink
The Kill
Sheep Song
Boston
