Dresden Dolls Sequel Explodes To New Heights (Yes Virginia - The Dresden Dolls)

Member Name: artypants

Product:	Yes Virginia - The Dresden Dolls
Date:	03/02/09 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: By their second album the Dresden Dolls are much more developed.

Disadvantages: I can't think of one, probably as it is different it won't suit everyone.

The Dresden Dolls are a punk cabaret duo consisting of Amanda Palmer (singer and pianist) and Brian Viglione (drums). Amanda Palmer has a very unique voice, it is low and deep. You may at times mistaken it for a male voice. Her vocals are full of emotions and this can have a very powerful effect on the listener. Amanda Palmer's piano playing is frantic and furious. I have never heard anyone strike the keys with such power and emotions as she does. Brain's drumming is essential is almost grounds Amanda's playing but also gives it definition.

'Yes Virginia' is the Dresden Dolls second album and although I loved the first album the sequel is alot more experienced and formed. The album pushes the Dresden Dolls unique style further and swings them further outside the box. Virginia was a little girl who wrote into the newspaper asking whether Santa Claus existed. The newspaper writer replied 'Yes Virginia...' This sparked inspiration in the Dresden Dolls and formed the name of the album.

In this album, Amanda Palmer throws her lyrics out with pure emotion and angst. The album is powerful and fully charged. You wouldn't of thought that a pianist and drummer could play as fast and as furious but the Dresden Dolls will show you otherwise. The album is fully charged at times and sends you speeding through a journey of the imagination, crashing into the world of punk cabaret.

The album kicks straight in with 'Sex Changes', a song exploring the idea of a sex change. This is a classic subject matter addressed by the Dresden Dolls as they have a talent for expressing sexual realms. The song is fast paced and quirky, unlike anything you will ever know. The Dresden Dolls belong to a genre of their own. 'Mrs O' is another song to note as it directly deals with the story of the newspaper as mentioned above. It exposes and pushes the idea of hiding our children away from the bad things which are generally real and embracing them in the good things which are generally imaginative e.g. Santa Claus. As the song tells us 'The truth won't save you now'.

Overall, this is an album not to be missed. It is perception and emotion at it's rawest and it's purest. There is always something so grippingly real about this album and it's songs that stirs within you. This album will change your perspective on life.

Summary: Amazing sequel from the punk cabaret duo.