The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls
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AMG Review of The Dresden Dolls
Alex Henderson
All Music GuideInevitably, music will have leaders as well as followers, and both have their place. It's unrealistic and foolish to think that every artist who comes along should be a trendsetter; people who shake things up as intensely as Charlie Parker, the Sex Pistols, John Coltrane, the Beatles, or Nirvana are the exception instead of the rule. But when someone does come up with something that is truly fresh, he/she deserves applause -- and there is plenty of freshness on this self-titled CD by the Dresden Dolls, a Boston-based duo that successfully blends alternative pop/rock with German cabaret. Lead singer Amanda Palmer brings an unlikely combination of influences to this release, and they range from Kurt Weill and Marlene Dietrich to goth rock, punk, and the iot grrrl movement. Palmer has been greatly affected by the emotional catharsis of PJ Harvey, Courtney Love, and Tori Amos -- her performances can be very stream-of-consciousness -- but she has also been influenced by the cabaret of Germany's pre-Adolf Hitler Weimar Republic (although Palmer writes and sings in English exclusively on this album). Hitler, a fanatically extreme social conservative, detested the flamboyant, sexualized imagery of the Weimar-era cabaret culture and did everything he could to eradicate it. But when Marlene Dietrich and others fled Nazi Germany, they took their cabaret with them -- and that Weimar-era influence is all over this intriguing CD. Not only has it affected Palmer's darkly theatrical melodies, but also, Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione (the Dresden Dolls' other half) sport a look that is part goth and part Weimar-era burlesque. And much to their credit, the Dresden Dolls make their unorthodox alt-rock/cabaret blend sound perfectly natural rather than forced. This CD is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who is seeking something fresh from alternative pop/rock.
Who Else Can Relate to "The Jeep Song"?
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A friend got me hooked on the Dresden Dolls’ “Coin-Operated Boy,” and about a month ago I finally bought _the Dresden Dolls_, the CD that song is featured on. Since I don’t like to listen to CDs from start to finish upon my first listen, I hit random on the CD player in my vehicle and listened to about 10 seconds of other songs before putting “Coin-Operated Boy” on repeat.When I pulled
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Bah! You people are too smart!
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Neill pegged it: The Dresden Dolls, "Girl Anachronism" was today's mystery track. I love this track -- it sounds like something out of the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill songbook. Every time I listen to it, I can just about see it on stage and I can almost envision the entire show going on around it.Now I guess I have to come up with another challenge this weekend. Bah. Bah, I say! (Congrats to...
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Coin Operated WHAT???
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Some of you have asked me about The Dresden Dolls. I have a really hard time describing their music but I've heard it referred to as 'punk cabaret'. To me, they're weird - but I love them. Anyway, I thought I'd post the video for Coin Operated Boy here for you to watch. It's not their best song, but I'm in a goofy mood today and this song always makes me laugh. The song is sure to make you...
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It's time...
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...for me to buy some cds. My ipod has been filling up a lot lately b/c of mog, so I need to free some space. I'm going to get Let it Die- Leslie Feist and one of the following:Begin to Hope- Rgeina SpektorPlay- MobyGigi SoundtrackThe Living Road- LhasaAir Farina- Mark FarinaGet Away From Me- Nellie McKayThe Eraser- Thom YorkeThe Milk-eyed Blender- Joanna NewsomPlans- Death Cab for CutieAnd n...
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 "The Dresden Dolls")
