Yes, Virginia... [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

The Dresden Dolls

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: April 18, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Roadrunner Records
• ASIN: B000EGEJWK
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,291 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to resist a singer who fully indulges her sexual obsessions on CD, especially when they involve songs about transsexuals and--to paraphrase a bit--girls who leave out used condoms on their bedroom dressers to make their boyfriends jealous. And that's just Amanda Palmer in her tamer moments. As the mouthpiece for the carnival-like Dresden Dolls, she certainly knows how to scintillate. The Boston cabaret-punk duo's second album is a no-holds-barred affair that sees her singing about Nazi sympathizers ("Mrs. O") and bedroom antics ("First Orgasm") with equal zest, while the music she bangs out with drummer Brian Viglione fits the very definition of perverse. For some, it's the soundtrack to a kabuki-faced nightmare; for others, the stuff of strangely captivating dreams. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the debut, April 22, 2006

By	Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Boston's The Dresden Dolls seemed to come out of left field when their self-titled debut album began picking up steam via word-of-mouth and when "coin-operated boy" became a cult hit. Their wholly unique brand of theatrics, cabaret and dark confessionals was a refreshing change of pace.

With a cult classic under their belt, the Boston duo, made up of Amanda Palmer (piano, organ, mellotron) and Brian Viglione (drums, guitar, bass) are in a bit of a bind. What do they do for a follow-up? How can they make another captivating collection of songs, in a similar vein of avant-garde cabaret, without rehashing the debut? Luckily for The Dresden Dolls, with "Yes Virginia," (2006) the band make a sophomore album that takes up where the debut left off, yet also has its own signature and doesn't merely try to capture the style and spirit of its predecessor.

Compared to the self-titled debut, "Yes, Virginia" sounds more vigorous, and the album overall has more of a "rock" feel, yet without losing its theatrical, cabaret backbone. The duo sound sure of themselves and in their element. Palmer is kind of hard to figure out. Sometimes she seems to mock the subjects in her songs (dirty business), sometimes seems to hate them, (backstabber) or shows sympathy (Delilah). Other times it's hard to know if Palmer is being sarcastic, ironic, or sincere. Sometimes it's hard to know when she's wearing the theatrical mask or if she's being herself. While the album is theatrical in nature, at times Palmer seems to break out of her theatrical persona, such as with the candid and sincere "Delilah" and the beautiful, lush "sing" in which Palmer states "life is no cabaret." This makes "Yes, Virginia," a more three-dimensional album compared to the debut.

It took the Dresden Dolls three years to come up with a sophomore album and by listening to these songs you can clearly see why. The band didn't just use scraps or b-sides, but rather meticulously crafted their new body of work. It's obvious to the listener that each song on "Yes, Virginia" is a labor of love.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this band fights dirty!, April 18, 2006

By	Keith Shelton "Keith" (Commerce, MI) - See all my reviews

The Dresden Dolls deserve credibility simply because they push the envelope. That was proven on their debut album. Take a listen to Girl Anachronism and you'll see that this band is taking music new places.

The debut was a wonderful album for fans of the piano and introduced me to the world of punk caberet music, however the casual listener would probably write the band off as too expiremental and not grabbing enough for radio play.

With Yes, Virginia, The Dresden Dolls have retained their unique sound but have made the music bigger, catchier, and more appealing to a wide audience.

The album highlights have to be Backstabber and Dirty Business. Both would likely do well on alternative radio with their catchy piano riffs and lyrics that will really open your eyes. Especially on Dirty Business with the line "she's the kind of girl who leaves out condoms on the bedroom dresser, just to make you jealous of the men she f***ed before you met her" brutal!
Shores Of California is another standout, talking about relationships with lyrics that beg to be sung along to, can't wait to hear that track live!

They aren't afraid to speak their mind either as evidenced on First Orgasm or the controversial Mrs. O, 2 tracks that i'm sure will keep the album banned from stores like walmart, but that's probably a good thing.

For a band that doesn't consist of anything more than a Piano and drums, the tracks are huge, your brain won't even realize that there is only 2 instruments being playing here. You could even dance or mosh to half the tracks on this album, something that would seem impossible for a piano fronted band.

I will come out and name Yes, Virginia as one of the most innovative albums of the last 15 years. This album has to put The Dresden Dolls in the spotlight and give them their due. Check it out and be amazed.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And now for something totally different, May 19, 2006

By	Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

You'll need to keep an open mind for this one, but The Dresden Dolls are the most excitingly different duo that I've come across in ages. Only the brave would start an album with a song about a sex-change, but this after all is punk cabaret, and wonderfully clever and entertaining. You'll see what I mean in the lyrics from the first track:

"No second thoughts the knife is nearing
You'll never hear the little pitter patter pitter patter
Of this little feat of engineering"

First single "Sing" is the last track on the album, and although not the best song on the album lyrically it's certainly ear catching. Other good tracks are "Backstabber"; "Modern Moonlight"; my personal pick "My Alcoholic Friends"; "Necessary Evil" and "Mandy Goes to Med School" where Amanda Palmer sings:

"I've been feeling dull as a coat hanger
Pretty as a picture of a patient on a fresh iv
Giddy as a gangbanger with a set of sutures where his magic johnson ought to be"

Give this to someone with weird musical tastes and they WILL believe that there is a Santa Claus after all.


Amanda Richards, May 19, 2006