The Dresden Dolls - Probably the Only Music Review I'll Ever Do (1594 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 1.33 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Rawrgy McRawrgerson <uber.rawrg.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-04-29 02:55:37 EDT
Probably the Only Music Review I Will Ever Do
Most of you know me. Most of you know that I hate sensationalistic garbage, subcultures and goose-stepping sheep that call themselves "free spirits" and "individuals" while they stand in line to buy whatever their latest mass-marketed "rebellious" trend demands. Because of my hatred for sensationalism, very rarely do I ever truly get behind something with any sort of passion. I admit it, I really only care about two things: Me and how me can be happy. That may mean that I do something nice for those in need to avoid guilt or to gain a sense of power and satisfaction, but really, that's why we all do it. (Preach preach preach, yeah, I know, anyways...)
Today, for your entertainment, I'm reviewing the Dresden Doll's self titled CD. It's normally classified as Pop Rock / Punk but truly they have a unique sound. Now I have strange taste in music. Most of the time, I ignore the lyrics and just listen to a good beat because most lyrics of popular songs are utter garbage. Hell, there have been songs by bands I'd be embarrassed to admit liking because the tune was good, but the lyrics were some pretentious bullshit about sex/dancing/sex/cheating/sex/pretending to be a bad ass/sex... Pre-packaged and sold because it's the lowest common denominator that the most possible people will buy. In other words, meh to most, shit to some.
(Warning: you're reading a review by a guy who loved Bond's first album, but hated their second. If you don't know who they are, it's probably because not very many people blend a string quartet with techno...)
The Dresden Dolls consist of Amanda Palmer on Piano and vocals and Brian Viglione on drums. Apparently that's all they needed to start a great band. While I think a lot of the talent falls on Palmer for her intelligent lyrics, Viglione is an asset as well. If I knew more about drummers, I'm sure I would have great things to say about him, but for now, the spotlight is on Amanda. Her piano playing is completely home-grown, having taken few lessons and learning on her own, her style of music is very eclectic.
The minimalism works perfectly. Too many bands these days think that you need drums, a base guitar, a six string, someone on an electric keyboard, back up singers and the ever-boring masturbation that is the "solo" which is only appreciated by people who either: play that instrument or the guy who's actually playing the solo. The piano and drums provides a simple sound that's very upbeat at times and dramatic at others. Best of all, you can understand 90% of the lyrics the first time you hear the song, almost unprecedented. It's a perfect blend: the instruments compliment the lyrics without overpowering them.
They defy traditional song format with smooth transitions between chorus and verse, while using both to move the song along. While most bands have versus with new information and chorus's that repeat 2-4 times with the same dead-horse message, their chorus is only sung once before returning to verse and is often altered significantly the next time around. Also, after the third verse, sometimes there is a complete change of pace that eventually revolves back around to closeout the song. All in all, it has a show tune quality that increases the theatrics of it all.
Ok, now for a couple of song highlights:
First, let's start off with the song you've probably heard on the radio: Coin Operated Boy. This song is one of my least favorites on the CD, 1: because it's been played to death and 2: because it's sub-par for the rest of the CD. If you think most of their music sounds like that, it's completely different from song to song, and this is the one that was picked up because radio station's thought people would think it was about a dildo. (Lowest common denominator: sex) Amanda herself states on their website that it's about loneliness and the complications of love.
Rating System
Lyrics:
1 - Backstreet Boys / Britney Spears (A deliberate corporate effort to appeal to the majority without directly offending anyone)
10 - Bob Dylan (Artistic, Intelligent, Poetic, Deep)
Tune:
1 - Generic freestyle rap beat (The music equivalent of SPAM) (No offense meant to those who enjoy SPAM)
10 - Epic Masterpiece ie. Stairway to Heaven / Imagine / Braveheart Theme (Music with highs, lows, climaxes and/or a wide range of emotions)
Track 1 - Good Day
Lyrics Rating: 7
Tune Rating: 7
An intelligent look at the relationships of ex-lovers and how we often take pleasure from having it better than the person that broke our hearts. It's guiltless, direct and very colorful. The tune of the song is very good and I really like the way how she changes the chorus slightly each time and often digresses into a completely unique sounding third verse. This is a pattern in some of her songs.
Track 2 - Girl Anachronism
Lyrics Rating: 6
Tune Rating: 8
Wow... a fast paced song with fast cutting lyrics that sound angsty at first only to be ironically retrospective and non-provocative (in a good way). The theme of her viewing herself as an anachronism (thing taken out of the context of its proper time, like Jesus driving around in a Cadillac) stemmed from her Caesarian birth. The tempo and beat of this song is non-stop intensity that rises higher than you expect possible. This was the song that played as part of a "Computer Shuffle Weekend" on a local radio station and I decided to buy the CD the next day. It's a very fun song.
Track 3 - Missed Me
Lyrics Rating: 8
Tune Rating: 5
In her bio, she explains how she let herself be seduced by her piano teacher when she was 14 (hence she ceased her lessons soon after that). It's a twisted song though, how the girl uses the fact that she could have him arrested for molesting her if he doesn't care about her. The tune is too simple for me, but the lyrics make up for it and make it a very enjoyable song. I found myself smirking at how evil the "innocent" little girl really was while still being naïve at the same time.
Track 4 - Half Jack
Lyrics Rating: 5
Tune Rating: 4
Not one of my favorites. A song about not wanting to be like her father. The reasons are ambiguous, but nonetheless worth a listen. Perhaps I can't relate because after my mother died, all I had was my father and we get along great. Either way, I'm sure other's would appreciate this more than I would.
Track 5 - 672
Lyrics Rating: ...?
Tune Rating: ...?
I'm still lost on this one. It's about 1 minute long and the only words are 672 and something-something. Oh well.
Track 6 - Coin Operated Boy
Lyrics Rating: 6
Tune Rating: 6
I'm middle of the road on this one. It's a song about how difficult it is to find love and how wonderful it would be to have one that only required coins, rather than effort, understanding, patience, chemistry, etc... It's a damn fine song, it's just been overplayed on the radio. I had heard this song for 6 months before Girl Anachronism prompted me to actually blow some cash on a CD.
Track 7 - Gravity
Lyrics: ...?
Tune: 8
A more upbeat yet eclectic song, I'm still not quite sure how to interpret the lyrics at this time, but that's part of the fun of music. I'm assuming it's about guilt, but hey, who knows, right? I like this one for the song and how every time I hear it, I interpret it differently.
Track 8 - A Perfect Fit
Lyrics: 9
Tune: 7
A strong building tune to this song and lyrics that are very honest: The pressure of mounting fuck ups that lead us to desperation and the hope that something or especially someone could just come along and fix it all. One of my favorites, it has several social oddities thrown in as well.
Track 9 - Bad Habit
Lyrics: 6
Tune: 7
Fast paced, oddly happy sounding song that talks about the pleasure of punishing one's self. It's relating to her cutting herself, but there are many forms of self destruction. The end of the song gives the entirety of it closure and a sense of levity and resolution. Very nice.
Track 10 - The Jeep Song
Lyrics: 6
Tune: 6
The tune is fun, but nothing to write home about. This song is about how every time she sees a black Jeep Cherokee her heart skips a beat because the guy who broke her heart drove it. The lyrics are humorous in places, and it reminds us of a time whenever we'd see that car and think "Is that her/him?"
Track 11 - Slide
Lyrics: ...
Tune: 3
A song about a sexual experience that I assume is from a child molester that slipped a girl some ruffies. I could be wrong so I won't waste time trying to review the plot. This is probably my least favorite and I haven't listened to it enough to really rate the lyrics appropriately.
Track 12 - Truce
Lyrics: 9
Tune: 8
Wow... just wow. I loved this song about two lovers that split ways and start debating which cities they get to live in so that they don't run into each other. Very heart-wrenching, retrospective and intelligent. I likey.
...
Their website is located at http://www.dresdendolls.com where they offer free downloads of 4 of their songs and a lyrics library. They classify themselves as a Brechtian Punk Cabaret, and really, that's about right. Either way though, if you like original sounds, appreciate lyrics and like eclectic deviation from the mainstream, you'll love the Dresden Dolls.
User Reviews
Submitted by project_nessa (user info) at 2005-04-30 12:05:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good job. i love this band, too.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-04-30 11:55:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I heard they are touring with NIN this summer.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2005-04-30 11:43:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
With such a well thought out and intelligent rebuttal to my review I don't know if I can continue to like this band...
Submitted by degree451 (user info) at 2005-04-29 14:07:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
The Dresden Dolls suck. I know, I'm from the Boston area, they play all the clubs and ruin my nights. Since you can't listen to the "music" here, I'll describe it: a deep voiced retarded woman banging on piano keys as hard as she can. (I guess "homegrown" is another word for "not very talented.") Moreover, when people talk about their beloved Dresden Dolls, the first thing they say is "they paint their faces isnt that awsome lol?!" No, not really.
The Beautiful city of Dresden mourns that people will associate it with this band.
The Beautiful city of Boston mourns that it has produced this band.
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-04-29 12:28:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like the Dresden Dolls.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-04-29 08:41:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for the tipe I will give this band a try.
The Braveheart Theme is great, I actually have copy that Moby remixed so it starts like the orignal and then there is this great drop right into a techno beat that is still the same song. Tough to explain but great listen.
If you like Braveheart Theme give the theme to The Last of The Mohicans great soundtrack.
Submitted by MrSparkle847 (user info) at 2005-04-29 08:13:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It's just the way the operation made me
Submitted by funk_boy (user info) at 2005-04-29 04:16:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"Most of you know that I hate sensationalistic garbage, subcultures and goose-stepping sheep that call themselves "free spirits" and "individuals" while they stand in line to buy whatever their latest mass-marketed "rebellious" trend demands."
I like that sentence I do.
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-04-29 04:09:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Lyrics, in general, are overrated.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-04-29 03:42:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'll take a listen to these people later, when I'm at a workstation where the media actually works.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2005-04-29 03:32:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Bah, ye olde typo. I hate those things. I think phonetically and type reflexively. Those are the kinds of typos I overlook after reading them several times too... Although I knew how to spell Bass Guitar properly, I didn't know all the other stuff. Thanks for the history lesson!
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-04-29 03:24:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Bass guitar.
Bass, as in fish.
Bass, derived from DoubleBass, or Kontrabass.
Originally named that because it "doubled" the bass line (usually played by a cello) in order to make the sound fuller.
Bass is derived from the latin "Basso Continuo" or constant bass. this line was usually played by a harpsichord in teh Baroque (if its baroque dont fix it) period, later by the cello and then the
KONTRABASS!!!
then the Bass Guitar, which was invented by Leo Fender in 1951.