The Dresden Dolls dress punk rock up for the caberet

By AMY WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Dresden Dolls

Dresden Dolls

Eight Foot Records

Strap…

Dresden Dolls

Dresden Dolls

Eight Foot Records

Strap on your seatbelts, kids; you are in for a wild ride. Completely unexpected and fantastically fun, the Dresden Dolls arrive on the scene. Their sound is almost like punk music, but not all punk. Completely original and fun from start to finish, their self-titled debut album is a necessity in the collection of anyone who is completely open to imaginative punk rock.

Cabaret punk rock? Do these words go together? I never would have thought so, until now. With heavy piano and drumbeats, but singing like a show tune, the Dresden Dolls manage to make these worlds collide with the raw fury of PJ Harvey. Lead singer and pianist Amanda Palmer can make her voice be completely frantic and raging and then take on a calm, smooth and soothing sound. The combination of the heavy drumbeats and the furious piano rival many of the piano greats who helped create rock ‘n’ roll.

The standout on this album is the second track, “Girl Anachronism.” You can literally hear and feel Palmer lose sanity with this fast-paced song. It’s over before you realize it started. It leaves you confused and disheveled – but in a good way – like a wild Saturday night you have to piece together the next day.

The tracks “Missed Me” and “Coin Operated Boy” are sultry and seductively piano-soaked. It has the aftertaste of the songs from the Musical Chicago.

Their live shows are just as intense as their music. They sell out shows all over their Boston hometown and in New York and beyond. In the only way possible they can to show off their music, they dress up avant-garde and rock out in a cabaret style for the crowd.

This dynamic duo is way ahead of its time. They have a cult-like crowd growing behind them, and you can slap some Cabaret make-up on, because you just may want to join them, after a listen.