I Can Even Take Him In The Bath

[bitterlies]

I'll tell you what: as much as Dresden Dolls are a gimmicky, overhyped, one-trick pony aimed at pre-goth fourteen year old girls, the new Amanda Palmer solo record is kicking my ass. Everything I dislike about Dresden Dolls can be summed up in Palmer's vocals and piano parts; the drummer is a badass (even though he is reviled by most drummers I know (they claim he is a showoff but I chalk this up to jealousy). That said, the solo record is all Palmer and no drummer- it doesn't even have proper drum tracks, as far as I can tell- but it still is way more accessible than the Dolls stuff. I think this is because it largely drops the "dark cabaret" bullshit (see also "Coin Operated Boy" and "Mandy Goes To Med School") in favor of good melody song structure (a la "Deiliah" and "Backstabber").

Evidently she collaborated with Ben Folds on it and it features Zoe Keating (ex-Rasputina) and East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys). Oh, and the title, "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?," is a Twin Peaks reference. Not too shabby.