Who Killed Amanda Palmer (Special Edition)

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Amanda Palmer

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Taking a break from her main gig as singer/songwriter/pianist/mastermind of Boston's Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer has taken a strong leap to the solo album business. Fans expecting/fearing a radical change in style can rest assured that her melodic and lyrical senses remain sharp as ever, even as she takes a few new directions. Working with producer Ben Folds, she builds up her piano-driven cabaret punk with string and horn sections, organs and even afew guitars here and there. She even allows a few special guests such as ex-Rasputina member Zoe Keating on violin and a particularly odd camoeo from East Bay Ray of punk legends the Dead Kennedys. Beneath the attractive new window dressing, this is still the same Doll's house, even if drummer Brian Viglione is newhere in sight (there are drums on the album, of course, but played by others).

Advance word had it that the album mainly consisted of slow ballads, but the reality is a much more varied affair. The opening track, "Astronaut," with its pounding pianos while "Runs in the Family," a tale of mental instability (a favorite lyrical theme of Palmer's) is reminiscent of the Dolls' "Girl Anachronism." Track three, "Ampersand," is the first ballad, and a disarmingly personal one at that, performed with just piano and voice. Other songs are clearly character studies: "oasis" is about a teenage girl who gets drunk, raped and goes for an abortion. Unbeleivably, it's played for humor, which would be ugly and tasteless, except that Palmer clearly has sympathy for the character. Likewise, the school shooter of "Strength Through Music" is a misfit that Palmer identifies with, even if the tone of the song and the whispered "tick tick tick tick" of the chorus belie a more despairing undercurrent.

Although I wonder what these songs might sound like as Dresden Dolls productions, with just piano and drums, The material here is strong enough for many repeated listens. It must be said: Amanda Palmer is, in my mind, one of the best songwriters working today. I just hope the people who agree with me outnumber those who are calling me an idiot.

This album is ok for me. There are some excellent tracks, but some that fall short. Astronaut, Ampersand, Leeds United, Have to Drive, The Point of All and Another Year are surprisingly very very good. The rest are ok. Oasis is terrible. Even if it weren't for the context or content or tone, the song is annoying. Blake Says really grows on you. I can't judge to say if Dolls fans would like this or not, because this album has me pretty divided by the tracks, even if some tracks are just fab. She should use more horns on her album in the future. ;)