Yes, Yes, Yes Virginia!
 Jun 25th, 2007
Advantages:
Much more polished, mature and awe inspiring sound
Disadvantages:
Maybe too different for some listeners to appreciate
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money
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  MizzMolko
About me:
Think it's time for the epic countdown to start: 47 days until Christmas : )
Member since:01.08.2005
Reviews:128
Members who trust:154
Review rated by 17 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
The Dresden Dolls self titled debut album was a real burst of adrenaline in the stagnant alternative music scene; it's combination of raunchy yet raw lyrics with powerful drums and crazy piano melodies made it a very unforgettable listen, an album that I shall take to my grave as one of my all time favourites. So when I got the follow up album 'Yes Virginia' for my last birthday, I was curious, excited and even a little sceptical; I'd never heard any of the songs before hand so was completely unsure of what I was going to be gracing my ears with. Then, their was my ever present bout of cynicism that doubted that the band could make a second album with at least the same amount of promise and aptitude as their first.
How wrong could I possibly have been? The album starts with 'Sex Changes', a positively wacky bundle of energy in it's self. Aggressive with amusingly
true lyrics (as you often find with the Dolls), it was a great way for the second offering to begin; the sound was familiar yet fresh.
'Backstabber' is lead singer Amanda Palmer's presumed rant at an ex-lover for only sleeping with 'girls who say they like your music'. Far too catchy for it's own good, this is one of my personal favourites on the album. 'Modern Moonlight' is pure brilliance, boasting my favourite lyric 'How can they complain we're all just f****d up kids when they keep on changing who our Mother is?'. Fantastically witty, the piano is this is well delivered and really compliments the style of the words.
The fourth track, 'My Alcoholic Friends' is a song with a seemingly annoying piano track. However, it's one of those songs that you can just relate to, as if you wrote it yourself. 'Delilah' slows the pace down amazingly well. Heartfelt passionate vocals and music make this a bitter sweet experience on the album. Beautiful all of the same.
'Dirty Business' is the follow up designed to get the pace going again. However, I think that it was possibly the wrong song to place after a subtly strong track such as 'Delilah' but is not a bad track by any stretch of the imagination. 'First Orgasm' is one of the weaker songs on the album, in my opinion. It's very much a track that would have worked as a B-side perhaps but definitely not as soon after 'Delilah' in terms of speed.
The strangely wonderful 'Mrs O' is a great pick-me-up after 'First Orgasm'. Punchy and enjoyable, this is heading back to the Dresden Dolls we all know and love. 'Shores of California' is an utterly endearing track, sporting greatly funny words, this is an unusual choice of single for the band in my opinion. Yet, with the video included, this song is portrayed to be much better than originally thought.
'Necessary Evil' is a song to get stuck in your head. It has a very traditional type Cabaret feel to it which drives the album back to it's original routes. 'Mandy Goes To Med Schools' is not only clever but one of he best tracks I've ever heard. To rude to post any of the lyrics, this song alone picks the album up from any of it's misgivings.
The second to last song ' Me & The Minibar' is an annoying, self indulgent drone, as I imagine it's intended to be. This is the only track I skip whilst listening to this album. 'Sing' is a fantastic end to an otherwise fantastic album; powerful in it's own deluxe way, it shows the bands heart and soul perfectly; you are literally thrown deep in the depths of the Dresden Doll's pool and love every second of it.
The album boasts some quirky, unusual artwork that you would expect from such a quirky, unusual band. The lyrics are included too, something that I personally like to have when listening to an album for the first couple of times. This album to me sums up everything The Dresden Dolls are about; passion, intensity and self motivation through hard or challenging times. Although some would describe it as being too different from the debut album, I personally loved the much more mature, polished sound.
A truly memorable and awe inspiring album.
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by (6%):
22.08.2008 02:44
Good review. I like them a lot too.
20.12.2007 10:31
Not heard this for ages - shall have to dig it out! an interesting review x
25.06.2007 20:13
great review - reads very well xx