The Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia (Roadrunner) I have mixed feelings about The Dresden Dolls - who tend to fuse something magnificent with something that can be downright terrible. I'm not talking about their mixing up of Brechtian/Weilian sultry cabaret pyrotechnics with the ramshackle aggro spit of punk and hardcore. More the lyrics that they sometimes put on top of their wonderful aesthetic musical template. Although musically and visually The Dresden Dolls are stunning to behold, I sometimes wonder if their lyrics might leave more sophisticated music fans somewhat unsatisfied. I mean, who really relates to the line "I joke about sex because it's funny when you're frightened"? But that aside, the band are musically and conceptually impeccable: Amanda Palmer wields a fiery piano and her voice is both sweet and full of spite - somewhere between Tori Amos and Ute Lemper. Brian Viglione's drumming is impressively pounding and the interplay between the two is explosively tight and empathetic. This collection of B-sides, demos and outtakes plays like as much of an album as any of the Dolls' previous, but perhaps it tips too heavily the wrong side of the Dolls ingredients scale - those questionably lyrics. Probably not a good gateway for newcomers then - while fans of the band's style might not get the insight into the band's development that those collections of old tracks sometimes afford - although the inclusion of the sheet music for all the songs here and on the ostensible companion album, ‘Yes, Virginia' will probably make the purchase worthwhile for many. Ali M. Review originally published by CMU Music Network www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk Next Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07, Jan08, Feb 08, Mar 08