Album — No, Virginia by Dresden Dolls

Dresden Dolls are at first glance, both fascinating and frightening. It’s this conundrum that makes it easy to want to like the Brechtian-punk-cabaret duo—just because they’re so unique and intriguing. More than a band, Dresden Dolls are an idea, an experience and a noble freak show. The music is a dark, raw and brash statement spoken with a wry smile through voice, piano and drums. Channeling a variety of musical influences, the songs are an unorthodox, unapologetic mixture of sexuality, pain, chaos, loneliness, buried secrets, violence and performance for the sake of performance—art that inspires reaction. It’s just up to you to see if that reaction is of fascination or fear or something entirely different.

The album “No, Virginia,” is companion to the duo’s second full length album, “Yes, Virginia” (titled in reference to an 1897 editorial reply in the New York Sun to a letter about the existence of Santa Claus—”Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”). The songs are left over from the “Yes, Virginia” recordings, along with b-sides and compilation releases. The duo is releasing a digital version of this album on June 10, 2008. The digital release will feature three bonus tracks. Check for yourself. 

Quarters for the songs: Night Reconnaissance; Sorry Bunch; The Kill; The Mouse and The Model; Ultima Esperanza.

Worth listening, if you like: The Tiger Lillies; Cat Power; … And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead; Antony & The Johnsons; Bauhaus; Tori Amos; Rilo Kiley; Rasputina; Cocteau Twins; Joy Division; Fiona Apple; Evanescence.