(Music) The Dresden Dolls: "Yes Virginia"

This is a good place to start. Let's talk for a little while about the Dresden Dolls. If you've been around me at all in the last year or so, you've probably at least heard of them. A dude on drums and a chick on piano, each with their own share of mental issues, make up this dynamic duo. Thier live show is supposed to be amazing, unfortunately NIN presales are categorically a Lebanese butt-sex torture chamber, so I missed out on that. Also, big ups to Josh and Adams for introducing me to them, "Girl Anachronism" is just too good to forget, as is most of their debut self-titled album (2003). But that's not what this post is about. This post is about their new album, "Yes Virginia."

"Yes Virginia" is the all-too-common, sophomore slump album. If you're like me, you kinda wore out the first album way too quick. To this day, I really can't put the album in and listen to more than the first two songs without getting bored. Perhaps this is why I'm not a fan of YV. For the most part, it's the same album with different lyrics. It is no huge departure for the Dresden Dolls.

What's worst, however, is that the group seems to have trouble recapturing the passion and pain of the first album. In my opinion, that's what made the first album classic, true grit and passion. Not so on this album. Of course, they do try their best. The opening track "Sex Changes" seems like an obvious attempt to recreate the chaotic nature of "Girl Anachronism," but obviously, the subject matter is a little harder to swallow, which is the case with most of the album. Maybe I'm a sick guy, but I'd rather hear about Amanda cutting herself than hear about her masturbating and achieving orgasm ("First Orgasm"). The rest of the album is the predictable barrage of songs about ex-lovers and "Backstabbers." And while each song has something to admire, the album as a whole is little more than a quivering insect in the shadow of their self-titled debut's size 13's. Perhaps the Dresden Dolls have always been what I've secretly suspected: a gimmick.

This album is recommended to anyone who still loves their debut and listens to it frequently.

Key Tracks:

1. "Sex Changes"
2. "My Alcoholic Friends"
3. "Necessary Evil"
   

2 out of 5 stars