The Dresden Dolls - 'The Dresden Dolls' (2004)

Versions:
CD
LP

Tracklisting:
1. Good Day
2. Girl Anachronism
3. Missed Me
4. Half Jack
5. 672
6. Coin-Operated Boy
7. Gravity
8. Bad Habit
9. The Perfect Fit
10. The Jeep Song
11. Slide
12. Truce

Best tracks:
Half Jack
Missed Me
Good Day

Currently listening to: CD

This was the last record I bought, and as it was sitting there looking at me, I decided to blog it.

While vinyl is my preferred method of listening, I've put on the CD. Part of doing this blog is to try re-connect with my CD collection. I rarely listen to CD's these days, let alone look through the booklet or pay much attention. Plus, there's the nostalgia. I've had the CD for years, but the vinyl only came out a few weeks ago.

My friend Ryan got me into The Dresden Dolls back around 2006. I remember seeing 'Coin-Operated Boy' on 'rage' when it came out and wasn't sure what to make of it. Or them. I wasn't sure if they were a joke or an actual band. I also thought the song sounded really early 90's, for some reason. But, I liked it.

Then, I pretty much forgot all about it. Ryan fell in love with them, but I put them on the the 'Yeah, I need to listen to that one day' pile. I think I had a burnt copy of it that I half listened to. It wasn't until Yes, Virginia came out that I listened to them properly. Ryan bought me both CD's for my birthday and a ticket to see them play at Adelaide Uni Bar a few weeks after my birthday. And, inevitably, I also fell in love. The gig was great. Amanda struck me as a cross between Tori Amos and Courtney Love. It was a winning combination. And Brian Viglione...can that boy play or what?! I'm rarely impressed by drummers, but Brian blew me away.

It's been quite interesting watching Amanda Palmer's career evolve over the past five or six years. There have been moments that have, as a fan, been both exhilarating and infuriating. It's been easy to forget a simpler time when Amanda was a Dresden Doll that wrote blogs about getting her period in airport toilets - as opposed to Amanda Fucking Palmer, social media queen, with her legions of ukulele-wielding followers. Regardless of what I think of Amanda Palmer in 2014 (and most of it is still highly positive), any time I listen to this album, I'm reminded about what made her so great in the first place.

I really love this album. 'Half Jack' is one of Amanda Palmer's greatest songs (do yourself a favour YouTube a live version - it's a testament to how well these two play together). 'Girl Anachronism' and 'Coin-Operated Boy' have aged surprisingly well. 'Slide' still gives me goosebumps. 'Missed Me' is another of Amanda's greatest moments. 'Good Day' and 'The Perfect Fit' still get me every time, also.

The only song I'm not particularly fond of is 'The Jeep Song', an early indication of the direction Amanda would later take with novelty songs like 'Map Of Tasmania' or 'Ukulele Anthem'.

I can't express how happy I am that this album has finally been released on vinyl. Rhino put out a limited pressing (3,000) for Record Store Day in 2014 to celebrate the album's 10th anniversary. Despite the hefty price tag and the average vinyl mastering (see 'Coin-Operated Boy'), it's a very welcome addition. Hopefully, they issue Yes, Virginia on vinyl at some point, also.

The Dresden Dolls had a really great thing going. It's a shame they play together only infrequently these days. Who knows if they'll ever make another record. And who knows if we'd even want them to?

Long live the punk cabaret.