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The Dresden Dolls
It’s (relatively) easy to imagine what The Dresden Dolls sound like just by looking at a picture of them; with carnival-esque clothes and faces painted like sinister marionettes, the edgy musical theater/piano-rock that the Dolls make is somehow expected. Born in Boston in 2001, the cabaret-ish duo (made of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione) performs and sings as if acting out dramas, all the while pounding away at a piano in a style much like old-time parlor music. For all the theatricalities, though, there’s enough rock ‘n’ roll sensibility thrown in to make the Dresden Dolls fun and lively to listen to, as well. If dolls do, in fact, come to life at night, it’s probably a Dresden Dolls album that they put on when they really want to party.
Published October 2006.