ihavebeenfloated

Note: I am listening to an advance copy of this album and, as with some advance copies, there is a chance things might change before the retail release.

I figure this will just be a short little review, but every time I say that it ends up blowing up into a big thing, so, whatever.

On my first initial listen, I was in love with Yes, Virginia by The Dresden Dolls. I loved their first album, and wasn’t sure if I loved this one. I did love it.

But on repeat listens there are parts of it that bug me.

Sex Changes is quite possibly my favorite song so far this year, which isn’t really saying much technically since just about nothing of any sort of decency has been released yet this year (with notable exceptions), but it’s still an amazing song. It’s a one-two punch of pure power and biting lyricism that easily rivals the previous album’s opener Good Day. I’ll be listening to this song for a long time to come.

Backstabber is this first of many songs that got on my nerves over time. It has a creative beat, a really great sound, but the mild chanting of “backstabber” gets on my nerves and, as I said, over time it just got on my nerves.

Modern Moonlight: Good upbeat track that segues into nice powerful slowly paced bits. I dig this one.

My Alcoholic Friends: This track should probably get annoying like Backstabber, but I really love it. Very bouncy and enjoyable.

Delilah: Starts off slow and weak but segues into a very, very, very powerful in the last third of the song that emotionally strips me due my ability to relate to the lyrical content very strongly.

Dirty Business: Excellent song, if only for the part where she sings, “YOU REALLY HAD ME” in a very deep voice. There’s a angry power there that I can relate to. The lyrical content of this song rocks my face.

First Orgasm: I don’t really understand this song, I should probably look up the lyrics just to see, but personally the line, “there are some school kids, yelling and running, they barely notice, that i am coming,” kind of makes me feel icky. Interesting song, it just has a strange feeling and mood that I am uncomfortable with for some reason. I think that’s the point, though.

Mrs. O: Some people might remember this from A is for Accident. Good song, has some punch, but I’m not too fond of it.

Shores of California: Another interesting song, has a really hard punch, interesting vocal delivery. Very bouncy, but again, not really fond of it at all.

Necessary Evil: An “angry sounding” song. Has a really ridiculously awesome chorus.

Mandy Goes to Med School: I really cannot stand this song. It makes my skin crawl. There’s something about the delivery of the lyrics that makes me want to reach into my radio and crush everything. I can’t really explain it. This song really bugs the shit out of me.

Me & the Minibar: Sob story song. A “I’m all alone on my birthday and it sucks,” song. The only memorable part of this song is when she sings “It’s just me and the minibar.” Has a nice power to it.

Sing: Kind of a lame closer. A pseudo-inspirational lament for people to “sing” and be free or some shit. Kind of stupid, if you ask me.

Overall, I’d say it’s a suitable followup. One word of warning though, if you liked The Dresden Dolls for all the songs that WERE NOT The Jeep Song, then this album might not do it for you. Sex Changes is as close to Girl Anachronism as you’re going to get. There is no Missed Me, Coin-operated Boy or even Gravity. The rest of the album is really similar to The Jeep Song, as in all the songs are really poppy songs that are rather generic lyrically. There is a minimum of theatrics, and that’s kind of sad.

Good album, but if you liked the “Brechtian punk cabaret” parts of this “brechtian punk cabaret”, well, just forget about them. This album is straight pop with an edge. It reminds me of the 80’s a lot, although I’ll admit there was nothing in the 80’s that sounded like The Dresden Dolls, they remind me of an 80’s band. Poppy, edgy, creative, and fun to listen to.