Review: Who Killed Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls’ latest release, Who Killed Amanda Palmer is a show tunes masterpiece on compact disc. Not for the faint of heart, this album caters to a specific group of listeners: fans of musicals and angry rock music.

Fans of show tunes and piano rock fans will appreciate the release, her first solo album, produced by Ben Folds. According to the group’s Web site, the collaboration came about when Folds wrote a gushy fan letter and offered his recording studio.

The Web site, does not explain the other collaborations on the album, such as East Bay Ray of the Dead Kennedys on Guitar Hero. The song is a criticism of Blackwater Worldwide providing soldiers with video games and other video game use and references to Iraq and war in general.

The site does show multimedia inspiration for each song. News clips, videos and pictures of under the lyrics help fans decipher meaning from the strong words.

Songs on the album range from an upbeat song titled “Oasis”, complete with handclaps, to piano ballad “Ampersand”, a violent rejection of marriage. Palmer tackles politics, feminism, relationships, abuse, video games and Internet pornography, all with her signature melancholy or angry tone.

Palmer’s vocals are at times soprano and at times bass, but always strong.

Who Killed Amanda Palmer continues the Dresden Dolls’ theatrical style, but more personal and without the self-ascribed “punk cabaret” show.

For fans that want to feed Palmer and friends, follow the link on her MySpace to sign up for a scheduled date and specific instructions about what types of local, vegetarian, homegrown and wheat-free food the band members are interested in. -Christine Labit