Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Best Albums Of 2008 #17


Amanda Palmer-Who Killed Amanda Palmer

So, what exactly is to be expected from a solo album by the songwriting and singing half of a duo like The Dresden Dolls? Is it something akin to a Paul Simon record after Simon & Garfunkel? Basically, the same thing only without that other guy? Well, sort of. Amanda Palmer’s first solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, is certainly very reminiscent of The Dresden Dolls. I mean, it’s not like she can help it. But it’s certainly so much more. Similar to the way Jack White expands on his repertoire when switching from The White Stripes to The Raconteurs, Palmer has found a wealth of other avenues to explore on Who Killed Amanda Palmer.

Sure, songs like “Blake Says” and “The Point Of It All” offer few surprises. But on “Leeds United,” Palmer finally takes advantage of a full band, complete with horns, to create a song long on humor and short on minimalism. And who expected a song like “Guitar Hero” out of Palmer? An ode to a mysterious musician built around the guitar theatrics of Dead Kennedys legend East Bay Ray? It’s just that sort of creative stretching of limbs that Palmer needed after a small handful of Dresden Dolls records. The result is a load of fun.

“Leeds United”

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