Before letting myself become embedded in the wondrous Who Killed Amanda Palmer, I listened to The Dresden Dolls’ eponymous album. Whilst I found its blend of theatrical rock rather engaging, it wasn’t revolutionary, but then I was four years late, and there are now other bands following or branching off in new directions.

The follow-up, Yes, Virginia…, is a more compelling album, full of assured, sometimes controversial song-writing and performances which are confident and sparkling.

Necessary Evil is loveable for its melodic rhythmically rampant piano work – the break at 1.50 is incredible, Amanda Palmer’s blistered vocals and Brian Viglione’s manic but beautifully timed percussion. It’s sneaky but smart, placing something this exhilarating towards the tail-end of the album.

Yes, Virginia… – iTunes UK
Yes, Virginia… – Amazon UK
The Dresden Dolls – Official Website

There are people around these parts who write that Amanda Palmer’s debut – extricated from her life as half of The Dresden Dolls – withers slightly in its latter stages. This is, fortunately, incorrect. The slower closing section of Who Killed Amanda Palmer serves as a delicious dessert to its bristly openers, which includes this song.

Runs in the Family is a frantic song, heaping arpeggios on staccato piano and overlapping vocal lines to cram so much into its short life. But like many songs on the album, it’s the little things that make it more memorable, especially the organ riff that accompanies the ‘me up / me up..’ refrains. And yes, it hooked itself into my head two nights ago.

I’m too unfamiliar with The Dresden Dolls to determine how, why or if this album relates in some part. Nor do I care that some of its songs have been around for over a year – some longer. I do care that this album is the only one likely to displace another as a shoe-in for album of the year and I’m rationing myself to one play a day. It’s so good though, you should buy it twice.

Amanda Palmer: Runs in the Family

Amanda Palmer: Who Killed Amanda Palmer – iTunes Special Edition
Amazon UK
Amanda Palmer – MySpace
Album Website

I guess, by the time a musician gets to their third album they know whether it’s going to work out for them. Not writing, recording and touring as a hobby, but embracing their talents and working with something that’s turned out to be innate to their existence. There are perhaps a handful of musicians that I could categorise in such a way.

With the release of Jonestown, Sofia Talvik easily gets over the idea of the difficult third album (younger sibling of the difficult second album) and turns out a collection that eclipses her first two. Opening track and lead single As Summers Pass recalls the past with its acoustic progressions, but the subsequent song My James Dean is astonishing.

Because it’s not what you’re expecting. Sure it has these synth pads that appear to hang over from its predecessor, but the guitar loops lower, more geared towards grooving. The best way I can describe it is the merging of the droning synth-rock of Stereolab and the sub-Spector inclinations of El Perro del Mar – with piano too.

Over the top of this comes Sofia’s outstanding vocals and a plaintiff declaration that “I’m not that special.” But she is.

Sofia Talvik – Official Website
Sofia Talvik – MySpace
Jonestown – Official Store
Jonestown – iTunes UK