Performed by The Dresden Dolls Rated 4.5/5.0, based on 48 reviews. Buy from Amazon: New price: $10.59 Used price: $6.88

A very worthly sophmore effort
Rating: 5/5
This has to be one of the most unique acts that are currently running. It is difficult to catagorize the cabaret style/rock music that they play. Amanda and Brian play keyboards and piano only, but they have never sounded to rich and alive than with the Dresden Dolls.

I orginally saw this group while I went to Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour, and have grown into a large fan of this group. Challenging to listen to at times, but their style is unique, and definately original. The tracks have a rich diversity of styles to hard rock in Backstabber, and something soft and melodic in Mrs. O.

I would highly recommend adding this to your collection if you like something unique that you aren't likely to hear elsewhere.

This band is incredible!
Rating: 5/5
I really, really, love this band. I just recently discovered them on Amazon and am so happy I did! If you are a Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Regina Spektor fan and like music of that genre you will love this group. Both members are incredibly unique and the lyrics are simply incredible. Buy this you won't regret the purchase, I can't stop playing their albums (also check out their self titled debut). I can't wait to see them play live!

Love the `Dolls, but this is a weaker album than the first.
Rating: 3/5
I won't get deep into this review, but I have to say this was a little disappointing after their first album was so amazing to me. This one just seems like another dip in the well. They don't take any risks this time out, and some of the songs are actually a bit droning and dull.

I still LIKE this CD, but it's not among my favorites. I hope the Dresden Dolls keep making music, but I also hope they step out of the formulaic rut they've gotten themselves into. They need to expand their musical repertoire a bit if they want to remain interesting and relevant on their next release.

I suggest you borrow this one first, and give it a listen before dropping the cash on it right away.

All Scars On the Inside Please
Rating: 5/5
I bought this album when it was first released quite some time ago and I've never managed to shelve it since it always manages to stay in the "frequently listened to" pile at the side of my computer. There have been quite a number of reviews commenting on The Doll's unique and "edgy" style so I won't get into that but I think to truly appreciate what Amanda is trying to reach in the listener one has to look below the to be expected lyrics about sex and other "shock topics" to the underlying meaning within meanings so to speak, to reach the true heart of this album : a vast and unending sense of loneliness. The type of void that eats away at people and will never be repaired. If the first album was a tribute to the folks who walk around with their scars both physical and literal on the outside then this is a tribute to the grater majority who carefully cover them up.

1. Sex Changes - Amanda's at it again carefully crafting double meanings into her lyrics the way only she can. On first listen this easily comes of as a song about the feelings and experiences that go on before a preop sex change. However the more you listen you realize the message in it is universal to almost any sexual activity ~ "Of course its what's inside that matters and of course I love you, but . . .". The number of sexual insecurities and problems that could be linked to this song are endless.

2. Backstabber - This song is more personal on a literal level but the frustration and amusement come off to those who aren't in on Amanda's personal struggle. The song is directed to some unknown figure whom supposedly badmouthed The Dresden Dolls and yet still enjoys a sticky sweet popularity proving that justice is sometimes never quite served.

3. Modern Moonlight - A commentary on commercialism taking an ever growing place in our society. Not original but Amanda's acceptance that even her whining about the subject in her song is hypocritical since she too loves communicating is something worth giving a nod to. The almost slow stalking sound conjured up to represent industries plans for invasion "we're gonna take your cities one by one" in the middle of the song sent shivers down my arms.

4. My Alcoholic Friends - An upbeat song from the pov of an alcoholic who swings between denial and acceptance of their condition as if it were the only logical option. The lyrics betray how lost the singer is at times in their addiction as shown by the lyrics where he/she wakes up not knowing "the date, the season or the city or who is waking up beside me - but at least the ceiling's very pretty". What a binge! Half way through the singer falters in their attempt to blame it on their "friends" but at the end the denial once again picks up in full speed.

5. Delilah - Many reviewers have expressed a need to skip over this song since it comes off as too slow after 4 tracks of fastly driven songs and while I admit it took me awhile to settle down and listen to this one they are sorely missing out on one what could easily be the most beautiful song on the entire album. The friend of a woman who continues to stay with an abusive boyfriend chronicles first her ever growing worry, frustration and eventual hatred of the situation as the actions of the abused and abuser become more and more predictable until the singer seems to have acquiesced, quite bitterly, to the fact that she can change nothing and is now just in it for the ride as much as anyone else, belting out "lets see how fast this thing can go".

6. Dirty Business - This is the track that really defies explanation or review. The girl in the song is a cocktail of venom.

7. First Orgasm - I'd want to say I like this song but I don't - I LOVE this song. It details the singer waking up and making coffee before going to sit and masturbate in front of the computer on a cold morning. Throughout the song we're treated to an existentialist view of self pleasuring as the lyrics simultaneously chronicle both the act its self as well as small, unimportant happenings around her while its going on. You get the impression that masturbation is just something to do and get out of the way - short perfunctory and incredibly lonely- and this is reinforced by the singers admittance of "I am to busy to have friends a lover would just complicate my plans" before in a completely startling turn of events we are treated to a complete audio *break down* of the singer as the existentialism gives way to the utter neediness inside in the final repeated confession "I could last at least one week without someone to hold me" sung in long, pleading aching tones.

8. Mrs O - A nod to the albums title. This is not a song about Nazi sympathizers as some reviews have stated but rather about the simple need adults have to protect children from the world of adults. Check out the heartbreakingly childish lyrics "hair dryers aimed heaven words" as if a group of children outside with a blow dryer could chase away winter. We have all experienced this phenomenon, the day we find out Santa is no longer real and Amanda does a stand up job of capturing this in a song.

9. Shores of California - A catchy tune about the deteriorating relationships between young boys and girls in modern day society and about all the things we've built around ourselves from dating services to soap operas to help cope with the growing emptiness and confusion.

10. Necessary Evil - This has got to be one of the most broad and spot on social commentaries in the whole album.

11. Mandy Goes to Med School - These are the butchers with gloves, the inexperienced med students, back alley abortionists that you hope you will never have to meet or go to for help but will probably end up at the mercy of wither you have to go looking for their black van parked behind buildings due to desperation and lack of funds or in the hospital since cruelty is something that is found everywhere. The doctors from hell would be a good description as they take an almost ghoul like detached and humorous look at the fates of their patients. What a morbid kicker - this song is nothing but good creepy fun.

12. Me And The Mini Bar - Two lovers were supposed to spend the night together but the man ends up leaving. Alone in a hotel room the woman stoutly refuses to admit to failure and decides to go on with her plans for the evening anyway's stating "that is the type of girl I am". The feeling of someone spiraling as fast as they can into a night of heavy drinking rather than admitting to loss.

13. Sing - While this was the other single its appropriate that it closes the album. The Dolls have always expressed a great interest in seeing their fans really try and express themselves creatively - even if it means clawing through years of rigid art lessons than generally do more to chase away creativity to encourage it. Here Amanda simply invites the singer with growing degrees of frustration to let go of their inhibitions and *sing* no matter what its about - listing topics from everything to the bar janitor to Darfur's Janja Weed. Amanda says it clear and simple in the lines "There is this thing keeping everyone's lungs and lips locked - it is called FEAR and its seeing a great renaissance".

So often we approach albums in a monotonous way - dealing with the lyrics on face value. But Amanda expresses quite clearly on her first album a distaste for "sappy songs about sex and cheating" and no where on Yes Virgina should we think for a moment she's given up on that. Yes, it easy to brush off the lyrics based on impressions made on the first listen but upon multiple listening's we begin to realize the vast and unending folds she has carefully crafted into the lyrics making her one of the few artists who has stuck unflinchingly with their vision through the thick and thin of record sales with a determination that should be applauded. Yes Virginia is a gem plain and simple - quit reading and buy now.