The Wake

If Mattel packaged the Dresden Dolls, lead singer/pianist Amanda Palmer would be marketed as Barbie’s evil twin sister—her antithesis with dark hair, a purposefully pale face, and a penchant for black. Whereas drummer Brian Viglione would pose within the confines of his plastic packaging as Ken’s archenemy—a quiet menace with kohl-rimmed eyes.

The self-proclaimed “Brechtian punk cabaret” duo’s second studio album exudes emotion wrought from the throes of passion (“Dirty Business”) and the bottom of a barrel (“My Alcoholic Friends”). The acid-laced lyrics on “Backstabber,” “Shit lover! Off-brusher! / Jaded little joy crusher!” are offset by Palmer’s melodic piano playing, which provides a consistent toe-tapping backdrop for her insistent vocals. Meanwhile, Viglione is careful not to overshadow her (occasionally) frenetic playing, by punctuating her piercing vocals with just enough of a punch.

Not to be overlooked is the track “Shores of California”—in which the state of 10,000 lakes receives a shout out (“That’s the way it is in Minnesota”). More name-dropping ranges from Hiroshima and Chernobyl to Hitler (Mrs. O), while misguided relationships crop up as a recurring theme: “You thought you could change the world by opening your legs / Well it isn’t very hard, try kicking them instead.”

The only thing that is innocent about the disc is the title—pulled from an 1897 New York Sun article answering the age-old question: “Is there a Santa Claus?”

“Yes, Virginia,” was the response. “He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” As the Dresden Dolls’ cover art illustrates, that heart is black.