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100

Alternative Press

The Dolls' music... is as gripping as ever. [Jun 2006, p.188]

Tiny Mix Tapes

Yes, Virginia is the album The White Stripes would make if they were getting more passionate and creative with each successive release instead of lamer and more commercial.

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PopMatters

While the first album was more adventurous, Virginia‘s newfound focus suits the Dresden Dolls to a tee.

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All Music Guide

They sound more confident than ever, igniting their cabaret-rock with more crazed inventiveness and you-are-there immediacy.

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New Musical Express (NME)

The bastard lovechild of Tori Amos and an Eastern European touring circus. [15 Apr 2006, p.35]

Pitchfork

Yes, Virginia doesn't have the expressive range of the Dresden Dolls' debut.... But what is here is frequently engaging even if-- for a band that thrives on discomfort-- the record sometimes gets a bit too comfortable for its own good.

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Entertainment Weekly

Warning: Consume this in small doses. [21 Apr 2006, p.73]

ShakingThrough.net

If it ultimately feels as if it's slightly less than its predecessor, that's because there's a sense of the band's acting out more in order to try and show how outrageous it can be.

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Under The Radar

When [Palmer] misses, she comes off as precious. When she hits, she's as moving as anything in music today. [#13, p.84]

Blender

An amped-up grotesque of torchy vaudeville and European parlor songs that starts as high-concept camp and winds up strangely illuminating. [May 2006, p.105]

Slant Magazine

Yes, Virginia is hit-or-miss.

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Q Magazine

The Dolls tighten their musical corset with beguiling style. [May 2006, p.123]

Delusions of Adequacy

When not overdone, the playing and singing are excellent, and when they want to, the Dresden Dolls can pen a mighty fine tune as well.

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The Guardian

Palmer's style is overwhelming: she sings her poetry with such gusto that it crosses from enthusiastic drama to verbose pantomime.

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Uncut

While the debut was full of witty, Sparksy songs, Yes, Virginia is awash with mawkishly earnest ballads that suggest Tori Amos after a spell at drama school. [May 2006, p.104]

Spin

They burden their appealing, childlike take on Brechtian cabaret's cold raunch with so much lush production... that it's as though Palmer is being drowned by a gallon jug of overpriced perfume. [Jun 2006, p.79]

Prefix Magazine

Sometimes it's hard to take seriously a band that bases its identity on a shtick -- but it doesn't seem like the members of the Dresden Dolls are much interested in being taken seriously.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 22 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brian H gave it a10:
Maybe one of the greatest albums I've ever listened to, absolutely stunning music, Dirty Business may be my favorite song of all time.

Dave F gave it a9:
This is like the White Stripes with more piano and a good drummer.

Ben M gave it a7:
I hated "coin operated boy" but was intrigued by the theatre and musicality of Dresden Dolls. Unlike most of the reviews on this site, "Mandy Goes To Med School" is one of my favorites. Great jazz piano chords and intriguing lyrics.

Matt D. gave it a7:
Going by my interest level in the CD, it would be a 6 - but I'm going to give it a 7 so my personal taste doesn't influence my rating. Solid CD if you want something a little different in your collection. They are best when they are upbeat.

Kaitie P gave it a10:
I fell in love with the Dresden Dolls' style the first time I heard "Coin Opperated Boy" and I thought the first CD was great. The second CD is just as good if not better than their debut album. With songs like Backstabber and Sing, I think we should all be expecting a lot from The Dresden Dolls.

Ed S gave it an8:
Good Album. Where they truly shine is live if they come your way it is a must see.

tom gave it a10:
Great band, sometimes i just cant understand the critics....Maybe not better from the first album, but how many bands have a second record better than their debut anyway...

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