They describe their heavily art-damaged and theatrical style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word 'gothic'," and are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 1990s.
Palmer accompanies her confessional story-songs with a thunderous and shimmering piano style that rests on the shoulders of Jerry Lee Lewis and Nina Simone. Viglione's jazz and hardcore-influenced drumming and creative percussion are the perfect foil, providing in turns a delicate cradle of rhythm and a piercing bed of nails onto which Palmer lays her raw, tragicomic lyrics.
The release of their debut album The Dresden Dolls, produced by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth), has won the band accolades from both mainstream and underground media, and it appears that the Dolls are poised to transcend cult status and smash all commonly held ideas about what a rock band is supposed to be. Their awe-striking live energy and singular look has earned them opening slots for Nine Inch Nails, Beck, the B-52s, Jane's Addiction, OK Go and Panic! At the Disco, a tour with the Legendary Pink Dots, and a victory in the 2003 WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble.
Their second album Yes, Virginia was released in 2006, eventually followed by a companion record No, Virginia in 2008, which features b-sides and out-takes from the "Yes, Virginia" sessions, as well as a smattering of new tracks.
At the end of summer 2008 they announced a hiatus. The band has made further announcements saying they will reunite when the time is right for both of them, and have stressed they have not broken up.
In September 2008, rumors began to circulate about the future of the whole band. Viglione confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus but emphasized that he and Palmer are on good terms and that they will get together again when it feels right for both of them. In late July and early August 2009, a rumor began to spread that the band was "reuniting for performances in 2010" but Palmer clarified in her blog on August 7: "There's been a ton of press lately re-printing an old quote from an old interview that's now blown up into a full-fledged press rumour that Brian and I have planned Dresden Dolls' shows for 2010. Not true. We aren't planning any shows. Sorry about that, blame the gossip whores."
In 2010, a reunion tour to selected venues in the United States occurred. It started on Halloween in New York City and ended in San Francisco on New Years Eve.
The Dresden Dolls played a show in Mexico City on 9 December 2011. They had a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 2012, supported by The Jane Austen Argument and The Bedroom Philosopher.
Modern Moonlight
The Dresden Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coke and Pepsi finally found a compromise
How can they complain that we're all fucked up kids
When they keep on changing who our mother is?
Like it all you want it's fruitless
Night is in the way of progress
Surgically wired into paradise
Yesterday I dropped in at the MKB
Everyone was messaging like it was going out of style
(It was just the cynic in me)
God, I love communicating!
I just hate the shit we're missing
Everybody join in the magnificence
Yes! everything is absolutely making sense
Every time you turn around your soul gets sold
To the highest bidder
Then they turn around and merger and they merger
And the merger and they murder and they murder
The one who murders most will take it all
Fight it all you want it's useless
Night is in the way of progress
We're gonna take your cities one by one
Catch your cables cut your cords and spoil all your fun
We're gonna make your lite a living hell
Cause stripped of your equipment you'll be forced to face yourself
Wire cutters of the world
You know what to use it for
Spread the word to all the tightrope walker boys and girls
Brace yourself for miracles
You're in for a nasty shock
When the war is over
You can read the paper
The Dresden Dolls' song "Modern Moonlight" critiques modern communication technology and the corporate industry that controls it. The first stanza begins with a sarcastic tone, presenting "modern moonlight," or the glamour of modern society, as advertised. Corporate giants Pepsi and Coke, famously at odds for years, have finally found a compromise, straying from the narrative of competition purportedly driving innovation. The singer then points out the ironic hypocrisy of "the man" complaining about the chaos and dysfunction of the youth when they, the authorities and business leaders, are the ones changing who their "mother" or caregiver is. This constant shifting creates instability and confusion among the younger generation, leaving them lost in a world that cannot be navigated by any set of "old" rules.
The following stanzas continue by illustrating, through metaphors and imagery, how the powerhouses of corporations and the government control, manipulate, and exploit those who use their products and services. In the second stanza, the singer notes how our eyes (our main tool of perception) are burning, literally, as we dedicate more time and attention to screens and digital interfaces. The phrase "surgically wired into paradise" refers to the phenomenon of people becoming addicted to technological entertainment, and how society has allowed such stimulation to hold value over traditional activities, as if to believe this artificial reality is utopian. The singer then visits a venue or party where people are messaging each other constantly, making it clear that while he enjoys communicating, he despises what it is we have to say or what we convey through these devices.
Line by Line Meaning
Presenting modern moonlight just as advertised
Introducing a new version of the same old thing that's supposed to be better than before
Coke and Pepsi finally found a compromise
Two competing brands come together to exploit and profit off of our desires
How can they complain that we're all fucked up kids
Our parents and others in authority criticize us for being messed up as a result of their own shortcomings and inconsistencies
When they keep on changing who our mother is?
Our authority figures keep changing and contradicting themselves, leaving us unsure of who to trust
Like it all you want it's fruitless
Enjoying consumer culture is ultimately meaningless, leading to an empty existence
Night is in the way of progress
Darkness and ignorance prevent us from moving forward
Retinas are bleeding for the enterprise
Our eyes and minds are being exploited and damaged by the demands of the business world
Surgically wired into paradise
We become so dependent on technology and material possessions that we sacrifice our own happiness and well-being
God, I love communicating!
Despite the problems with modern society, the artist still enjoys the ability to connect with others
I just hate the shit we're missing
However, there are still serious flaws in our social and technological systems that prevent us from truly connecting and communicating
Everybody join in the magnificence
Despite the flaws, we are all caught up in the grandiose spectacle of modern life
Yes! everything is absolutely making sense
We convince ourselves that everything is working perfectly, even when it clearly isn't
To the highest bidder
Our society's focus on profit and competition has led to a world where everything is for sale
Then they turn around and merger and they merger and they murder and they murder
Companies merge and acquire each other in a cutthroat race for dominance, leading to destruction of competition and stifling of innovation
The one who murders most will take it all
The winner of the competition and acquisition game will be the one who destroys the most in the process
Wire cutters of the world
A call to action for those who are willing to take down the technological infrastructure of modern society
You know what to use it for
The means of destruction and resistance are already available to us, we just need to utilize them
Spread the word to all the tightrope walker boys and girls
Call to action to spread the message of resistance and rebellion to all who are willing to join
Brace yourself for miracles
Despite the impending struggle, there is hope for a better future
You're in for a nasty shock
However, the change will not come without a cost and there may be negative consequences along the way
When the war is over
When the struggle against modern society is won
You can read the paper
Then we can finally have a society worth living in, and we can read about it in the news
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VAMP
on My Alcoholic Friends
i freaking love alcoholic friends gqhjghqjgwhj