This is the debut solo album from the lovely and talented Amanda Palmer, who is probably best known for being one half of the duet The Dresden Dolls. To assist her with this album are diverse artists like Ben Folds and East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys). Who Killed Amanda Palmer is like a storybook in the sense that it is best appreciated when listened to beginning to end and over again.

Appropriately, on the album cover Ms. Palmer does indeed seem to be dead. On the inside there are a couple pictures of her with a blank stare and glazed eyes. In case these photos weren’t convincing enough, there’s an article on the back of the album written by Neil Gaiman himself recounting the events after her death.

The music evokes a plethora of emotions such as madness, sadness, loneliness and love. There is a good mixture of upbeat songs and beautiful, slower songs accented with the tinkling of piano keys. The songs that are upbeat may catch you off guard. If you listen closely to the lyrics, the content isn’t nearly as buoyant as you may first think.

“Runs In The Family”, for instance, is one of the most upbeat songs on the album and is purely about dysfunction. “Oasis” is another brilliant example; the song is incredibly catchy, but it is about drunkenness, rape and abortion. Personal, strange, and earnest accounts like these will keep you entertained and intrigued from start to finish.

Beautiful, strange, and mysterious, Who Killed Amanda Palmer is purely addictive.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Astronaut: A Short History of Nearly Nothing
02. Runs In The Family
03. Ampersand
04. Leeds United
05. Blake Says
06. Strength Through Music
07. Guitar Hero
08. Have To Drive
09. What’s The Use Of Wond’rin?
10. Oasis
11. The Point Of It All
12. Another Year: A Short History Of Almost Something

Run Time: 53:12