No, Virginia
No, Virginia
Artist: The Dresden Dolls
Release Date: May 17, 2008
Album Description:
Ingredients for a No, Virginia: 1) one b-side from our last record, 2) four unreleased recordings, 3) one old demo, 4) one 80s cover tune (of course) and 5) five brand-new recordings of older tunes we've never laid to tape. Sprinkle on some Sean Slade producer-action and viola...instant record!
The five brand-new songs on this record kept getting passed over for our first two albums, but we loved these songs, so we decided that we should just record them before it was too late. We went into the studio fresh off a tour in January and banged the whole new collection out in five days, including mixing. It was very cathartic. The unreleased b-sides from Yes, Virginia were just TOO GOOD to relegate to b-side status, so we hoarded them. Every few months we'd have a conversation that would go something along the lines of, "Damn, ‘Ultima' is a fantastic song. Why didn't we record THAT?" or, "Damn, 'The Kill' is the best song we've ever written. Why didn't we put it on the record? Were we on crack?"
Thus No, Virginia...
The songs span the first five years of the band, from our first rehearsal though the making of Yes, Virginia, and represent all the favorite bastard children of our work through the years. Listening to it is really surprising; it sounds much more pop than our first two records. Maybe I was shying away from our pop side when we were making those selections. Could be. I surrender and relent to my new wave self. I should add, at this point, that "Ultima Esperanza" was a 100% no-brainer must-have when we were putting together Yes, Virginia. It's an awesome song.
"Boston" was left off Yes, Virginia because we didn't want to make the running time too long. We had a full-on blowout battle about this. I still remember pacing around the mixing studio agonizing over the decision. We left it off, but I swore it would find its home someday; this album finally gives it a proper resting place.
We figured, while we were at it, we'd include the harder-to-get stuff like "Lonesome Organist Rapes Page-Turner" (the only official b-side on the record) and the cover we did of "Pretty in Pink" for a high-school-reunion-John-Hughes-inspired compilation we were on. The incredible demo for "Mouse and the Model" also finally found a place in our official catalog, much to our glee.
Our last record title, Yes, Virginia, is a direct reference to the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter that the New York Sun printed in 1897. And I found that frightening stuffed Santa Claus photographed on the cover lying around Mad Oak studios when we were there on the last round of tracking. It was just too perfect.
No, Virginia...there is no Santa Claus. But The Dresden Dolls just put together a bad-ass record if that makes you feel any better.
The five brand-new songs on this record kept getting passed over for our first two albums, but we loved these songs, so we decided that we should just record them before it was too late. We went into the studio fresh off a tour in January and banged the whole new collection out in five days, including mixing. It was very cathartic. The unreleased b-sides from Yes, Virginia were just TOO GOOD to relegate to b-side status, so we hoarded them. Every few months we'd have a conversation that would go something along the lines of, "Damn, ‘Ultima' is a fantastic song. Why didn't we record THAT?" or, "Damn, 'The Kill' is the best song we've ever written. Why didn't we put it on the record? Were we on crack?"
Thus No, Virginia...
The songs span the first five years of the band, from our first rehearsal though the making of Yes, Virginia, and represent all the favorite bastard children of our work through the years. Listening to it is really surprising; it sounds much more pop than our first two records. Maybe I was shying away from our pop side when we were making those selections. Could be. I surrender and relent to my new wave self. I should add, at this point, that "Ultima Esperanza" was a 100% no-brainer must-have when we were putting together Yes, Virginia. It's an awesome song.
"Boston" was left off Yes, Virginia because we didn't want to make the running time too long. We had a full-on blowout battle about this. I still remember pacing around the mixing studio agonizing over the decision. We left it off, but I swore it would find its home someday; this album finally gives it a proper resting place.
We figured, while we were at it, we'd include the harder-to-get stuff like "Lonesome Organist Rapes Page-Turner" (the only official b-side on the record) and the cover we did of "Pretty in Pink" for a high-school-reunion-John-Hughes-inspired compilation we were on. The incredible demo for "Mouse and the Model" also finally found a place in our official catalog, much to our glee.
Our last record title, Yes, Virginia, is a direct reference to the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter that the New York Sun printed in 1897. And I found that frightening stuffed Santa Claus photographed on the cover lying around Mad Oak studios when we were there on the last round of tracking. It was just too perfect.
No, Virginia...there is no Santa Claus. But The Dresden Dolls just put together a bad-ass record if that makes you feel any better.
1. Dear Jenny
2. Night Reconnaissance
3. Mouse And The Model
4. Ultima Esparanza
5. Gardener
6. Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner
7. Sorry Bunch
8. Pretty In Pink
9. The Kill
10. Sheep Song
11. Boston
Profile
Dear Editor- I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it's so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? -Virginia ...
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