Soundbites

» The Dresden Dolls, "No, Virginia…"

Let's call out "No, Virginia…" for what it is: a stopgap, something to give the fans between Dresden Dolls projects. Singer-pianist Amanda Palmer has a solo album in the works (supposedly due in September), but it'll be at least a couple of years before the next Dolls album. "No, Virginia…" is part companion piece to the band's best work, 2006's "Yes, Virginia…," part new material. But here's the good news: "No, Virginia…" is a worthy companion piece, much more than a studio-mandated cash grab. It's a dark album, without some of the hooks that made its predecessor shine. Translation? Give it a few listens. Palmer shows off her piano chops—she sounds like a subdued E Street Band on the opening measures of "Ultima Esperanza." Elsewhere, she rocks out on "Lonesome Organist Rapes Page-Turner" (yep. It's a Dresden Dolls album—all the messy aspects of sex and gender are covered). There's also an out-of-place cover of The Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty in Pink" (from some '80s covers compilation). It's a great cover, but sounds almost too… upbeat in context with the rest of the songs. The only gripe fans might have is the exclusion of earlier B-sides and some of the other covers ("Maybe, Virginia…"?). Still, "No, Virginia…" offers more than just discarded songs for the hard-core fans. For everyone else, start with its predecessor. If you like that, you'll like this.

» Pennywise, "Reason to Believe"

Pennywise never had the mainstream success of bands like Green Day or Blink 182. Maybe that's why Pennywise—and a lot of punk contemporaries—never really pushed them-selves to make something like "American Idiot" or "Blink 182." Bands like The Offspring (which had considerable success) look sillier by the year, refusing to grow up with the music, but for Pennywise, if it ain't broke, why fix it? Their ninth album "Reason to Believe" finds the band in good—if familiar—form. At just over 40 minutes "Reason to Believe" serves up everything that made '90s punk great: blistering guitars, nasal vocals and catchy melodies. The only serious misstep is first single "The Western World," which drops the pace for some armchair politics. Yes, it's fun to sing about "steroid boys and video girls" and punk was always a political statement, but it's just not as fun as the other tracks. Yes, there's a point to be made about You-Tube, but tracks like "Affliction" are a bit subtler with politics. And, it's a better song. That has nothing to do with content—it's aggressive, catchy and better built for the pit. That's what "Reason to Believe" does best.