Subculture Media

Year: 2011

Label: Independent

Track Listing:
1. Makin’ Whooppee

2. Australia

3. Vegemite (The Black Death)

4. Map Of Tasmania (feat The Young Punx)

5. In My Mind (feat Brian Vigilione)

6. Bad Wine And Lemon Cake (with The Jane Austen Argument)

7. New Zealand

8. On An Unknown Beach

9. We’re Happy Little Vegmites

10. Doctor Oz

11. A Formidible Marinade

12. The Ship Song

Subculture Media Reviews:

(originally published on Suite 101)

You don’t get the nickname Amanda ‘F**king’ Palmer for no reason. It’s a name that Palmer has earned for her brash-in-the-face style of performance that she begun with The Dresden Dolls and has continued on into her solo career. Now, after an ugly spat with her record label Palmer has independently released her second full-length album titled Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under. As the album art suggests this isn’t music for little ears, but the more mature audience will love the fact that she has mixed comedy with her typical cabaret-punk style and ended up creating a very special album indeed.

Palmer shows she is the ultimate performer by not just releasing a live album, instead she recorded live the songs that she wrote on her recent tours of Australia and New Zealand… meaning that for anyone not lucky enough to be at her live shows everything is completely new.

Palmer lets her comedy do the talking from the start with her own warped version of the classic, “Makin’ Whoopee” and then thrilling her Aussie audience with her ode to ‘going to Australia’, the simply titled “Australia”. Palmer then takes a leaf out of Tim Minchin’s book with the over-the-top comedy track, “Vegemite (The Black Death)”. And it’s great to hear that while she lashed one of Australia’s icons the audience laughed instead of getting offended. It’s a pity that the comedy in her new single, “Map Of Tasmania” doesn’t match the rest of the album, because to be blunt it really is a let down and an embarrassment to Palmer’s normally great works of art.

The bad taste that was “Map Of Tasmania” soon leaves though when you hear the sweet “In My Mind” and her brilliant duet with Tom Dickens, “Bad Wine And Lemon Cake”. The laughs keep coming with her crass tribute to New Zealand, titled “New Zealand” (what is it with Palmer and simple titles). The only thing is if you are easily offended than it is best to give “New Zealand” a wide berth.

Palmer returns to seriousness with the moody “On An Unknown Beach” which despite its darkness is actually a highlight, while “Doctor Oz” sees her return to her Dresden Dolls roots. And for the diehards Palmer includes her quick cover of Australia’s unofficial anthem, “We’re Happy Little Vegemites.”

However, it seems that Palmer saves the best for last. The legendary, Mikelanglo joins Palmer on stage for the sexual innuendo-laced “A Formidable Marinade” but even that is outclassed by her closer, a cover of Nick Cave’s “The Ship Song”. This is an amazing cover that really showcases just how good Palmer really is. This really is the album that shows Amanda Palmer has a strong, unique solo career ahead of her.

Subculture Media Review #2:

originally published in Buzz Magazine

Amanda Palmer has had a rough past twelve months. Many have mused whether putting her popular duo, The Dresden Dolls, on hold was a wise move and she also had an ugly split with her record label. Now Palmer comes out swinging with her second solo album, an album consisting of songs she recorded live or wrote on her recent tour to Australia.

As the title, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under (and the cover art) suggests Palmer doesn’t exactly write music for children… but remember this is a woman whose nickname is Amanda ‘F**king’ Palmer, and hey who said it’s bad to be crude occasionally. In fact one of the best things about this album is the fact that Palmer can seamlessly switch between her regular cabaret-punk and full-on comedy (think Tim Minchin) in a heartbeat.

Palmer opens with the comedy bone in full swing with her own take on the classic “Makin’ Whoopee” and then easily wins over her Australian fans with her original track about ‘going to Australia’… strangely-enough titled “Australia”.

Her Tim Minchin-esque comedy comes in to play on “Vegemite (The Black Death)” where she savages one of Australia’s icons (much to the humour of the locals), however her new single “Map Of Tasmania” does let the album down. It’s supposed to be funny, but most listeners will barely raise a smile.

Palmer lets that slip pass by with the sweet little folk song, “In My Mind” and then follows up with a great duet with Tom Dickens. Palmer then pays homage to Australia’s sister, New Zealand with the crass (but of so funny) “New Zealand” and then hits a new high with the moody and dark “On An Unknown Beach”, it sounds forlorn but is so attractive to listen to.

Palmer continues to win over Aussie fans with a cover of Australia’s unofficial national anthem “We’re Happy Little Vegemites” and then returns to her classic Dresden Dolls style to pump out “Doctor Oz”.

Another highlight on the album is the sexual innuendo-laced “A Formidable Marinade” but even that is overshadowed by a brilliant cover of one of Nick Cave’s best tracks “The Ship Song”. Palmer brings such emotion to this album, that she makes it a must listen.

If you’re a fan of The Dresden Dolls chances are you’ll love this album, and if you saw Amanda Palmer when she was Australia then you’ve certainly got to add it to your collection… and you’re extremely lucky. A funny little album that shows that Palmer has more than one string in her bow.