Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer Goes Solo With Ben Folds

Amanda Palmer has freshly healthy vocal nodes and is not afraid to use them. The songwriter/co-vocalist of the Dresden Dolls underwent surgery in March to repair her damaged cords, and has subsequently moved full-steam ahead into new musical ventures, including two upcoming performances with the Boston Pops (June 19-20) and a planned September release of her solo debut album, 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer?' which is being produced by fellow pianist Ben Folds.

"It is really wonderful and really overwhelming," Palmer tells Spinner "I've never, ever felt this way about anything I've made. I think that people are going to be so blown away by it. I can't say enough awesome things about Ben Folds and how he made this record."

The upcoming CD also features a handful of guest musicians, including singer-songwriter Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent, who contributes to a "highly ironic" cover tune from the 1940's musical 'Carousel') and former Dead Kennedys axeman East Bay Ray. "He plays on a song called 'Guitar Hero,'" Palmer enthuses. "He just shreds it!"

The chaunteuse admits that the disc was originally intended to be a humble affair, but the results of her studio sessions with producer Folds allowed Palmer to expand her vision significantly. "The solo record wasn't going to be this huge epic, it was going to be a recorded-in-my-bedroom project and was supposed to come out last Spring," she explains. "I started looking at it saying 'Wait, this is my life! I'm going to throw everything into it. I'm going to make this record as big and beautiful as possible and not worry about when it is going to get done, I'm just going to give it priority now.' And that's what I did. This record has a full string section, orchestras, horns, synthesizers, stuff that Brian [Viglione, from the 'Dolls] and I just never tackled. It is so eclectic -- every song is so different and the production is so cool. It is f---ing amazing."

Fans hungry for new material need not wait until September to hear new music: the Dresden duo have just released a b-sides and beyond collection entitled 'No, Virginia' that includes outtakes from previous studio releases as well as freshly-recorded tracks from their Winter '08 studio sessions.