Sound: Punk meets full orchestra. Sound familiar? To most (even avid) music listeners, this sort of cross over may seem fairly foreign. Thus, Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra have certainly created a very interesting sound, and it works incredibly well with her song-writing. Although much of the sound of the album would not fall under the "punk" genre, there are still some strong Joan Jett-like influences throughout the fifteen tracks, as well as that musty barroom/basement-esque production, which is a strangely enticing fit with the orchestral concept. The end result is a very diverse album that sits outside of being defined in style. It's dirty, it's fun; it's even beautiful at times. Best of all, it's original. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Overall, the lyrics are pretty good, and they really fit the tone of each song for the most part. There's nothing groundbreaking lyrically, but it's not really expected from the listener. The vocals are killer, however. Palmer's voice is gritty when it needs to be, sultry on the smooth songs, and even flickers of operatic vocals come through on the bigger songs. // 7
Impression: This is a great album, and definitely deserves a listen by any music connoisseur, and anyone looking for something new. You may like it, you may not; it's sort of hit or miss. But what do you have to lose? The most impressive songs to me are "The Killing Type", "Do It With A Rockstar", "Trout Heart Replica", and "A Grand Theft Intermission", but this album is so diverse that every listener will find different songs that suit their tastes. So pick it up and have some fun: you'll probably enjoy it. // 9
