Dresden Dolls - "Two Headed Boy" (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)

It's a treat to see the fantastically theatrical Dresden Dolls stripped down to their component parts, and we were delighted that Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione made Holiday Undercover part of their brief reunion tour. They chose a song that you might recognize from the original Undercover series: Neutral Milk Hotel's "Two Headed Boy," which was performed earlier this year by Swell Season. The Dresden Dolls' version, as you'll see, is massively different, with Palmer bringing an entirely new energy to this great, great song. What does it have to do with the holidays, you ask? The answer: "The world that you need is wrapped in gold silver sleeves / Left beneath Christmas trees in the snow." Enjoy.

[@JoeKnows44]

What's so beautiful about this song is that no matter who sings it, you feel like it's about their struggles. The lyrics matter much less for what the words are than for how the sound of them together makes you feel. It's like when the blowing wind creates an accidentally beautiful sound. You don't know why or how, you just know it resonates.

[@Orangetension]

This is easily my favorite video on KZbin.

[@serendipityrow]

fun fact: amanda palmer helped to write a musical for a high school production based on in the aeroplane over the sea (with the songs from the album being played throughout) called with the needle that sings in her heart!!! it’s pretty incredible.

[@alviereicher841]

i absolutely adore the fact that amanda palmer not only has a "bad" singing voice but the fact that thats what makes her so talented. every song ive heard from her is so passionate and i feel as though a traditional singing voice would make it so she cant display emotion as well, ie in this videos

[@altermonte]

you know what, i was skeptical in the beginning, but they totally conquered me. cheers friends!!

[@chipbush0111]

Neutral Milk Hotel is practically impossible to cover given Jeff's overblown and emotional vocals but these guys nailed it!

[@erickramer4005]

Go listen to The Swell Season's cover...

[@donericdisante]

@@erickramer4005 I don't know what I was expecting when I searched that out, but a nearly pitch perfect cover with harmonies and better production than the original was... Disappointing? I guess it would be good for warming most people up to the song before hitting them with the raw original, but it isn't for me. To each their own I guess.

[@LemonWedgeinc]

Eh, they thumb tacked it.

[@baconstrips6260]

@@donericdisante What a gatekeeping music snob! This band killed this song!! "They didnt make an exact duplicate cover of the song", what a c*nt!

[@caldixon7645]

I dig this cover. I can sing along with Brian and Amanda just like i was singing along with my own friends in our living room. Yep, we iall like NMH, and we feel no shame singing our lungs out

[@kahlyda]

This cover is one of my favorites to listen to, I usually do their live version this was amazing to hear

[@vivipotee4252]

pretty sexy of this cover to exist

[@soupalot]

Funny to see the comments split 50/50 as to whether this was genius or hideous. I found the emotion in Amanda’s version to be excellent.

[@Ryanmc1887]

This cover is great, you're all crazy.

[@cyclonasaurusrex1525]

Fantastic!!

[@mikekrevinas8387]

This is an amazing cover ❤

[@slugdaze]

This is amazing

[@ricv64]

I saw them play in a record store and they played a different song, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, off that album ...it was pretty great

[@MaksoTheBass]

Good cover !

[@stevemelanson6519]

There are some sad people in this thread who really think their shower screeching is the only legit cover of this song. These two don’t just nail the feeling that rattled me the first time I heard this song, they resemble it. Thank you both. Also, if “Dresden Dolls” isn’t a conscious reference to Vonnegut, well... I’m just old and weird at parties.

[@mookiefoofus1660]

They crushed it

[@mayamagination]

just as rough and raw as the original, excellent

[@positive.juice.apartment]

man some of these comments suck. if you dont like it, cover your ears. people are allowed to perform whatever songs they want to. dont gatekeep stuff.

[@matthiasvonhelvete519]

Will there be a part 2, too !?! ;-)

[@mattthompson1876]

Lot of haters here. You try it. I know it's a terrible argument, but seriously. . .

[@boyo7918]

Cursed

[@wailwoader1873]

GREASY

[@unregistered_profile]

oh no

[@gethaunted]

This cover murdered my family and took a shit on my bed

[@evilgiraffe4894]

IMHO, There are certain bands/songs that really should NOT be covered. NMH is 1 of those bands yet I’ve heard so many failed attempts at 2 headed boy (The Swell Season is THE ONLY EXCEPTION).

[@LobotomyMeat]

Yikes. Not my cup of tea. To each there own, though…

[@duhwolf]

good Lord, no.

[@MangumComely]

I'm a fan of both bands but this is bad

[@haydencarpenter1516]

Jesus and I thought Mangum struggled to sing.

[@haydencarpenter1516]

@Dorian yeah lmao it’s not great

[@Atriol42]

haha that's how the song was meant to be.

[@Phobero]

O god no

[@DNA2000-8bit]

She seems afraid. Or something. Too restrained.

[@kahlyda]

One thing Amanda never is… too restrained. Listen again.

[@DNA2000-8bit]

@@kahlydaPass.

[@AustinKorte]

No one asked for this.

[@cosmicerror2682]

Thumbs down, no eyebrows.

[@Prod.Germ00]

They made it gay

[@andyw9255]

You have a sexually transmitted infection in your ear

[@sloane2222]

intenet friend as a lesbian, that’s the best part about the cover

[@mickeyrube6623]

What?!? Bruh, this song was always gay.

[@supperpuppy8]

@@sloane2222 someone named Caleb, with a cadecus icon....and you're a lesbian. This is the least cursed comment

[@Yourantsally]

*laughs in gay* rock and punk are pretty damn gay mah dude

[@S1klos1]

This is embarrassing.

[@andyw9255]

You're embaRRASSING

[@Carnivvhore]

Awful

[@RodoChaska]

I love The Dresden Dolls but this cover sounds awful.

[@MarylandResident]

dude plays the most flat basic chords, doesnt even sound remotely like the original.

[@andyw9255]

You're just completely wrong

[@jamescarter3410]

Oh cmon

[@miamia6065]

dude the actual recording is just flat basic built power chords- but yeah I agree it sucks

[@justinmays1443]

...but we ain't gonna talk about the vocals? 😖 I thought everything was pretty on point in comparison...

[@playboicatrissock5867]

This is disgraceful

[@GeoffLilley]

Absolutely the worst cover in the entire series. A virtual crime against humanity. F.

[@tymirra8769]

bruh... her vocals are not it for this song.

[@thegamesheviks6978]

holy toledo this is the worst thing i've ever seen

[@kryptonj8]

this is terrible...she cant sing no matter how u spin it