In a world where so much music is processed media packaging, it's nice to know One-Eyed Doll exists and thrives.Vocalist/Guitarist Kimberly Freeman and drummer Jason Rufus Sewell (AKA "Junior") together form the goth punk duo One-Eyed Doll, but there's so much more to the story than that - probably more than I can adequately explain here, actually. Suffice it to say their unique blend of metal, punk, and indie rock is an acquired taste that may be your new jam if you're in the mood for something truly off the beaten path in today's saturated music business.
Their latest album Witches is actually a concept album based on the Salem witch trials of colonial America, with lyrics featuring direct quotes from the original handwritten witch trial court documents. True to their artistic nature, the music was written all at once almost completely on banjo and mandolin in the Redwood Forest near Santa Cruz, California, which vocalist Freeman says provided "this great 'forest metal' vibe". Tracks like Prayer and Remember serve to drive this idea home, coming off like a foreboding cross between Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. But don't worry that the band's gone straight up folky, as tunes like Black In The Rye often break in with their heavy chunk counterbalancing Freeman's fierce, beautiful voice. There be moshing here.
And it's the clever juxtaposition of so many disparate elements that is ultimately the true appeal beyond the enjoyable quirkiness of the band itself. Less talented performers would be quickly crushed under the weight of such ambition. There's Freeman's childlike stage persona versus her obvious (though downplayed) sexiness, the barebones live setup of guitar and drums versus the complex musical structure of their recordings, and the Rob Zombie-esque combination of horror, humor and showmanship that holds it all together. And for all of their artsy weirdness, their tireless DIY efforts clearly demonstrate that these people are totally legit. You got a new fan right here, kids.
The Bottom Line: One-Eyed Doll is an indie band filled with dichotomies. And it is the seamless - and successful - interplay between those dichotomies that makes this band so fascinating. If you get the chance, check them out live. In the meantime, here's to the true artists (in every sense of the word) of today's music scene.
- Genghis doesn't know if he's got what it takes to see these kids live...