There’s this new style of music going around known as “cabaret punk.” Most of you all are probably familar with the whole style thanks to the success of the Dresden Dolls‘ tune “Coin-Operated Boy.” The music of cabaret punk is as if the Squirrel Nut Zippers did too much meth and started listening to the “Cabaret” soundtrack way too loud.
Well, that’s the idea, at least. The Dresden Dolls do an all right job of the genre, but groups like Gogol Bordello and the Billy Nayer Show going all out to really make things crazy. However, to me, the kings of the genre are the World / Inferno Friendship Society.
Hailing from Brooklyn, this is a nine-piece orchestra of craziness. I had the absolute luck of finding their Just the Best Party full-length for two bucks at the local record shop. It’s been on non-stop repeat ever since. There’s not been a week that’s gone by since it wandered into my happy hands that I haven’t dropped it in the cd player and cranked it terribly loud.
The W/IFS is like having a party in your cd player. Take a listen for yourself:
the World / Inferno Friendship Society – “Just the Best Party”
nice little blurb about cabaret punk. I was wondering what you felt about this issue– as it doesnt seem like anyone has written about this.
… how bands like World Inferno and Gogol Bordello are from the same part of the same town, yet have radically different followings– not to mention that therese such a rivarly the two bands dont like each other. and the same can be said for gogol and the dresden dolls…who apparently did not get along very well at all either.
whats wrong w/ my favorite bands where they can’t get along? Sure cabaret punk might be a new “scene” but it doesnt seem to be starting off very unified from its front runners.
denise
I can see how the Dresden Dolls might be seperate from the W/I or GB scene, as the Dolls’ music is more akin to straight cabaret than the other two. However, I can see the possible rivalry between W/I and GB, as their musical styles are close enough that they could possibly be cannibalizing each other’s audiences.