The Dresden Dolls are set to release their second full length, Yes, Virginia on April 18th. The album, the first since 2004's self-titled debut, features songs that have been in the works for over six years. Of the older tracks, singer/songwriter Amanda Palmer says this:

As a younger songwriter, I felt the need to over-complicate things to sound more impressive. On this one, there's three-chord songs. And they sound fucking great.

The singer also promises a more simple sound, straying farther away from the band's previous "cabaret" sound. The album was produced by Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie (Lost City Angels, Mighty Mighty Bosstones) and features a 30-page booklet containing artwork submitted by fans and generated by the band. They'll be touring extensively to support the album, including a stop by SXSW and Bonnaroo.

The band will also be releasing The Dresden Dolls Companion, which will feature sheet-music and fan images, photos and drawings. Palmer is also currently co-writing a play with the American Repertory Theatre in Boston with the working title The Onion Seller, based on a chapter from The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass and will premiere at the Boston venue sometime after October.