Pop Is Not The Enemy: (this should be more) POPular #9

You know that thing when you hear a song and you can't believe it hasn't been a massive hit? Yeah, that...

For this week's featured under appreciated track is from the wonderful, anarchic force of nature that is Amanda FUCKING Palmer!

The track in question, taken from her superb second solo album 'Theatre is Evil', is one of the standouts of her already challenging and amazing career - 'Do It With a Rockstar'. No beating around the bush, this is a PROPER tune, scuzzy, rocky and rough, the filtered vocal intro is great and works so well with the backing vocal onslaught that awaits. Amanda is on fine vocal form growling her way through the bloody fantastic lyrics and the 'Do ya wanna?' build up to the chorus is sublime. Said chorus arrives in a blistering crash of guitars and impassioned wailing (in the best possible way) from Amanda and drops wonderfully at the end.

"Do you wanna see all my cavities?

Talk about the crisis in the Middle East?

Do you wanna get really terrified?

Ice caps are melting and we're all gonna die."

Accessible pop this may not be, but brilliance it surely is. Other highlights from 'Theatre is Evil' include the lilting, heartbreaking waltz of 'The Bed Song' and the glorious 'Bottomfeeder', that slide guitar work is beautiful.

I first came across Amanda when I was at Uni and discovered her previous band The Dresden Dolls with their truly amazing song 'Coin-operated Boy'. This really set the precedent for Amanda's combo of biting, witty lyrics and piano-driven pop, the deliciously bitter 'Backstabber' from the album 'No, Virginia' is also brilliant. She also dabbled in the world of the concept album with the brilliant batshit bonkers story of conjoined twins Evelyn and Evelyn on the album recorded with Jason Webley ('You Only Want Me 'Cause You Want My Sister' is my personal highlight). Her 2008 solo album 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer' included such pearls as 'Leeds United' and 'Ampersand'. Don't even get me started on the genius of 'Map of Tasmania', and yes it is about what you think it's about! She also does a pretty fine line in covers; 'Video Games' and 'No Surprises' being prime examples. Seriously, more people need to get on board, she is a genius.

I was fortunate to see Amanda at the Roundhouse in London on the tour to support 'Theatre is Evel' and, predictably she was awesome. She also dropped a little live surprise in light of the Daily Mail's "coverage" of her set at Glastonbury - see her response below...