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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
They've walked the periphery of America's indie-rock underground for over a decade now, but it's only with Misery Is a Butterfly that the New York City-based band of artist-refugees that call themselves Blonde Redhead have flashed more than a fleeting glimpse of all their startling potential. 2000's elegantly angular Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons demonstrated a band reaching out for something beyond generic punk rock, but here, the band have clearly finally found their sound. The sumptuous production courtesy, somewhat surprisingly, of Fugazi's Guy Picciotto sets the angelic duelling voices of Japanese songstress Kazu Makino and the Milan-born Amedo Pace in the midst of a mini-orchestra of violins and cello, maudlin descending basslines and furtively strummed guitars. Makino specialises in pale torch-songs that conceal their emotions in deep shadow; her partner pens the more robust tunes, such as the shrill "Falling Man", all dancing piano and baroque prog-tempos. But it's all held together by drummer Simone Pace's inventive, yet machine-precise percussion tracks--neat rhythmic packages for truly delicate musical experiments. It may not be quite immediate enough for some rock fans, but fans of Galaxie 500, Sonic Youth or Fugazi's The Argument should adore it. --Louis Pattison
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This record deserves a lot more exposure than it received on it's release in 2004. Blonde Redhead's sound has evolved so much. Sonic Youth were once their sonic template, but the songs on 'Misery...' owe more to the orchestral pop of Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg or Scott Walker. The melodies and arrangements are beautiful. Baroque keyboards and strings dip in and out of the weaving guitars and the whole sound has a fantastic clarity (Guy Picciotto of Fugazi produced it). This isn't the sort of band that the media thrust into our faces, so it's our secret - OK?
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I picked up this after hearing Elephant Girl on Radio 2 - it's strange how it sounds a bit like a lo-fi Muse, though the songwriting throughout is fresh, original and lush. Kind of reminds me a bit of Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain too. Listenable if you need a bit of a chilling out period after overwork and underjoy.
Format:Audio CD
The beautiful voice of Kazu Makino with shimmering behind her, staccato clavinet and various string instruments plucked & picked, sweep the opening track, the symphonic 'Elephant Woman' "No don't insist I'm already hurt", into a majestic start. Now it is the turn of Amedeo Pace to sing on 'Messenger' - perhaps not the world's strongest vocalist, but he is effective in a despairing manner "Behind those clouds I'm almost home". Now it's back to Kazu on the fragile 'Melody' - and so it carries on alternating this way between these two lead vocalists. 'Misery Is A Butterfly' where Kazu takes us into a strange world with her friend Jane! 6th track 'Falling Man' which contains some brilliant lyrics "I know a ghost will walk through walls yet I am still learning how to fall". With 'Anticipation' there is perhaps a slight boredom entering, but then 8th track the strident & urgent 'Maddening Cloud' picks up again the magic. 'Magic Mountain' seems auto biog for Kazu - she was under great psychological stress (nervous breakdowns and all that). 'Pink Love' is a duet (one of the more unusual that you'll ever hear) & keeps the album in top gear. The album ends as it begins in sublime brilliance with 'Equus' with Kazu's anguished vocal over a melancholic backdrop.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gorgeous
I saw Blonde Redhead before i'd ever heard any of their stuff and it was definitely one of the best gigs of the year. what a fantastic band. Read more
Published on 9 April 2008 by H. Flynn
if misery truley is a butterfly, there is no need to fear
Thank u firstly to those nice young men who go by the name of the red hot chili peppers for recommending this group and secondly to blonde redhead themself for the gorgeous... Read more
Published on 21 May 2004 by thedevinestyler
Good, Pleasant album
I first saw Blonde Redhead In NME magazine and thought I could give them alisten. I was very suprised and filled with glee when I first heard theopenening track "Elephant Woman". Read more
Published on 26 April 2004 by mell_2
great stuff!
I took a chance with this band, having not heard any of their previous material, but finding one song (Equus) off this CD on an HMV freebie and knowing I had to hear more. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2004 by A. Hook
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