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Rating:
THE REVIEW
"Fake Can Be Just As Good" is an excellent album, a summary of early Blonde Redhead and their noise-rock, before the gradual shift, in their last three works, and especially in the recent "Misery Is A Butterfly", to more melodic and accessible sounds.
Released in 1997 by the Touch And Go label, the album unfolds in 8 thrilling tracks, in which the Italian-Japanese group seems to perfectly imprint the anger and guitar-driven neurosis that characterize their early musical production. It transitions from the dissonances of the opening "Kazualty" and "Oh James" to the syncopated rhythm of "Bipolar", not forgetting "Pier Paolo", a heartfelt tribute to the immortal myth of Pasolini, a figure that echoes considerably in the discography of the band (so much that the previous album was even titled "Una Vita Violenta"), leading to the wonderful and super-fast instrumental conclusion of "Futurism Vs. Passèism," which truly recalls the best Sonic Youth of "Cross The Breeze".
With "Fake Can Be Just As Good", in short, Blonde Redhead delivers a remarkable work, well-coordinated and structured, which will not disappoint all fans of indie and alternative sounds. It's a shame about the singer-songwriter and pop drift of "Misery Is A Butterfly", as the old fans of the group would have truly paid gold for another album like this, simpler and more direct, certainly no less rich in emotions and nuances and undoubtedly worth listening to.
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights Blonde Redhead’s 1997 album 'Fake Can Be Just As Good' as a standout noise-rock release embodying the band's early raw energy and emotional depth. It praises the album’s cohesion and thrilling tracks, noting a marked contrast with their later, more melodic works. Special mention is given to the Pasolini tribute and the Sonic Youth-like instrumental conclusion. The reviewer laments the band's recent shift to pop sounds but recommends this album highly to indie and alternative fans.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead are a New York-based trio described in the reviews as consisting of Japanese singer/guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace. Reviews depict their early years as Sonic Youth-influenced noise-rock, followed by a shift toward more melodic, ethereal indie-pop/dream-pop with increased use of keyboards and refined arrangements.21 Reviews
Other reviews
By hypnosphere boy
"Blonde Redhead are like Sonic Youth, but perhaps a bit better, with something more that is not easily defined."
"Mastery on the guitars and rhythmic and hypnotic bass lines... characterize what is certainly a confirmation of the real and tangible talent of its Authors."
