•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
Blonde Redhead is an Italian-Japanese formation, consisting of brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace and singer Kazu Makino, which has proven to be one of the most interesting bands in the noise-rock scene in recent years. The band's sound, clearly inspired by Sonic Youth (in fact, their first two albums were produced by Sonic Youth's drummer, Steve Shelley) reaches its peak with the excellent "Fake Can Be Just As Good," the group's third album that marks the marriage with Touch And Go.
However, after this work, something changes in Blonde Redhead. Following in the footsteps of their mentors, Sonic Youth, they seem to gradually abandon their original noise roots to transition to a more mature indie-pop, which finds its ultimate consecration in 2000, when, again for Touch And Go, their fifth album, "Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons," is released.
Ten tracks, plus a bonus track, that mark the definitive maturation of the group and their sound. After the initial introduction, one encounters sublime moments such as the hypnotic "In Particular," "Melody Of Certain Three," which nods to their recent noise past, the ballad "Hated Because Of Great Qualities," "This Is Not," with its cheerful and hyper-fast 70's sound, and the beautiful "A Cure."
Their noise-rock, in short, seems to soften, leaving room for more melodic moments that are no less original, and a piece like "For The Damaged Mother," where only the piano accompanies Kazu Makino's ethereal voice, is proof of this.
An excellent album, therefore, this "Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons," highly recommended to all those who missed it, or at least an excellent starting point to get to know Blonde Redhead, an intimate and delicate work that will continue to surprise you with every listen.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
Blonde Redhead, an Italian-Japanese band influenced by Sonic Youth, evolves from noise rock to a more mature indie-pop sound in their album 'Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons.' The album features hypnotic and melodic tracks, showcasing the band’s growth and originality. It marks a definitive progression after their earlier records. Highly recommended for both longtime fans and newcomers.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 donzaucher
"To say they are a unique band is an understatement."
"I challenge you not to bob your head while listening!"
By The_dull_flame
"Kazu is a siren who has lost her foothold and is lost in the midst of a storm of devastating waves."
"Much more wicked and sour than 'Misery,' yet still surprising."
By masturbatio
Those blood-red squares on the cover have carved into my soul, which soars every time I approach Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons.
Kazu Makino’s timbre is not only elusive, it’s poisonous, it grates gracefully on mere mortals who have had the pleasure of listening to it at least once in their lives.
