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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Surprising.
How else to define them, after listening to this record?
Structurally, the songs are different from one another, with melodies vaguely reminiscent of '60s-'70s films, all despite their voices being borderline irritating.
In fact, without repeating what I've already written (that's what the review of their penultimate album is for), the girl has a shrill voice, sometimes almost hysterical, while he at certain moments reminds me of Daniel Johnston, which is saying something!
But more than a flaw, it has become their trademark, and the fact that they alternate song by song makes everything more varied.
I mentioned earlier about the anarchy of the songs: well, to get the idea, listen to the two samples.
Track number 8, "Maddening Cloud".
30 seconds of guitar-drum-bass introduction, with a funky rhythm that FORCES you to nod your head, then you expect the verse but instead it goes straight into the angry chorus, after which follows everything else, including a pause towards the end: you think it's over, but then you start to hear the voice in the background growing, growing and the song continues: trust me, it's beautiful.
Track number 11, "Equus".
This time the guy sings, starting with the chorus, complete with little backing vocals, silly but fitting well, then...but no! that wasn't the chorus! the chorus is right after! and then what is that sound you hear almost at the end? trumpets??? keyboards??? well...it doesn't sound bad!
Every song is a (positive) surprise, including the two slower ones and the final one, the most psychedelic, the only one where they both sing.
I repeat, they may seem strange, but they captivate, and this CD is VERY beautiful: it is more mature than the previous one, longer, more complete (11 songs versus 8, to which they added two interludes), more complex but no less accessible.
Highly recommended!
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Summary by Bot
The album 'Misery Is A Butterfly' by Blonde Redhead surprises with its diverse song structures and psychedelic influences. Despite unconventional vocals, the mix of shrill and fragile voices becomes the band's trademark, adding variety. Highlight tracks such as 'Maddening Cloud' and 'Equus' showcase creative composition and engaging surprises. The album stands out as more mature, complex, and accessible than their previous work. Highly recommended for listeners looking for something fresh and captivating.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 Alessandro Gentili
Just listen to the first, melancholic notes of Elephant Woman: decadent atmospheres with a classic and Central European flavor.
A different, ethereal, soft and delicate album... complexity behind simplicity.
By ZiOn
The noise of their beginnings seems definitively subdued, where the guitars merely serve as a backdrop to more complex arrangements.
"Equus" showcases their best, shedding excessive embellishments and reclaiming a simplicity that gives hope for the future.
By Mariaelena
Misery is a butterfly of rarefied beauty and chaste love.
An electro-pop melody with dilated and caressing atmospheres, disarming beauty, transpiring pain, from a crystal-clear source.
