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Album Details

• Artist: Blonde Redhead
• Album: Misery Is A Butterfly
• Label: 4AD
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-05-22

Now that Blonde Redhead is sporting a new label in the form of the appropriate Beggars Banquet affiliate 4AD they have changed up their sound a little as well. Their previous output was a little sonic at times but on Misery Is A Butterfly they play a form of music that could be called anything but sonic. The group still trades off male/female vocals with Amedeo Pace and Kazu Makino taking turns pretty much on every alternate track. Amedeo is sounding more and more like Thom Yorke even if the music isn't quite there. Kazu's songs, on the other hand, are reminding me of the Cocteau Twins a bit, hence the 4AD connection. While you may or may not be familiar with Blonde Redhead, let it be known that their last album, 2000's Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons made it to number one on the coveted CMJ Top 200 Chart and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Butterfly there too. They trade sonics in for grace. The album is soaring and hypnotic with the complex arrangements that the group come up with. I think it would get boring if it was just a single genre singing, making the male/female vocals very welcome. They really shine when they trade off in the same song like "Pink Love". The music is spacey but definitely sonic. They retain the experimental side of things but are reaching more into the accessible side of things. Blonde Redhead have indeed blossomed into a beautiful Butterfly, even if it is a bit miserable.

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