Misery Is A Butterfly
by Blonde Redhead
  • Record Label: 4AD
  • Release Date: Mar 23, 2004
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27

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  1. ToshiakiA
    Mar 31, 2005
    10
    These Critics don't know what they are talking about. This group and this album is a masterpiece. 50 my ***.
  2. kellyw
    Oct 20, 2005
    2
    this record reminds me of the memory of the taste of this giant feast in a reoccuring dream; the savory liquids of the turkeys and hams turned out to be saliva cakes on my pillow. I used to love this band but thier preciousness is wearing thin; warm production and some strings can't save this lackluster record that is harmonically placid. Like the Catherine Wheel they started on fire this record reminds me of the memory of the taste of this giant feast in a reoccuring dream; the savory liquids of the turkeys and hams turned out to be saliva cakes on my pillow. I used to love this band but thier preciousness is wearing thin; warm production and some strings can't save this lackluster record that is harmonically placid. Like the Catherine Wheel they started on fire though not knowing what they were doing or where they were going; the more they figure it out the less i want to hear thier music.… Expand
  3. John
    Jan 8, 2005
    10
    This is a haunting album that stays with you for days. I found myself listening to it over an over again and couldn't put it away. Best Blonde Redhead album yet.
  4. TristramC
    Sep 30, 2005
    6
    When I first bought this in the early half of last year I hated it. I felt like it was aping Radiohead, Mercury Rev and the like and mining for folks who couldn't tell the differernce. I did like one of the tracks, Pink Love, but I shelved it basically for the rest of 2004. At years end Blender included Elephant Woman in their best songs of the year issue and I tried the cd again. I When I first bought this in the early half of last year I hated it. I felt like it was aping Radiohead, Mercury Rev and the like and mining for folks who couldn't tell the differernce. I did like one of the tracks, Pink Love, but I shelved it basically for the rest of 2004. At years end Blender included Elephant Woman in their best songs of the year issue and I tried the cd again. I was in the process of rediscovering the Cocteau Twins and this album struck a chord. Look, it isn't high art or anything but the textures are intricately composed and quite captivating. You could easily do worse and if you are into the bands mentioned or the dream pop coming out of Iceland (Sigur Ros, Mum, etc) you will definitely dig this record.… Expand
  5. jyotirmayad
    Jan 21, 2006
    9
    yoko ono recommended this cd to me. when i first heard it, it reminded me of some of the goth stuff i used to listen to in the 90s, but it was of better quality. a welcome addition to my cd collection. i love it.
  6. SeanH
    Mar 18, 2004
    9
    perhaps not this underrated band's best but a solid album
  7. fermer
    Apr 9, 2004
    10
    The best 4AD album in years!
  8. MartyS.
    Feb 2, 2008
    10
    An album of absolute wonder ......... can't get enough!
  9. AnnaR
    Mar 25, 2004
    8
    It's goodtimes.
  10. [Anonymous]
    May 23, 2004
    10
    I love every single song on this album.
  11. shinycrapyboy
    Sep 24, 2012
    10
    I discovered The band with this album. I Never heard about them before despite of their big reputation and I think that this helped me to see this work as a masterpiece because, at that time, i had nothing else to compare this work with. What impacted me the most was the production of most of the tracks. A sort of despairing pompous barroque style with so intense arrangements like theI discovered The band with this album. I Never heard about them before despite of their big reputation and I think that this helped me to see this work as a masterpiece because, at that time, i had nothing else to compare this work with. What impacted me the most was the production of most of the tracks. A sort of despairing pompous barroque style with so intense arrangements like the dramatic chords that reminded me of the Gainsbourg "Je t´aime moi non plus" era, clavichords, cheap synths. Heartbreaking most of the times. I remember that i was wondering how they managed to create something so sad and at the same time so beautiful. I still dig this piece of work nowadays although i have to say that after discovering other of their works i think that lp like melody of certain damaged lemons or the in expression of the inepressible are much more powerfull works even if the production is much more focused on this dirty indie sound that was so cool in the 90´s. I really think that Blonde redhead was a feverish young band that wanted to be a matured and confirmed one. Most of the people was expecting the same rage and not this wonderfull melancholy.… Collapse
  12. MarcPalop
    Jun 25, 2021
    10
    This album it's just fantastic, memorable, original and fresh
    I'll recommend it to all the persons who wanna enjoy some unforgivable album with a big personality

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Filter
    86
    Misery doesn't step forward so much as expand outward; roughly half of the album... sounds as if it could've been lifted off of Melody. The other half is purely visceral. [#10, p.91]
  2. Rolling Stone
    70
    A bang-up mix of electronic song structure and guitar impressionism.
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  3. AllMusic
    80
    The album's soft-focus allows Blonde Redhead to explore its relatively newfound romanticism more deeply than before... but with less tension between the fragile and harsh aspects of the band's sound, its soft-focus occasionally drifts into lack of focus.
    Read full review
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