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Misery Is A Butterfly
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Misery Is A Butterfly Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Misery' is the first 4AD release for the noisy, experimental indie rockers, who have mellowed/refined their sound a bit to fit their new label.

Top Track

Elephant Woman
Angel I can see myself in your eyes Angel won't you feel for me from your heart Do return my heart to me No don't insist I'm already hurt Elephant... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Arguably the best album in their career.
  2. PopMatters
    80
    The expansion of their sound to include breathtaking strings and keyboards has proven to lift Blonde Redhead out of the post-rock mire and recreated them as a band finally worthy of their past praise.
  3. Flak Magazine
    80
    The album is something of a wash, packing a less potent dose of Makino but an extra kick of Pace.
  4. 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.
  5. Spin
    75
    [Has a] swirling spy-movie ambience. [Jun 2004, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Splendid
    70
    Deliberately slow in tempo, delicately arranged, emphatically "dreamy" in tone, Misery is a Butterfly is lovely, but also difficult going for Blonde Redhead fans.
  7. Dusted Magazine
    50
    Blonde Redhead haven't run out of ideas, but Misery strips them of their eccentricities so thoroughly that the few that remain sound out of place.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  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. 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 seeI 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
  4. fermer
    Apr 9, 2004
    10
    The best 4AD album in years!
  5. 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    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    … Expand
  6. SeanH
    Mar 18, 2004
    9
    perhaps not this underrated band's best but a solid album
  7. 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 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.… Expand
  8. 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 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

See all 12 User Reviews