Misery Is A Butterfly - Blonde Redhead
Misery Is A Butterfly Image
Metascore

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

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 18 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.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Arguably the best album in their career.
  2. It's not just the vocals that captivate. The sheer busyness of the whole production and all the sounds are to be marvelled at, and though it would be easy to over-egg, they never allow any of the tracks to be cluttered or overblown.
  3. Despite the increased emphasis on production, like Blonde Redhead's entire catalogue, the chirping, child-like cords of lead vocalists Amedeo Pace and Kazu Makino act as the essential ingredient to the bands avant-garde concoction.
  4. 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

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. ToshiakiA
    10
    These Critics don't know what they are talking about. This group and this album is a masterpiece. 50 my ***.
  2. AnnaR
    8
    It's goodtimes.
  3. TristramC
    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 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
  4. kellyw
    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 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. Collapse

See all 11 User Reviews