Track Listing
1. Elephant Woman
2. Messenger
3. Melody
4. Doll Is Mine
5. Misery Is a Butterfly
6. Falling Man
7. Anticipation
8. Maddening Cloud
9. Magic Mountain
10. Pink Love
11. Equus
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Eyvind Kang, Skuli Sverrisson | | Producer: | Guy Picciotto, Ryan Hadlock | | Distributor: | Alternative Dis. Alliance | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Blonde Redhead: Amedeo Pace (vocals, guitar, baritone guitar); Kazu Makino (vocals, guitar, clavinet); Simone Pace (drums, percussion, programming).
Additional personnel: Eyvind Kang (viola, violin); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Skuli Sverrisson (bass).
Lyricists: Amedeo Pace; Kazu Makino.
Personnel: Blonde Redhead (programming); Amedeo Pace (vocals, guitar, baritone guitar); Kazu Makino (vocals, guitar, Clavinet); Eyvind Kang (violin, viola); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Simone Pace (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: John Goodmanson.
Recording information: Longview Farm Studios (03/16/2003-05/03/2003); The Magic Shop, New York, NY (03/16/2003-05/03/2003).
Moving from their longtime home at Touch & Go to the renowned 4AD label, NYC art-rockers Blonde Redhead have made telling sonic adjustments, trading in their noisy, abrasive edge for a refined, often orchestral sound. The trio--Kazu Makino and twin brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace--makes the transition clear from the get-go on "Elephant Woman," which features Makino's breathy vocals over a backdrop of harpsichord, strings, and light percussion. Melancholy is certainly the main theme of this album, as exquisitely exemplified by the title track, a somber, keyboard-driven piece that borders on chamber music. However, just when the proceedings verge on the morose, the band emerges with two upbeat songs, the swirling, Stereolab-like "Pink Love" and the guitar-driven grandeur of "Equus," revealing that they can still rock when the mood strikes them.
Editorial Reviews
Densely layered and orchestrated, with swelling strings and keyboards often burying the twin guitars and drums of Kazu Makino and brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace, MISERY has a cinematic quality, as if its songs were art-house shorts.
CMJ (04/01/2004)
4 stars out of 5 - These are seductive confections, all blurred strings, magical chimes and tear-stained metaphysics.
Uncut (04/01/2004)
4 stars out of 5 - [A]s the album title suggests, they've carved a bleak and beautiful album; their best, in fact.
Mojo
[A] volatile mix with a touch of fidgety elegance. - Grade: B-
Entertainment Weekly (03/19/2004)
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