Wikipedia

Misery Is a Butterfly

Misery Is a Butterfly is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Blonde Redhead. The album was released on March 15, 2004, by 4AD.[8] Much of the visual and lyrical imagery of the album is reflective of an accident in which lead singer Kazu Makino was trampled by a horse.[9]

Misery Is a Butterfly
Studio album by
Blonde Redhead
ReleasedMarch 15, 2004 (2004-03-15)
RecordedMarch 16 – April 6, 2003
StudioLong View Farm (North Brookfield, Massachusetts)
Genre
Length44:54
Label4AD
Producer
Blonde Redhead chronology
Mélodie Citronique
(2000) 		Misery Is a Butterfly
(2004) 		The Secret Society of Butterflies
(2005)
Singles from Misery Is a Butterfly
  1. "Elephant Woman"
    Released: February 23, 2004[5][6]
  2. "Equus"
    Released: May 24, 2004[7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
The Boston Phoenix    [12]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[13]
Mojo     [14]
Now4/5[15]
Pitchfork7.9/10[16]
Q     [17]
Rolling Stone     [4]
SpinB[18]
Uncut9/10[19]

CMJ ranked Misery Is a Butterfly as the 18th best album of 2004.[20]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Blonde Redhead (Kazu Makino, Amedeo Pace and Simone Pace)

No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Elephant Woman"Makino4:49
2."Messenger"A. Pace3:21
3."Melody"Makino4:36
4."Doll Is Mine"A. Pace3:06
5."Misery Is a Butterfly"Makino5:07
6."Falling Man"A. Pace3:26
7."Anticipation"Makino4:04
8."Maddening Cloud"A. Pace3:20
9."Magic Mountain"Makino3:02
10."Pink Love"
  • A. Pace
  • Makino
6:13
11."Equus"Makino3:50
Total length:44:54

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[21]

Blonde Redhead

  • Kazu Makino – vocals, clavinet, guitar, programming, string arrangements
  • Amedeo Pace – vocals, guitar, baritone guitar, programming, string arrangements
  • Simone Pace – drums, percussion, electronics, programming, string arrangements

Additional musicians

Production

Design

  • Chris Bigg – artwork guidance
  • Blonde Redhead – art direction, design
  • Jun Koike – initial artwork assistance
  • Carlo Mollino – front cover photography
  • Keiko Uenishi – initial artwork assistance

Charts

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Chart (2004) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[22] 77
Italian Albums (FIMI)[23] 50
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] 41
US Billboard 200[25] 180
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[26] 10
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] 11

References

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  1. ^ Edwards, Robin. "Blonde Redhead | Hungry Ghost". The Stranger. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Tate, David (March 18, 2014). "Fenster – The Pink Caves". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "The 25 Best Dream Pop Albums of All Time". Paste. August 24, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hunter, James (May 5, 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2016.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Blonde Redhead: 'Elephant Woman'". 4AD. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "Elephant Woman – EP by Blonde Redhead". United States: Apple Music. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Watch the video for Equus". 4AD. May 14, 2004. Archived from the original on June 10, 2004. Retrieved March 8, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Blonde Redhead: 'Misery Is A Butterfly'". 4AD. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (July 12, 2013). "Blonde Redhead Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "Misery Is A Butterfly by Blonde Redhead Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  11. ^ Phares, Heather. "Misery Is a Butterfly – Blonde Redhead". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  12. ^ Skruck, Jeff (April 9–15, 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly (4AD/Beggars Group)". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (March 19, 2004). "Misery Is a Butterfly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Chick, Stevie (May 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Mojo. No. 126. p. 106.
  15. ^ Young, Dylan (April 1, 2004). "Blonde Redhead". Now. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  16. ^ Carr, Eric (April 12, 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Q. No. 214. May 2004. p. 98.
  18. ^ Day, Adrienne; Ganz, Caryn; Hermes, Will; Richardson, Sean; Ryan, Chris (June 2004). "Breakdown". Spin. Vol. 20, no. 6. p. 108. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  19. ^ Pinnock, Tom (October 2016). "How to Buy... Blonde Redhead". Uncut. No. 233. p. 49.
  20. ^ "20 for 04 – 18. Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 129. 2004. p. 30. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  21. ^ Misery Is a Butterfly (liner notes). Blonde Redhead. 4AD. 2004. CAD 2409CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "Lescharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  23. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  26. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  27. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
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