Misery Is a Butterfly

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]

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] The album's lyrics and imagery reflect on a horseback accident Makino suffered in 2003,[9] which required facial reconstructive surgery and months of rehabilitation, and caused her mental distress. The tracks "Elephant Woman" and "Equus" are more directly about the incident.

Continuing the sonic evolution that began with their previous album Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons, the album integrates lush string arrangements (viola, violin, cello) and clavichords, giving it a musical aesthetic that critics described as a cinematic, chamber-pop feel. The string arrangements were written and performed by Eyvind Kang[10] and Jane Scarpantoni.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The Boston Phoenix[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[14]
Mojo[15]
Now4/5[16]
Pitchfork7.9/10[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[4]
SpinB[19]
Uncut9/10[20]

Misery is a Butterfly was well received by critics. Metacritic gave Misery is a Butterfly a score of 78/100, indicating generally favourable reviews. Pitchfork gave it a 4/5, saying: "Blonde Redhead have perfected their own unusual strain of perceived insincerity. They said it themselves, and it still rings true, [that] fake can be just as good." Rolling Stone gave the album a 3/5, saying "Blonde Redhead have been slogging away as part of the Sonic Youth-led downtown New York rock axis since the mid-Nineties. After five fair-to-middling albums, the band has suddenly emerged, Flaming Lips-style, with one of the better indie-rock records of the year: Misery Is a Butterfly." CMJ ranked Misery Is a Butterfly as the 18th best album of 2004.[21]

Track listing

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

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[22]

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

Chart (2004) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[23] 77
Italian Albums (FIMI)[24] 50
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[25] 41
US Billboard 200[26] 180
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[27] 10
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[28] 11

References

  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.
  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.
  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. ^ Bartlett, Thomas. "Blonde Redhead – Misery Is A Butterfly". Paste Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  11. ^ "Misery Is A Butterfly by Blonde Redhead Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Phares, Heather. "Misery Is a Butterfly – Blonde Redhead". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (March 19, 2004). "Misery Is a Butterfly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  15. ^ Chick, Stevie (May 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Mojo. No. 126. p. 106.
  16. ^ Young, Dylan (April 1, 2004). "Blonde Redhead". Now. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  17. ^ Carr, Eric (April 12, 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  18. ^ "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Q. No. 214. May 2004. p. 98.
  19. ^ Day, Adrienne; Ganz, Caryn; Hermes, Will; Richardson, Sean; Ryan, Chris (June 2004). "Breakdown". Spin. Vol. 20, no. 6. p. 108. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  20. ^ Pinnock, Tom (October 2016). "How to Buy... Blonde Redhead". Uncut. No. 233. p. 49.
  21. ^ "20 for 04 – 18. Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 129. 2004. p. 30. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  22. ^ 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)
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  26. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  27. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  28. ^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
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