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
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

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.[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
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
  1. Edwards, Robin. "Blonde Redhead | Hungry Ghost". The Stranger. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. 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. 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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