Misery Is a Butterfly

Misery Is a Butterfly
Misery Is a Butterfly
Studio album by Blonde Redhead
Released	March 15, 2004
Recorded	March 16 – April 6, 2003
Studio	Long View Farm (North Brookfield, Massachusetts)
Genre	Art rock; chamber pop; dream pop; indie rock;
Length	44:54
Label	4AD
Producer	Guy Picciotto; Ryan Hadlock;
Blonde Redhead chronology
Singles from Misery Is a Butterfly
	"Elephant Woman"; Released: February 23, 2004; "Equus"; Released: May 24, 2004;

Misery Is a Butterfly is the sixth studio album by Japanese-Canadian 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]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100^[10]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[11]
The Boston Phoenix	^[12]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[13]
Mojo	^[14]
Now	4/5^[15]
Pitchfork	7.9/10^[16]
Q	^[17]
Rolling Stone	^[4]
Spin	B^[18]
Uncut	9/10^[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.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Elephant Woman"	Makino	4:49
2.	"Messenger"	A. Pace	3:21
3.	"Melody"	Makino	4:36
4.	"Doll Is Mine"	A. Pace	3:06
5.	"Misery Is a Butterfly"	Makino	5:07
6.	"Falling Man"	A. Pace	3:26
7.	"Anticipation"	Makino	4:04
8.	"Maddening Cloud"	A. Pace	3:20
9.	"Magic Mountain"	Makino	3:02
10.	"Pink Love"	A. Pace Makino	6:13
11.	"Equus"	Makino	3:50
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

Eyvind Kang – viola, violin, string arrangements
Jane Scarpantoni – cello
Skúli Sverrisson – bass

Production

Greg Calbi – mastering
Chris Evans – engineering (assistant)
Juan Garcia – engineering (assistant)
John Goodmanson – mixing, additional engineering
Ryan Hadlock – recording, additional production
Guy Picciotto – 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

^ Edwards, Robin. "Blonde Redhead | Hungry Ghost". The Stranger. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Tate, David (March 18, 2014). "Fenster – The Pink Caves". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "The 25 Best Dream Pop Albums of All Time". Paste. August 24, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ ^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.
^ "Blonde Redhead: 'Elephant Woman'". 4AD. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "Elephant Woman – EP by Blonde Redhead". United States: Apple Music. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "Watch the video for Equus". 4AD. May 14, 2004. Archived from the original on June 10, 2004. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ "Blonde Redhead: 'Misery Is A Butterfly'". 4AD. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ Lobenfeld, Claire (July 12, 2013). "Blonde Redhead Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^ "Misery Is A Butterfly by Blonde Redhead Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ Phares, Heather. "Misery Is a Butterfly – Blonde Redhead". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
^ 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.
^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (March 19, 2004). "Misery Is a Butterfly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ Chick, Stevie (May 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Mojo. No. 126. p. 106.
^ Young, Dylan (April 1, 2004). "Blonde Redhead". Now. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
^ Carr, Eric (April 12, 2004). "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
^ "Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". Q. No. 214. May 2004. p. 98.
^ Day, Adrienne; Ganz, Caryn; Hermes, Will; Richardson, Sean; Ryan, Chris (June 2004). "Breakdown". Spin. Vol. 20, no. 6. p. 108. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
^ Pinnock, Tom (October 2016). "How to Buy... Blonde Redhead". Uncut. No. 233. p. 49.
^ "20 for 04 – 18. Blonde Redhead: Misery Is a Butterfly". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 129. 2004. p. 30. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ 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)
^ "Lescharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
^ "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

External links

Misery Is a Butterfly at Discogs (list of releases)
Misery Is a Butterfly at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

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

[Tate-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.

[Hunter-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.

[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] "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.

[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)

[ac_France_Blonde_Redhead-22] "Lescharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.

[ac_Italy_Blonde_Redhead-23] "Italiancharts.com – Blonde Redhead – Misery Is a Butterfly". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2018.

[ac_UKIndependent_-24] "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.

[ac_Billboard200_Blonde_Redhead-25] "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

[ac_BillboardHeatseekers_Blonde_Redhead-26] "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

[ac_BillboardIndependent_Blonde_Redhead-27] "Blonde Redhead Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

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