Blonde Redhead – Penny Sparkle

Editor rating
 
3.0 User rating
 
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Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle CD review

Blonde Redhead’s shtick has consistently seen the band progress smoothly into being (rightfully so) darlings of the indie rock world.

A shtick concerned with mess over gloss, distortion and noise interlaced with hypnotic vocals.  Having already released seven LP’s since they formed in 1993 – they are seemingly still exploring different aspects of where their music could go rather than sticking to a signature sound.

On Penny Sparkle, their least nuanced record to date, Blonde Redhead aren’t afraid to take it down a notch and mellow things out – which makes absolute sense as a follow up to their brilliant 2007 release 23.

The mood is understated; it’s further wrapped in trippy subdued guitars and melancholic electronic – some of it is straightforward beautiful, such as the title track 'Penny Sparkle', then you have 'Not Getting There' which is probably the band’s most mainstream single ever (also a clear standout within the waves of subtlety) while some of it gets a bit same-y, which drags the record out at some point , but it doesn’t make it a lousy offering, just a slightly different version of a usually more edgy Blonde Redhead.

They’ve always had a softer side, and on Penny Sparkle they’re not timid about fully embracing it.

TRIPLEW.ME TRACK OF CHOICE

Black Guitars, Not Getting There

BUY THIS CD

From Virgin Megastores or buy it from amazon.com

MAKSHOOF MUSIC SOUNDALIKE

Is it any of these?

BLONDE REDHEAD - 'HERE SOMETIMES'


Editor review

Consistently good - but that's it.

Rating:
 
3.0
Reviewed by triplew.me
September 23, 2010
 
Last updated: September 23, 2010
Another consistent, and changing, album from the stalwarts of the indie-darling scene, Blonde Redhead. An album that deserves a full listen and that for us, grows more and more with one. Definitely one for the indie fans.
 
 

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