23 (Blonde Redhead album)

Studio album by Blonde Redhead

Released

April 10, 2007

Genre

Indie rock, dream pop

Length

43:23

Label

4AD

Producer

Blonde Redhead

Blonde Redhead chronology

Misery Is a Butterfly
(2004)

23
(2007)

Penny Sparkle
(2010)

Singles from 23

"23"
Released: April 2, 2007 (2007-04-02)
"Silently"
Released: May 28, 2007 (2007-05-28)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Cokemachineglow	(79%)^[2]
Glorious Noise	(recommended)^[3]
Pitchfork Media	(7.0/10)^[4]
Rocklouder	^[5]
Robert Christgau	^[6]
Stylus Magazine	(A)^[7]
Tiny Mix Tapes	^[8]
Comfort Comes	(9/10)^[9]

23 is the seventh studio album by Blonde Redhead. Released on April 10, 2007 (2007-04-10), it debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 at number 63, selling roughly 11,000 copies in its first week.^[10]

1 Background
2 Track listing
3 Singles
4 References
5 External links

Background

The album is the first the band self-produced, with additional assistance provided by Crowded House-producer Mitchell Froom on two tracks, "Silently" and "Top Ranking". In a press release accompanying the album, the band members acknowledged their goals to be more spontaneous in their song-writing, to aim for simplicity and clarity, and to create additional tensions. Drummer Simone Pace said he found it nerve wracking to enter the studio with only loose ideas for songs. Singer Kazu Makino admitted it "wasn't an entirely enjoyable experience. Without a producer, a referee, we could really get on each other's cases. It got intense."

The bandmates admitted that until they reached the mixing stage they were unsure what direction the album was taking.

Simone said it "sounds fresh because we are exploring new things. We get tired of doing the same thing all the time, so we search for other things to do."

The music video for single "Top Ranking" was directed by Mike Mills, and guests director/writer/actress/artist Miranda July as the main, and only, character. At the start of the video it says "One pose per second." Following that we view July for the duration striking a different pose every second, creating the effect of a living statue.

Artist Alex Gross created the album's cover art, "The Tragedy".

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"23"	5:18
2.	"Dr. Strangeluv"	4:47
3.	"The Dress"	4:00
4.	"SW"	4:35
5.	"Spring and by Summer Fall"	4:15
6.	"Silently"	3:57
7.	"Publisher"	4:01
8.	"Heroine"	4:11
9.	"Top Ranking"	3:27
10.	"My Impure Hair"	4:52

iTunes bonus track
No.	Title	Length
11.	"(We Are a Real Team) Harry and I"	8:02

Japanese bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Signs Along the Path"	3:44
12.	"(We Are a Real Team) Harry and I"	8:02

Singles

"23" (April 2, 2007)
- light blue-colored 7" vinyl, featuring the album version only
"Silently" (June 11, 2007)
- promo CD single b/w: "Signs Along the Path" and "(We Are a Real Team) Harry and I"
- 7" vinyl single b/w: "(We Are a Real Team) Harry and I (Edit)"

References

^ Allmusic review
^ Cokemachineglow review
^ Glorious Noise review
^ Pitchfork Media review
^ Rocklouder review
^ Robert Christgau review
^ Stylus Magazine review
^ Tiny Mix Tapes review
^ Comfort Comes review
^ Katie Hasty, "'NOW' Remains No. 1 As Bright Eyes Debuts High", Billboard.com, April 18, 2007.

External links

23 at Metacritic

Blonde Redhead

Kazu Makino · Amedeo Pace · Simone Pace Vern Rumsey · Maki Takahashi · Toko Yasuda

Studio albums	Blonde Redhead · La Mia Vita Violenta · Fake Can Be Just as Good · In an Expression of the Inexpressible · Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons · Misery Is a Butterfly · 23 · Penny Sparkle

EPs	Melodie Citronique · The Secret Society of Butterflies

Singles	"Amescream / Big song" · "Vague / Jet Star" · "Feet High / Valentine" · "Flying Douglas / Harmony" · "Symphony of Treble / Kasuality" · "Limited conversation / Slogan" · "Elephant Woman" · "Equus" · "23" · "Silently" · "Here Sometimes" · "Not Getting There"