Blonde Redhead is an alternative rock band originating from New York City i… Read Full Bio ↴Blonde Redhead is an alternative rock band originating from New York City in the early 1990s. It was formed by Kazu Makino, Maki Takahashi and Milan-born Italian twin brothers Simone Pace and Amedeo Pace. They take their name from a song by DNA, a 70's and 80's no wave band from New York. Blonde Redhead caught the attention of Sonic Youth's drummer, Steve Shelley, who produced their first self titled album in 1993. Shortly afterwards Maki Takahashi left the band and the remaining band members continued as a trio. On their third album, Fake Can Be Just As Good, they were joined by Vern Rumsey of Unwound as a guest bassist. After this they continued without a bass player for the release of the remainder of their albums. On their fourth album, In an Expression of the Inexpressible, Guy Picciotto of Fugazi was hired as producer, as well as contributing to singing on the song "Futurism vs. Passeism Part 2". Guy Picciotto has produced their latest two records as well, Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and Misery is a Butterfly.

Blonde Redhead has gradually increased in popularity in the underground music scene. Their early music has been described as emulative of Sonic Youth, but their more recent releases have begun to stray from this generalization. Kazu Makino is noted for her high, eerie voice, which hovers over melodic guitar riffs and rhythmic drum beats.

The large span of time between Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and Misery is a Butterfly is attributed to Makino's recovery time after being trampled by a horse. Much of Misery Is A Butterfly's imagery and illustration is equestrian or reflective of the accident. In the liner notes, Makino thanks her doctors "and her friends who fed her and cheered her up when she couldn't do much on her own."

The band's 7th album is called "23" and was released in April 2007.

Their 8th album, "Penny Sparkle" was released in September 14, 2010.

Website links:

Band Website: http://blonde-redhead.com
Promotional site for the album '23': http://www.blonderedhead23.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/blonderedhead

Symphony of Treble
Blonde Redhead Lyrics

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Close your spine till you're a ball
This is a good way to break off from the party
Pretend you're lost pretend you're dog
I know you can chew a shoe like a piece of steak

Now you can hide
Mow you can seek
Like a pleasure treasure hunter killers

Why go home?

Stretch your face until it makes sense
Wrap your heart with all the nerves and veins
Am I not my body?
I seem to remember numbers figures details of this life

Now you can count
Now you can act

Like an enemy sister social worker
Are we damned?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blonde Redhead's song "Symphony of Treble" are abstract and open to interpretation, but it seems to be about escaping from a social situation, finding solitude, and exploring one's own thoughts and emotions.

The opening lines "Close your spine till you're a ball / This is a good way to break off from the party / Pretend you're lost pretend you're dog / I know you can chew a shoe like a piece of steak" suggest the act of curling up and retreating from a noisy, chaotic gathering. The singer advises the listener to pretend to be lost like a dog to fully immerse oneself in the moment and shut out distractions. The last line about chewing a shoe suggests that even in this state of detachment, one is still connected to "reality" in some way.

The chorus "Now you can hide / Mow you can seek / Like a pleasure treasure hunter killers / Why go home?" encourages the listener to revel in their isolation and become a "pleasure treasure hunter killer," pursuing their own desires without fear or shame. The question "Why go home?" implies that the listener has found a new sense of comfort and belonging in their solitude.

The second verse "Stretch your face until it makes sense / Wrap your heart with all the nerves and veins / Am I not my body? / I seem to remember numbers figures details of this life" further explores the idea of self-discovery and introspection. The singer seems to be encouraging the listener to connect their physical body with their emotional and intellectual selves, suggesting that this is the path to true self-awareness. The last line suggests that even as one contemplates deeper aspects of their being, they are still rooted in the tangible world of "numbers figures details."

Overall, "Symphony of Treble" is a dreamlike, enigmatic song that invites listeners to explore their own inner worlds while simultaneously remaining grounded in reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Close your spine till you're a ball
Curl up into a ball and separate yourself from the world.

Pretend you're lost pretend you're dog
Act like you don't know where you are or what's going on.

Now you can hide
Disappear and avoid the world.

Mow you can seek
Search for something meaningful.

Stretch your face until it makes sense
Try to make sense of the world through physical expression.

Wrap your heart with all the nerves and veins
Protect your emotions with your physical body.

Am I not my body?
Question the distinction between mind and body.

I seem to remember numbers figures details of this life
Remember the specific details of one's existence.

Now you can count
Try to make sense of your existence through numbers and counting.

Now you can act
Take action to shape one's existence.

Like an enemy sister social worker
Navigate through life like a combination of enemies, siblings, and helpers.