Buttersprites

Buttersprites | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 10, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dionysus Records
• ASIN: B0007NBAHW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,539 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Buttersprites is the debut disc on Dionysus Records by Seattle's Buttersprites, a musical group that puts as much emphasis on its show and costume as it does its music. In most situations of this kind, the uniforms look great but the music suffers, but not so with Buttersprites -- what is on the inside is just as good, if not better, than what is on the outside. Buttersprites are tapping into the wellspring of Japanese pop, and sing mostly in Japanese even though they are an American group; on the surface it appears that comparisons to Shonen Knife would be inevitable, especially with song titles such as "Fresh Mochi." But once again Buttersprites sidestep both the trend and one's preconceived expectations, as this disc is firmly rooted in the post-punk tradition that, after a long neglect, is being rediscovered by a number of emerging bands. The most obvious illustration of this last-named property is "Yellow Fever," a thinly disguised rewrite of the song "Public Image" retrofitted with humorous lyrics about the phenomenon of non-Asian males seeking out romance among Asian females. A more militant group would say more about this topic, but Buttersprites wisely keep it light and therefore deepen the sense of satire. Another song that reflects the dub-cum-folk admixture pioneered by PiL is "Fever" and its corresponding dub mix, although this time Haruko Nishimura's chattering vocal takes center stage. Of the songs here, "Love Call" is the most immediate, brimming with catchy and infectious ideas and wedded to appealing harmonies. It is hard to put one's finger on what makes Buttersprites seem so fresh, unusual, and engaging; certainly it is not the sum of its influences. Perhaps it's Elizabeth Jameson's shreddy but sweet guitar tone and sinuous leads, Lunarre Omura's solid but perky bass, Julie Grant's calculatedly minimal keyboards, or Jen Gay's just-brought-'em-outta-the-basement drums. Haruko Nishimura's singing is by turns sweet and cynical, and although her occasional cackling might sound contrived to some, it is clearly part of the aesthetic here, which is tongue-in-cheek in addition to being musically very sound. Both Jameson and Grant seem to have a feel for specific, arcane kinds of pop instrumental sounds, an aspect that is pointed up by the excellent mix achieved by production team Johnny Horn, Andrew Sodt, and Lynval Goulding (he of the Specials). However, this should not distract from the tremendous sense of fun resulting from listening to Buttersprites; it is a terrific debut that will hook the listener, who will want to return to this brand of ear (and eye) candy repeatedly. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love the Buttersprites!, November 16, 2005

By 

nvcameron (Chicago, illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buttersprites (Audio CD)

When I first heard this album I thought this was a new J-pop band but it turns out they're from Seattle, anyway this is a very fun album that will put a smile on your face. Its like a cross between Shonen Knife & Puffy Ami Yumi. Great debut album!