I

Buffalo Daughter, BUFFALO DAUGHTER and DELAWARE | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emperor Norton
• ASIN: B000060ONN
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,530 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ivory

2. I Know

3. Earth Punk Rockers

4. 28 Nuts

5. Volcanic Girl

6. Five Minutes

7. Robot Sings (As If He Were Frank Sinatra With A Half-Boiled Egg And The

8. I

9. Moog Stone

10. Mirror Ball

11. Long, Slow, Distance

12. Discotheque Du Paradis

13. A Completely Identical Dream

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The three members of Buffalo Daughter are as much sonic collage artists as musicians, and I--their 2002 release and quite possibly their masterwork--can be viewed as both a collection of songs and a serious challenge to accepted norms about dissonance, structure, harmony, and the studio itself as an instrument. Take, for instance, the opening track, "Ivory." An electric guitar slowly unspools a repeating series of minor keys while the three Japanese women gently coo over top. Normal enough, then out of nowhere comes a cacophony of strings, as if a heretofore unnoticed orchestra began warming up in the studio next door. Just as suddenly, an agile violin begins shadowing the guitar's stated melody, then the whole thing just drifts off into the ether. The Yoko Ono-damaged "I Know" finds the women alternately chanting and screaming the words "I know" in no discernible pattern, while the call of a thrush is peppered throughout "Discotheque du Paradis," a track on which almost tribal rhythms introduce the elaborate synth dominating the song's second half. Random strings again pop up in "28 Nuts"--arguably the set's centerpiece and the closest I skates to the fringes of post-rock, while robotic bleeps and burps evoke the chilly world of electronica on the aptly titled "Robot Strings?" (To Rococo Rot fans, take note). Even Buffalo Daughter's straightest tracks invariably contain some element of the unexpected, even if it's as simple as the women's highly accented English. Yet despite its flat-out weirdness, I is more satisfying than annoying. This marvelous aural curio owes as much to what it doesn't have--namely, any relation to almost anything else you've ever heard--as to what it does. --Kim Hughes

Product Description

Always known for being adventurous and innovative in their music exploration, Buffalo Daughter are back with their most mature release to date. Featured on the records are Money Mark, John McEntire (Tortoise/Sea & Cake) and Shonen Knife's Naoko Yamano. 13 tracks. Emperor Norton Records. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I," me and mine, September 30, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I (Audio CD)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- but that doesn't mean you can't keep it evolving.
And while Buffalo Daughter doesn't quite reach the crazy heights of their sophomore album, third album "I" is a polished, sophisticated piece of DJ-turntablist rock/pop/electronica. Just try to classify this baby.

The core of "I" is "Discotheque Du Paradis," a bizarrely engaging dance track that mingles sprawling keyboards, humorous songwriting and strange, exotic sound effects. It's not like any other dance pop song you've ever heard. But Buffalo Daughter shows their softer sides in songs like "Ivory," an angelic-voiced bit of ethereal pop, not to mention a mingling of shimmery electronica, Led Zep-esque rockers, indie rock and their unique brand of... I don't know what to call it. "Aural construction," perhaps...

It's hard to create a follow-up to an album like "New Rock," with its funky blend of electro and rock. Buffalo Daughter doesn't sound quite as gung-ho and exuberant here, but they still have that freaky fun sound. Not to mention "Robot Sings (As If He Were Frank Sinatra with a Half-Boiled Egg and the Salt Shaker on a Breakfast Table)," one of the best song titles I've ever heard.

They cram this album full of different styles, from punk to airy angel-pop to robot rock. It's a bit more polished and less rough-around-the-edges than their previous releases, although at times it sounds TOO polished. There's some almost sensuous keyboard and some solid guitar riffs, which you can find if you're not too dazzled by the robot bleeps and gongs. Not to mention the the robot vocals, jungle noises and birdie songs.

In a way, it's too busy -- "I" is so densely packed with sound that you may have to go lie down afterwards. It could have used a few less sound effects here and there, and somewhat less intense use of what they do have. But it can't be faulted for impact -- it's impossible to forget once you've finished listening.

While "I" isn't quite as good as "New Rock," Buffalo Daughter is still in fine form with their third album. It could have used some sound editing, but it's good as a wild ride through an exploding funhouse.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little different than other BD albums, but still very good, March 9, 2002

By 

Mallory Jankowski (Gold Canyon, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I (Audio CD)

Even though "I" strays a bit from the Buffalo Daughter "norm", speaking as a huge fan, it was definatley not a disappointment to me. All the songs have a beautiful melodic charm to them topped off with suGar and Yumiko's soothing vocals. Some of my favorites from I are "Mirror Ball", "Discothèque Du Paradis", and the title track "I". Mirror Ball includes a very simple set of lyrics with a gorgeous background melody. Discothèque Du Paradis sounds just like the title. It's a little something to dance to. The eigth track, I, provides a set of happy lyrics and a chance for me to fall in love with their accents again. The flute creates a very relaxing mood, always a bonus with Buffalo Daughter. This wonderful album was definetlty worth the wait, and I'd recommend it it any Japanese Pop/Shibuya-Kei fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I, me and mine, July 11, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I (Audio CD)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- but that doesn't mean you can't keep it evolving. And while Buffalo Daughter doesn't quite reach the crazy heights of their sophomore album, third album "I" is a polished, sophisticated piece of DJ-turntablist rock/pop/electronica. Just try to classify this baby.

The core of "I" is "Discotheque Du Paradis," a bizarrely engaging dance track that mingles sprawling keyboards, humorous songwriting and strange, exotic sound effects. It's not like any other dance pop song you've ever heard. But Buffalo Daughter shows their softer sides in songs like "Ivory," an angelic-voiced bit of ethereal pop, not to mention a mingling of shimmery electronica, Led Zep-esque rockers, indie rock and their unique brand of... I don't know what to call it. "Aural construction," perhaps...

It's hard to create a follow-up to an album like "New Rock," with its funky blend of electro and rock. Buffalo Daughter doesn't sound quite as gung-ho and exuberant here, but they still have that freaky fun sound. Not to mention "Robot Sings (As If He Were Frank Sinatra with a Half-Boiled Egg and the Salt Shaker on a Breakfast Table)," one of the best song titles I've ever heard.

They cram this album full of different styles, from punk to airy angel-pop to robot rock. It's a bit more polished and less rough-around-the-edges than their previous releases, although at times it sounds TOO polished. There's some almost sensuous keyboard and some solid guitar riffs, which you can find if you're not too dazzled by the robot bleeps and gongs. Not to mention the the robot vocals, jungle noises and birdie songs.

In a way, it's too busy -- "I" is so densely packed with sound that you may have to go lie down afterwards. It could have used a few less sound effects here and there, and somewhat less intense use of what they do have. But it can't be faulted for impact -- it's impossible to forget once you've finished listening.

While "I" isn't quite as good as "New Rock," Buffalo Daughter is still in fine form with their third album. It could have used some sound editing, but it's good as a wild ride through an exploding funhouse.