Customer Reviews

La Mia Vita Violenta

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't remember why I got this album. Like most great finds I think I heard a track on the college radio and went to purchase it immediately. They have been known to rock on this one like Dirty-era Sonic Youth. "I Still Get My Rocks Off" and "I am There While You Choke On Me" absolutely kick. The quieter stuff is hypnotic. I added "Young Neil" for a friend's compilation tape just for one amazing chord change deep into the song. If you're reading this you're most likely a fan of experimental guitar rock. This album does not disappoint! PS- The songs sound even better live.

This album is brilliant. If you enjoyed Loveless from My Bloody Valentine or Goo or Dirty from Sonic youth, you'll probably like La Mia Vita Violenta. It has a great balance of slow dreamy numbers and ear drum popping rockers. I saw Blonde Redhead a couple of weeks ago in San Francisco and they blew me away. The songs that they performed form this album were particularly good. For three skinny little people, they sure know how to make a lot of noise.

I got their self-titled debut a little while ago, and it completely blew me away--it had power, beauty, screaming, great male and female vocals and unconventionally played guitars. I just had to get some of their other albums. This album, their second, continues the winning streak (and so does their third album, "Fake Can Be Just As Good."). This one is different because there's a lot more beauty to it, mixed in with the chaos and power. Just wish they would put on a concert in my area.

When I first heard the name Blonde Redhead I was reading the flyer for a fugazi show I was going to attend (they almost never come to the west coast). Well, I figured it would be some silly girl band that sang about how they hated people like me...but waited none the less to see them. On comes a girl and a couple twin guys...and a bass player and up starts one of the most beautiful surprises I've had of my life. To put it simply, they rocked. The screaching guitars mixed with beautiful choas of their screaching female vocalist was enough for me, I was in love. To back it up, their other guitarist, one of the twins, can certainly hold his own on a mic. I think the highlight of the night was hearing someone yell "you suck" during a break in their song and hearing 2000 other little punk rock kids yell "shut up!" as they bounced their silly little hair around. Mi viva violenta doesn't quite capture the power of their live shows..but adds a bit of beauty in the recording. Buy their stuff...and more importantly...see them play live!

the vocals the guitars wow blonde redhead rather subtly knocked me out when i first heard this...i was like Yo that's decent and then i just. couldn't. get. enough.

Ultimately a better produced expansion to their debut, I would have liked to have seen these first two albums compiled onto one release to make a stronger debut since they both apparently were released in the same year. Vocals are beginning to come into their own, piercing yet inviting screams and all for the female, but her counterpart's delivery feels bland in comparison. The jagged beauty of most songs are pointing at better things to come, they were simply intent at remaining more "indie" then their songwriting would end up suggesting at this point.

Some albums seduce with their sound (produced by a combination of playing, mixing, and mastering). This is one of those. On some tracks, guitar lines that add harmonic interest are barely audible, but can somehow be "heard" as a dominant element. "UFO" ends with a descending vamp reminiscent of the Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Third Stone from the Sun", and contains all the outa-space droning quality of that tune. "Harmony" successfully unites sitar with down-tempo rock. On "Bean", the male and female vocals, both naive and imperfect, are embedded in the music just enough to draw in the listener. I'm not going to try to comment on the lyrics.

Like many great and influential bands - Led Zepelin, The Dead Kennedys, The Smiths, Sleater-Kinney - on first listen, you may find the vocals irritating (much like Squeaky Fromme singing love ballads to Charles Manson)... until by the third listen you realize the genius of it. But while you were trying to wrap your head around the vocals, the guitars and melody lines have gotten you hooked like crackhead to 'pipe and there's no going back. Beware, one Blonde Redhead CD will have you buying all 20 and wanting more. La Mia Vita Violente is the gateway drug.

This album is essential. Blonde Redhead play it even better live.

this band, and especially kazu's vocals, carry an exquisite beauty that is indescribable in the english language. i went to see them live in cleveland and they cancelled due to illness. my heart was shattered. if anyone knows of shows coming up, or a way to get info, get me at why.who@mailcity.com