23 (Blonde Redhead album)

Untitled

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.

Background

The album is the first to be self-produced by the band, 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 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-racking 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 band 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."

Track listing

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

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"

Notes

• 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.
• The closing track, "My Impure Hair," includes the line "You stroke my impure heart"; the word "hair" is never used.
• The song "23" was/is used to advertise "skins" on Channel 4 in the U.K.
• The song "Spring and by Summer Fall" was used in the Numb3rs episode "Robin Hood" (Season 4 Episode 5)