Blonde Redhead

Lacking the in-your-face hooks or gimmicks the might have put them on the path to radio stardom, Blonde Redhead’s seventh album should at least continue the trio’s gradual upward career arc—pleasing old fans and winning new ones. Picking up where 2004’s Misery Is a Butterfly left off, 23’s rolling melodies, lush production and haunting vocals carry the band further away from discursive indie rock and into dense, dreamy pop. Also, this time around, there’s a happier, nearly sunny feel. References to other bands—Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, even Black Sabbath and maybe a touch of the Beatles—apparently can’t be avoided. The comparisons aren’t wrong; it’s an impressively various set of influences, cohesively integrated. With confidence, this disc covers a lot of musical ground.