7. 23 (2007)

What could have been a messy fling outside of their comfort zone, the Blonde Redhead’s first effort for 4AD saw them seamlessly infuse their sound with an influence of shoegaze. We’re introduced to genre-marriage with the eponymous first track and, while it appears throughout, it’s done best with “Spring And By Summer Fall,” “Dr. Strangeluv,” and “Publisher.” While it’s not an experiment gone awry, where 23 suffers is its ending. Penultimate cut “Top Ranking” is a signature BRH closer, as it veers just slightly out of the lane they’ve been cruising the entirety of the album to leave the listener with a new thing to ponder. Its final track “My Impure Hair” also delivers, but its weird take on folk is too far gone and almost dismantles the entire package.