by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Released June 11, 2021 via KGLW
Reviewed June 24, 2021
Top tracks (based on community voting)
Shanghai (59%), Interior People (50%), Catching Smoke (38%)
In a lot of ways, King Gizz’ recent surprise release, Butterfly 3000, is a lot like their debut, 12 Bar Bruise (2012), but softer. After their brief but intriguing electronic detour on “Intrasport” from K.G. (2020), it is nice to see King Gizz maintain consistent quality while exploring this new ground. There are tons of catchy synth lines strewn everywhere, masterfully interwoven between alt-rock instrumentation, like the different shades of green emerging across a birdwing butterfly’s wingspan. Sometimes they melt into one another, reflected in 3000’s smooth transitions — especially on the last track. There were several moments that made me raise an eyebrow, though: the melodic similarities between “Interior People” and one of their last big singles, “Honey,” for example, or when the muted vocal effects returned. It makes Stu sound like a living pillow, which can fit in some cases, like “Yours”, but not in others, like “Black Hot Soup”. While the concept of this record could’ve been better as a succinct but sweet EP, Butterfly 3000 does deliver. If you’re used to the sound of King Gizz’ recent efforts, this will be a fine excursion, but if you’re expecting a return to brash form, you may need to reorient your mindset before starting this. Calm, detailed, and composed, Butterfly 3000 gracefully flutters through the airwaves and leaves a lasting impression. – Cam (8/10)
18 albums into their career, the prolific King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are still finding ways to shift their sound while maintaining a consistent level of quality. Butterfly 3000 shows us a synth-focused record, seemingly channeling the energy of Mort Garson’s masterpiece Plantasia to create a warm, beautiful world of gorgeous sounds and playful intuition. The group takes to the sound well, utilizing their tight chemistry to coagulate together a world of otherworldly atmosphere while keeping their trademark sound intact. It is impressive that that they continue to push themselves to new avenues at almost every turn, given how established they are and how easily identifiable their sound is. Not their absolute best, but another great record for these Australian trailblazers. – Jared (8/10)
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, the shape-shifting Aussie ensemble, release their second album of 2021 in Butterfly 3000 to great psychedelic delight. Warm and cozy textures take to the foreground to produce a work of great worth—soft and squishy in nature. Backed by serene synthesizer sequences, the effervescent aspects of King Gizz's repertoire are at their most poignant on Butterfly 3000. It is the perfect soundtrack for a neglected Sunday morning clear out. At this stage, King Gizz could release an hour of silence and do it well; all jokes aside, we're at the helm of a once in a lifetime group of musicians. Acts like these don't come around very often. The Australian scene is at the forefront of the contemporary zeitgeist, and it is being led by King Gizz and their never-ending output. While it may not be their best work to date, it's hard to dismiss their willingness to alternate while also remaining above a certain standard. – Peter (7.5/10)
Cam: 8/10 | Dominick: 8/10 | DeVán: 7.5/10
Jared: 7.5/10 | Peter: 7.5/10 | Enth: 7/10
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