“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
That’s how Muhammad Ali famously described himself during his prime time between the ropes. Now entering the ring ... a living, breathing, walking, talking, singing ... Madame Butterfly.
As in Australian singer-songwriter Butterfly Boucher (pronounced Bow-cher, without the French inflection), who’s in a fight of her own. Like many musicians doing anything to get heard these days, this charming performer, the middle child of seven daughters, is reaching out to promote herself and her stylized and sophisticated blend of fem-friendly pop-rock.
Her second album, Scary Fragile, was released on June 2, which coincided with her 30th birthday. How did she celebrate? By participating in a live web chat on UStream.
Not exactly the most glamorous way for a challenger to get back in the game, but Butterfly (the name was suggested by a family friend) is ready to come out swinging.
Eventually dropped by A&M Records after she and producer David Kahne delivered the follow-up effort to her 2003 debut, Flutterby, in January 2006, Boucher knows what it’s like to brush herself off and get back on her feet.
Scary Fragile contains breezy songs that do float and edgy lyrics that do sting, a contrasting collection of 11 tunes. Hard-hitting punches (“Just One Tear”) and quick jabs (“Keeper”) are countered with bob-and-weave moves (“Scary Fragile”) that nearly lull you to sleep. Most of them are about as long as a three-minute round in a prizefight. Only the referee is missing.
Even as the album opens with the zesty “I Found Out,” Butterfly takes a deep breath, planning to go the distance. And she nearly does, belting out, “I found out I can only be who I am / I can only do what I can / I won’t try to describe the relief,” as the drums pound alongside a booming bass and soaring guitars, all of which Boucher learned to play herself.
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