Disco de Deerhoof: “Friend Opportunity”

There is really nothing like Deerhoof: they are very nearly a genre unto themselves.

There's a kind of schtick to many of their songs that's actually quite simple, but somehow in their capable, curious hands, it never really gets old. That schtick is the juxtaposition of Satomi's sweet, almost child-like, innocent voice, sandwiched between a wall of lacerating guitar peals from John Dieterich and perhaps the most inspired drummer currently alive, the utterly ferocious yet gracious Greg Saunier. This trio combines to make unexpected choices that are hard to predict even after you've already heard the album.

But it isn't experimentation merely for the sake of being shocking or different. It's melodic ... it's more like cramming several songs into one. In a way Deerhoof sounds like hyperactive children with incredible imaginations, too bored by the standard verse/chorus/verse structure to stick with it for a whole song.

On this album they are perhaps slightly more conventional than on previous releases, but the results are no less inspired and there is certainly no compromise here. The opening track, "The Perfect Me" belongs right up there with the best the band has ever recorded. They apparently used some kind of special equipment to get the full, thundering sound of this song and it paid off big time. It's like a pinball machine going full tilt in your head. Deerhoof try on some new hats on this album, venturing into a quasi-ballad with "Whither the Invisible Birds?" and even tiptoeing into hip-hop with the delightfully strange and irregular-time "Kidz Are So Small."

I love this band because they are totally unafraid of taking chances; they do whatever the hell they want, and if they succeed or fail, it's on their terms. The only disappointment for me is the last track, "Look Away," which just feels too long for what it accomplishes. The album really deserves four and a half stars owing to that weak link, but the band's great anyways, so five stars it is.

Pick it up and turn it up.

I'm always looking for good prog rock, experimental etc...whatever you want to call it. Been listerning since the late 60's early 70's to everything from Zappa, Van Der Graaf, PFM, Genesis, T-heads, Yes ....you get the drift. Bought this CD (like many others I've bought) just to try something new. My first impression after a few tunes was...guess this ones gonna be collecting dust! But, I stuck to it and listened to the whole CD with an open mind. A lot of little things, quirky things, odd things jumped out at me...some cool melodies, guitar riffs, moments of dissonant chaos followed by structure. Music that I honestly can't say I've heard, or imagined before. Wow! This album has grown on me. I've already bought 3 more or their previous releases and am looking forward to giving in to the unusual and addicting music that is deerhoof.

A musical cornucopia of lickalicious japanesque sound-bytes heavily reminiscent of Pizzicato Five-Blonde Redhead-Fiery Furnaces with a dash of Asobi Seksu and Bjork-y vocals.

The whole sensation of listening to Deerhoof leaves you a bit (dare I say peppy) dizzy-happy-like-sipping-your-champagne too fast and downing bags full of candy all at the same time. It's true what everyone says, you'll either love `em or hate `em, but you can be sure that you've never heard anything quite like them.

Every time I listen to this CD, I keep seeing candy canes and lollipops! The carnivale just came to town. Actually they are coming to the City on the 30th! Brilliantly imaginative, quirky, surprising and highly recommended!

I picked this album up a few weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised that I like this album. It's converted me from a Deerhoof doubter to fan.

This album isn't for everyone...but it's for me. Child-like, sweet and infectious. The album's worth a buy, if just for the extraordinarily cute, adorable song +81. Believe E.S.P. is another gem. Deerhoof's album is like recorded Dadaism (or an abstract experimental painting). Yeah, I said before when reviewing Apple O that they reminded me of Blonde Redhead. But now, in a good, fresh way).

I was very much looking forward to this CD, and even skipped class to go and buy it the day it came out. I had downloaded and listened to +81 when they released it online and loved the song, still do. However, I think this CD as a whole was very disappointing. Independently, most of the songs are fun and catchy, and a much more mature Deerhoof. But the album itself is just not cohesive, it doesn't fit together. I think the big reason for this is the inclusion of "Look Away" as basically the second half (last third actually) of the album. Like I said, the songs are fun and catchy, but they only last 20 minutes, and then they added on this 11 minute rambling guitar jam. It breaks the mood set by the first 9 songs, and to be honest, I just don't think that the album has the energy of previous releases.

If this is your first foray into Deerhoof, I'd recommend one of their earlier albums, The Runners Four is what did it for me. This is by no means a bad album, it just isn't that great.

(They're currently offering downloads on their website which include an abridged version of Look Away titled "Look Away Pt. 2", I think it is much better than the album version, look it up)