CD Review: Deerhoof
"Friend Opportunity"
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: The Edge
- Page 1 of 1
What would happen if Wolfmother, MIA and Mars Volta had an orgy with a petite, female Japanese vocalist? Among other things, Deerhoof would happen.
The San Francisco band, formed in 1994, is finally receiving some well-deserved attention for its new album, "Friend Opportunity." Not only did the band nail down the opening slot for Radiohead's last tour, its new single, "+ 81," is close enough to radio-friendly to get some airplay.
"+ 81" is split up into several different moods: shiny trumpets and marching band drum rolls escort a rocking guitar riff into a happy-go-lucky chorus of "Choo-Choo-Choo-Choo Beep Beep." This is the most accessible song on the album.
Deerhoof gets the Led out on the heavy opening track "The Perfect Me" with syncopated woodblocks and Deep Purple-like organs. "Kidz Are So Small" presents a minimalist electronic riff intentionally disconnected from the thumping bass. There's an ethereal, spacey feeling to the piano ballad "Whither Invisible Birds," which is followed up by the boisterous opening to "Cast Off Crown."
The only continuity in the album comes from Satomi Matsuzaki, the vocalist and bassist. Not a native English speaker and vocally untrained, Matsuzaki's infantile singing could easily be grating. But when Matsuzaki muses on "Kidz Are So Small": "If I were man and you a dog, I'd throw a stick for you," she's irresistibly adorable. It comes off as charming and helps to unite this potential sonic disaster.
In an era where most music is refined and polished to a shiny luster, Deerhoof's rough edges are refreshing. But there seems to be a method to the madness.
"Matchbook Seeks Maniac" is a track that proves the band can work together to create a coherent, simple pop song. They use the somewhat normal instrumentation of drums, guitar, bass and organ. Matsuzaki even turns off the oddness for a song and performs straight-laced.
As if on cue, Deerhoof follows up this song with the noisy 12-minute "Look Away." Honestly titled, this composition displays Deerhoof's potential to go off the deep end and make bad, noisy "music." This track is the only downside on the otherwise gleaming album.
"Friend Opportunity" is a stunning concoction. It's a tightly wound mess of sounds and throughout the course of a single song, the mood can range from pleasant to discordant. It's jarringly wonderful.
-Chris Rossett
edge staff
The San Francisco band, formed in 1994, is finally receiving some well-deserved attention for its new album, "Friend Opportunity." Not only did the band nail down the opening slot for Radiohead's last tour, its new single, "+ 81," is close enough to radio-friendly to get some airplay.
"+ 81" is split up into several different moods: shiny trumpets and marching band drum rolls escort a rocking guitar riff into a happy-go-lucky chorus of "Choo-Choo-Choo-Choo Beep Beep." This is the most accessible song on the album.
Deerhoof gets the Led out on the heavy opening track "The Perfect Me" with syncopated woodblocks and Deep Purple-like organs. "Kidz Are So Small" presents a minimalist electronic riff intentionally disconnected from the thumping bass. There's an ethereal, spacey feeling to the piano ballad "Whither Invisible Birds," which is followed up by the boisterous opening to "Cast Off Crown."
The only continuity in the album comes from Satomi Matsuzaki, the vocalist and bassist. Not a native English speaker and vocally untrained, Matsuzaki's infantile singing could easily be grating. But when Matsuzaki muses on "Kidz Are So Small": "If I were man and you a dog, I'd throw a stick for you," she's irresistibly adorable. It comes off as charming and helps to unite this potential sonic disaster.
In an era where most music is refined and polished to a shiny luster, Deerhoof's rough edges are refreshing. But there seems to be a method to the madness.
"Matchbook Seeks Maniac" is a track that proves the band can work together to create a coherent, simple pop song. They use the somewhat normal instrumentation of drums, guitar, bass and organ. Matsuzaki even turns off the oddness for a song and performs straight-laced.
As if on cue, Deerhoof follows up this song with the noisy 12-minute "Look Away." Honestly titled, this composition displays Deerhoof's potential to go off the deep end and make bad, noisy "music." This track is the only downside on the otherwise gleaming album.
"Friend Opportunity" is a stunning concoction. It's a tightly wound mess of sounds and throughout the course of a single song, the mood can range from pleasant to discordant. It's jarringly wonderful.
-Chris Rossett
edge staff
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