quote:

Originally posted by thefanste:
Deerhoof haven't yet quite made a flawless piece of work IMO.

Do you expect experimental music to be flawless?
Anyway, this might be that "flawless" album. My favourite Deerhoof-album is still Reveille, but I'm looking forward to see how Offend Maggie will hold up. It has so far made my obsession with Deerhoof even bigger. That sound of the bass on The tears and music of love is just awesome, and although I still can't figure out what Satomi is singing, I think she is the star of this album (which probably means it will not convince nay-sayers).

quote:

Originally posted by DimsiRupsi:

quote:

Originally posted by thefanste:
Deerhoof haven't yet quite made a flawless piece of work IMO.

Do you expect experimental music to be flawless?
Anyway, this might be that "flawless" album. My favourite Deerhoof-album is still Reveille, but I'm looking forward to see how Offend Maggie will hold up. It has so far made my obsession with Deerhoof even bigger. That sound of the bass on The tears and music of love is just awesome, and although I still can't figure out what Satomi is singing, I think she is the star of this album (which probably means it will not convince nay-sayers).

Well put. To ask a band to make a flawless album, in any genre, is something that most bands never manage. To my ears only around 20 records ever made could be considered flawless.

As for Deerhoof, I'm a Friend Opportunity man myself, and I think it's pretty close to perfect.

Yeah I guess I didn't really mean flawless literally - I don't actually believe there is such a thing as flawless music, or a flawless album. On all of Deerhoof's records for me there is a few songs which I could listen to on repeat for days, but it's balanced out by a number which I'm not really huge on. Basically I'm just hoping the best is still to come.

The Runner Fours is their least experimental release and -- if you're already on board with the band -- nearly flawless, for what it's worth. It contains the idiosyncrasies that make the band unique, but they're packaged in a classic rock archtype of an album, and an epic one at that. I like it most from this band.

This is another great Deerhoof album, its not any better or worse than any of the others. They're really all equally great if you ask me. When I first heard "Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back" the only think I could think of was that my 4 year old would love it (and she did). What other band could you say that about and have it make sense and be a good thing?

i'm waiting for the physical release to come out, so that just in case their ever forgotten (which i really really hope they aren't!!!) there'll be something for future generations to remember this awesome, bizarre band by

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
What other band could you say that about and have it make sense and be a good thing?

The White Stripes.

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
What other band could you say that about and have it make sense and be a good thing?

The White Stripes.

Perhaps... but not NEARLY to the same extent...

I've stated this in the Best of thread, but I am torn by this album.

Musically, it is incredible. Vocally and lyrically, it is at times painful. Perhaps after repeated listens, I will be less and less annoyed by the school girl vocals, but right now I'm not feeling the love for Offend Maggie.

Deerhoof is one of the best bands in the world. Best album of the year. I'm seeing them on Saturday in Denver and I can't wait. I 'm so pleased to know that one of my favorite bands will stay under the radar and I will continue to be able to enjoy them as an amazing band that other people overlook or outright dislike. And when I meet other people with the same passion for the band, it will truely mean something. Not like, oh really, you like Arcade Fire too! It's important for me that certain bands I enjoy from their early careers remain untouched my the hype-machine and general public. Jeff Tweedy and I obviously would get along well.

I have never got round to checking out deerhoof other than an odd track here and there, from that limited basis i can see where people are coming from with the voice as its something that hits you straight away. However, as can be seen from this thread, they divide opinion and in quite extreme measures which i must say makes me now want to go and make the time to listen to them properly.

I actually think that Offend Maggie is a good primer, for those interested in dipping a toe into the Deerhoof ouevre. It's much more accessible than some of their other releases, and the guitar work is, as always, stunning.

Satomi is a dealbreaker for a lot of folks, and I think she's a bit more restrained here. But, yeah, her vocals are still twee and precious as hell. My 11 year old daughter loves it even more than I do.

I have the iTunes version, and think the demos and remixes are pretty forgettable. The album, proper, is likely to end up in my top ten, certainly my top twenty.

I agree with kendo's assessment that this is a good album to start with for new fans. I have five Deerhoof albums and none of them ever resonated with me but with this new one and revisiting their previous releases, something is beginning to click. This isn't to say that I really like the band yet but they are coming around and I might be a real fan of the band by the end of the year.

I've always appreciated their musicianship and as a core of gifted talents, I was always intrigued by their compositions. However, Satomi was the deal breaker for me and her vocals hindered my appreciation. Now, I can hear her as another instrument to the mix and it works well.

Also, I bought myself a CD copy of the album but I noticed the vinyl version is starkly different than the CD copy. The sequencing is much different; does anyone own the vinyl copy? They are coming here in a month and I plan to buy a copy of it at the concert but I wonder if it sounds very different because of this.

Yeah, this new album is pretty damn good I think. Not in the same league as Reveille, Milk Man, or The Runners Four of course, but my initial reaction is that I like it more than Friend Opportunity, an album I also liked quite a bit. It's sparse, angular, riff-rocky, with some great intertwining guitar licks. And of course those quintessential Deerhoof sugary sweet pop hooks. Good stuff.

Yeah, there are some great hooks on this album. The music is nicely juxtaposed between tight, catchy songs and longer, fleshed-out, pieces of music.

I don't know what it is but I am drawn to the longer songs on the album. And this isn't due to quality because the shorter songs are just as good. I just feel like the band really shows off their musicianship on the longer stuff. There are some cluster chords, harsh dissonant chords and I think I even hear some stacked 7th chords here and there; not to mention the great percussion.

I'd say this album and the band are growers. Pretty great album and a lot more people should check it out.

Okay. I've got a really stupid question about the album.

Are all of the songs in English? I think there are only two songs on which I can understand any of the lyrics.

Are any of the songs in Japanese?

I'm totally confused.

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy:
Okay. I've got a really stupid question about the album.

Are all of the songs in English? I think there are only two songs on which I can understand any of the lyrics.

Are any of the songs in Japanese?

I'm totally confused.

Most of the album is sung in Japanese. Don't worry.

In the 'fork interview, Kevin Barnes states repeatedly that Deerhoof is one of his favorite bands. Along with Animal Collective, Fiery Furnaces, Caribou, and Gang Gang Dance.

Kevin Barnes is a Pitchfork zombie!

quote:

Originally posted by kendocubano:
In the 'fork interview, Kevin Barnes states repeatedly that Deerhoof is one of his favorite bands. Along with Animal Collective, Fiery Furnaces, Caribou, and Gang Gang Dance.

Kevin Barnes is a Pitchfork zombie!

For a guy with crappy taste in music, he sure writes some decent tunes.

Too bad for you, Animal Collective are a great band--and Deerhoof is getting more respect from me.