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Post by ganews on Dec 1, 2021 22:55:44 GMT -5
As chosen by this year's Secret Santa moimoi, the album of the month is Deerhoof, "The Magic". Post your thoughts below!
Here's the Spotify playlist
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Post by pantsgoblin on Dec 2, 2021 0:27:16 GMT -5
Saw 'em in 2001 at The Ranch in Columbia, MO. Which, true to its name, was an adobe house in an unincorporated field in the middle of the town, where bands played in the basement with truly lousy sound. The trio still rocked hard, though.
Listening now. Kind of a placeholder album, with some cringey vocal moments from the dudes, in this often-terrific band's career. I'm honestly curious about why we should revisit this one in 2021.
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patbat
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Post by patbat on Dec 2, 2021 11:42:41 GMT -5
I'm about halfway through the album so far and I'm really digging it. I first became a casual Deerhoof fan with Reveille, so this is pretty different so far; a lot more cohesive and less shambolic than what I'm accustomed to from them, but still recognizably Deerhoof. In fact I'd probably go so far as to say that The Magic may ultimately replace Milk Man as the Deerhoof album I'd play for someone who'd never heard them before to try to get them into the band.
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Post by Some Kind of Munster on Dec 2, 2021 14:20:03 GMT -5
Curious to listen to this and try to determine if Deerhoof were the deer band I liked or if that was hunter or tick
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patbat
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Post by patbat on Dec 2, 2021 15:15:23 GMT -5
Curious to listen to this and try to determine if Deerhoof were the deer band I liked or if that was hunter or tick What if it was Dear Hunter or Dear and the Headlights or just Deer or |
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Post by Some Kind of Munster on Dec 2, 2021 15:31:00 GMT -5
Curious to listen to this and try to determine if Deerhoof were the deer band I liked or if that was hunter or tick What if it was Dear Hunter or Dear and the Headlights or just Deer or Oh shit, now I remember - it was The Dears |
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Dec 2, 2021 22:44:32 GMT -5
Kind of a placeholder album, with some cringey vocal moments from the dudes, in this often-terrific band's career. I'm honestly curious about why we should revisit this one in 2021. I had a really hard time settling on which album to listen to, since we have a wide range of musical sensibilities in this group. I ruled out anything pre-Apple O' as too rough and experimental (like, most of the songs are 2 minutes or under). Apple O' is considered their 'breakthrough', but to me it's still, for the most part, identifiably indie rock in the vein of The Pixies et al. crossed with Zappa. Same with Offend Maggie and Future Teenage Cave Artists (which I also considered) - If you're not on the band's crunchy lo-fi wavelength from the first couple tracks, it will be an absolutely tedious listening experience because they don't really mix things up until at least halfway in. Other strong contenders were the relatively accessible Friend Opportunity, Deerhoof vs. Evil, La Isla Bonita, and Actually, You Can. Two of those are not available for streaming in their entirety via Youtube (because I'm no fan of Spotify) and I wanted something longer than 30 minutes. Since I'm not a fan of the electronica-heavy Breakup Song, that left me with either Mountain Moves or The Magic, more recent and thus more sonically eclectic collections that are (IMO) consistent enough to engage a casual or first-time listener. Like, there are more fleshed-out songs. Ultimately I settled on The Magic because I think it showcases the band's strengths without the distraction of tons of guest stars. Also, I like that Satomi doesn't do all the vocals, because her vocals are a big turnoff for some people. |
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Dec 3, 2021 0:48:48 GMT -5
Bandcamp version in its entirety: deerhoof.bandcamp.com/album/the-magicSo generally, what I like about Deerhoof is their unique capacity to be experimental, but not esoteric; adventurous, but not alienating; eclectic, but not totally incoherent. You get the sense that they'll try anything, but they're not totally self-indulgent (like, say, early Dirty Projectors). In a year in which no one knew what was coming next and heading into even more uncertainty, I like the openness and lightness this album conveys. Track-by-Track impressions 1. The Devil and his Anarchic Surrealist Retinue - Aside from some more fleshed-out songs with hooks and more discernable lyrics, one of the motifs of this album seems to be these high-angle guitar lines and high melodies that compliment Satomi Matsuzaki's voice. A strong, urgent opener. 2. Kafe Mania! - Putting the noise into noise pop here. For fans of the lo-fi crunch of earlier records, you get some of that. 3. That Ain't No Life To Me - Some straightforward garage rock to cleanse the palate and clear the way for smoother sounds to come. 4. Life is Suffering - I dig the conventional song structure and the little rave-up at the end. 5. Criminals of the Dream - This was the single, IIRC, and I think you can see how it kind of builds off the previous track. It's pretty psych rock. 6. Model Behavior - Funky and far out! 7. Learning to Apologize Effectively - This one nods to the Pixies indie-rock template, but still sounds airy and light. 8. Dispossessor - More psych/garage sounds with the cymbals flying. I feel like this is the palate-cleanser for the next batch of weirder tracks. 9. I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire - A lot of critics commented on how out of place this offbeat Ink Spots cover is. I can't really defend it, but at least it's short? 10. Acceptance Speech - This one has kind of an 80s rock chug that I don't particularly enjoy. It's underwhelming in comparison to their other stuff and definitely the low point of this album, IMO. 11. Patrasche Come Back - Really just an intro. 12. Debut - Tell me this isn't a jam. It's got funky drum breaks and a fun little hook. Plus I love that acid bass. 13. Plastic Thrills - Again, I like having multiple vocalists and mixing things up like Broken Social Scene or New Pornographers. 14. Little Hollywood - Just imagine this percussive cacophony played live. When you think it's turning into Big Beat Animal Collective, that guitar melody comes completely out of leftfield. 15. Nurse Me - A blast of prototypical Deerhoof stop-start fuckery to close. Those high pitched squeals are a delight. |
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Post by Djse (and a Sack of Cats) on Dec 8, 2021 17:28:40 GMT -5
Here's a Spotify link, in case that's your thing. I often confuse this band with Deertick (I know zero about either of their music). I'll do the whole listen-and-ramble thing later this week. |
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Post by ganews on Dec 9, 2021 10:53:45 GMT -5
After ten years of indie radio I'm sure I've heard something from the group at some point, but aside from vaguely recognizing the name I don't know what it would be. My general impression is positive. The more straightforward tracks were good enough, but without the occasional weird stuff to bridge I think this wouldn't be a very cohesive album. moimoi's comparison to the New Pornographers' dual vocals is good. My overall favorite track is the funk and chug "Debut". Some others start off strong with a good idea and then kind of fade, which is too bad - especially "Criminals of the Dream" where I like the contrast of chug and whatever that high note is, a distorted steel drum? before it cools off.
I'm perversely curious in the bass-and-harmonica act that apparently started this band.
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Post by Djse (and a Sack of Cats) on Dec 17, 2021 20:14:17 GMT -5
I once again come in relatively certain I've never heard this band, and have been confusing them with various other Deer-noun bands. Anyway here we go! OK we're starting off solid, but it definitely sounds like the people in this band all wanted to be in a different kind of band and this is where they landed. (Also kind of how I feel about Deafheaven, but I digress...) Lots of interesting twists and turns in this first track...and who doesn't love a big fat breakbeat? I read the title of the second song as "Kate Mania!" and wondered who the hell Kate was for the duration of that dirty-ass riff at the beginning of the song. I lost interest when that riff went away, and that's when I realized there was no Kate. Weird shift to "That Ain't No Life To Me". The everyone-wants-to-be-in-a-different-band thing is messing with the flow of this album a bit for me. "Life is Suffering" allllmost rips off "You Sexy Thing" and pulls up at the last second. Somewhat surprised "Criminals Of The Dream" was a single - it's once of the weakest songs on the album imo. I made it through the 5 minutes but only barely, and was immediately rewarded with the unhinged funk of "Model Behavior". This is a goofy groovefest. It sounds like they really wanted three bass lines going at once. "Learning To Apologize Effectively" would have been a better single. I caught myself improv humming along by the middle. The end of the song sounds like someone's very proud of some new chords they learned and really wanted to work them in somewhere, but other than that this is the standout for me. It is immediately followed by the forgettable "Dispossessor", which I agree works as a palate cleanser. "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" is bad filler garbage and they should feel bad for doing it.  I hope they had to pay the Ink Spots a shit-ton for this hot mess but I'm sure they didn't. There's a movie out there somewhere waiting to use "Acceptance Speech" in a montage. I imagine them performing "Patrasche Come Back" for or in tribute to a cat, probably after several bottles of wine. I like the combination of the P-Funk-esque bass, the floaty vocals, the heavy breakbeat, and the 1-2-3 progressions of crusty guitars in what I assume is the chorus of "Debut". This is where the everyone-in-a-different-band thing works for me. Then they take me completely out of it with this odd breakdown, but we get right back into it soon enough. This is a track begging for some 8 minute remixes. The vocals on the first verse of "Plastic Thrills" remind me of The Romantics meet Bryan Adams. I definitely prefer the 2nd verse by far. "Little Hollywood" would be worlds better live, and my guess is it would go for at least 4x as long. "Nurse Me" leaves the listener wanting more. This is probably what it would sound like if Mr. Bungle and Pizzicato Five recorded a single together. Good stuff for the most part. I'll probably even go listen to some other albums as long as I can remember which Deer band this is. Solid pick moimoi! |
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I hope they had to pay the Ink Spots a shit-ton for this hot mess but I'm sure they didn't.