Search - Deerhoof :: Friend Opportunity

Friendly opportunity

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 01/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say about Deerhoof that hasn't already been said? Insane, experimental, catchy, and wildly unpredictable.



And listeners can be reassured that they have definitely not sold out with "Friend Opportunity," their latest collection of completely insane pop-rock. It has a few weak tracks, but some new instrumentation twists keep it sounding fresh.



It opens with a frenetic guitar melody overlaid with ominous-sounding keyboard and a few sweeps of synth. The demented, catchy melody is sprinkled with Satomi Matsuzaki's childlike vocals, as she sings sweetly, "Cry out, cry out... meet me, meet me."



And with a blast of trumpets, they veer into the synth-speckled, rough indie-rock of "+81," before trying out some other styles. Without rhyme or reason, I add. They'll try anything at all: sparkling funk, hard-rock ballads, frantic noiserock, mischievous glitchpop, and a shimmering piano ballad in "Whither the Invisible Birds".



Right up to the twelve-minute finale, the schizophrenic "Look Away" that tries out half a dozen styles, from shoegazer to spacerock. It gets more and more hypnotic as it descends into chaos, before suddenly settling into a soft ballad..



One of the first things to know about Deerhoof is that they have no fixed "sound." Another is that they'll craft a chaotic rock melody out of any sound, and change dramatically if things get too dull. In fact, the only lackluster track here is one that stays too long in one style.



And they're still in fine form, with rapid-fire percussion, staccato piano, twinkly synth, swirling guitars, and what sounds like a mellotron (or an organ?). In fact, all these sounds mesh together with lots of littler sounds -- they will make a guitar melody sparkle with synth, and throw in some blats and cowbells too. It's brilliant.



Matsuzaki has the exact voice you WOULDN'T expect from a band like this -- clear, pure and sweet. I guess it has to be, if she's going to be heard over the music. And though the lyrics are hard to hear, they sound pretty humorous and plasantly unpretentious.



Deerhoof don't disappoint in their ninth album, the wonderful "Friend Opportunity." Completely insane, and very entertaining."

A Knife in the Back of Pop Expectations

Hieronymous D | Los Angeles, CA USA | 08/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Friend Opportunity...Their New Heavy "Pop" Release

Chris G. | IL USA | 03/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Deerhoof is a indie trio on the Kill Rock Stars label; and definately an absolute joyous Blast of chaotic Bliss to listen to. Heavy and experimental w/ Satomi's charming Japanese voice.

Singing "Cryout....Cryouut...-through a whirlwind of heavy storm wall-wall guitar thrash - "The Perfect Me"

Although I do prefer their earlier releases like Reveille, Runner's Four and Milkman it seems like with "Friend Opportunity" - Deerhoof is searching closer to a more pop FRIEND-ly accessible album, a bit of a change and in some ways they just keep getting better and better with this more cohesive work.

Deerhoof started as a band in 1994; and features lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki who also plays bass- a sweet & beatiful Japanese voice, John Dieterich on guitar, and drummer Greg Saunier.

FRIEND OPPORTUNITY, released on Jan. 23 2007 & is Deerhoof's newest and "poppiest" (but still heavy)effort to date. And their 8th full-length, with 10 short tracks clocking in at 36 minutes. The band recently toured w/ Radiohead. Other tour-mates in past times include Wilco, The Roots, and Sonic Youth.

The songs are more infectious than ever. More simple - but still complex compared to many other bands; but Deerhoof is more experimental and chaotic w/ sweet childlike vocals. This album's cover art is done by Scottish artist: David Shrigley, along with 11 other covers inside (by him as well). My favorite song is "Believe E.S.P." - Start-stop rockin' dance tune and to me one of their best. If you like Deerhoof (even if you don't) & you haven't heard this - Check it out!"