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Yes

13 (59.1%)

No

9 (40.9%)

Total Members Voted: 13

Voting closed: 27 Apr 2006, 03:07

[Rizzo]

Ok so, because Tommydsky tells me that I have no soul because I don't like Deerhoof, I have downloaded 4 tracks and I shall now review them.

Sealed With A Kiss:
A series of what seem to be samples of a childrens orchestra arrange in bizzare patterns to give the semblance of order. The vocals are some hideously high pitched girl/woman thing singing nonsense. This is less melodic than Converge and a good ten times more painful.
Even at 256 kbps the quality of most of the instruments is hideous.

Gore In Rut:
Very very lofi instruments wailing with feedback and the singer chanting bunny bunny bunny and something about monster rabbits over this noise. This is like an indie band heard Blood Brothers and tryed to immitate them on a tenth the budget and a quarter of the musical ability.

Giga Dance:
I really like where the beginning of this song seems to be heading. It sounds like it may break into a really weird circus meets rock and roll vibe. Instead it hits slow recorders and organs with their creepy girlthing singer over the top again.
I like the chorus, I really do, it has a creepy 'murder at the circus' vibe.

Red Dragon:
Someone please murder the singer. I really like the actual music of this. It's simple, it's dream like. Her goddamn heroin fulled croaking over the top is just killing this for me. It makes me hate the band.

I really cannot see why people go in for this. I mean, there's obviously some redeeming features; at times the music is actually nice to listen to and the arrangements are interesting if a lot more dischordant than I'd like but good god is that singer awful.

Deerhoof, love or hate? Discuss now.

I got the tracks from this site. Can someone confirm this is infact deerhoof?

[Jenno]

It is indeed Deerhoof.

You would probably gain a better impression by downloading a entire album (perhaps The Runners Four or Apple O') and listening to the entirety in order.

[Rizzo]

I never said blood brothers were good. They were just the first band to spring to mind. And herion vocals because they remind me of Orchid and Circle Takes The Square, bands with their roots firmly in heroin.

[Rizzo]

No I mean the drug heroin.

Sex? I'm a n00b but I'm getting slowly better I think.

[Hat]

Man, if its ok with you Rizzo, I'm going to do a review here as well. If its not, well I kind of just did it.

Sorry.

I've only heard the Green Cosmos EP. It kind of gave me a headache, but I think this is mostly because "Come See The Duck" is pretty much the worst opening track for any CD I have ever heard. *

Almost every song except the opener has some kind of redeeming feature about it, but it wasn't that great.

Is this just a bad CD to base a sole review on? Should I listen to half their discography before I judge them?

I didn't actually mean to make a point there, but I kind of did anyway, so yay me. There are some bands that I had to listen to half their discography to get a feel for, before I go back over the stuff I didn't like intially, so I'm not trying to be snide or anything, but it is seriously hard to motivate yourself to do that unless you know people that own all their albums, and aren't just yelling at you to listen to them all the time

*Only a slight exagerration

[Rizzo]

In reference to Hat;

Deerhoof, love or hate? Discuss now.

Do what you want.

[KharBevNor]

Why listen to Deerhoof when they fucking suck? There is absolutely no reason that you should force yourself to listen to a shitload of music by a band you don't like if you just plain don't like it!

If you want to impress your friends by liking crazy different sounding stuff, why not listen to something good?

I recommend:

Carnival in Coal - Collection Prestige
Current 93 & Nurse With Wound - Bright Yellow Moon
Coil - Loves Secret Domain
Ephel Duath - The Painters Palette
Ewigkeit - Radio Ixtlan
Gaë Bolg and the Church of Fand - Tintagel
Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
The Residents - Animal Lover
Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows - La Chambre D'Echoe

None of these, of course, sound anything like Deerhoof, because Deerhoof are poopy. And of course, if you do not like a single one of these releases, your musical taste is of less value than soggy toilet paper, because, well, really, I fucking say so, and I rule.

[Jarne]

I love Deerhoof myself, but they aren't for everyone. Listen to "Wrong Time Capsule" from The Runners Four, and if you don't like that then you probably won't like any Deerhoof.

[jcknbl]

If you're bother by the voice and the dissonance then I recomend stuff from Runners Four, their latest (but if you have a probably with dissonance you're probably not going to like Deerhoof). I think they're moving away from the twee scream thing if thats you're only problem with the music- so maybe you'll like them in three albums.


Hat, I probably wouldn't suggest Green Cosmos as ideally representative of their material (I think that goes for most bands and EPs) but it isn't like wildly different or anything.

Anyways, yeah Deerhoof are awesome and great in concert.

[KharBevNor]

Man, you must have a wierd definition of metal that includes avant-garde tape manipulation, experimental world music, electronic rock, neo-folk, jazz/hardcore fusion and darkwave. Interesting! Ignorant!

You are a faux-elitist cunt who tries to be witty but fails in every thread.
You think you are being witty typing like this.
OMG I R SUBVERTING TEH STRUCTURE OF TEH POST I MUST BE LIEK JAMES JOYCE OR SOEMTHING.
We get it.
Thanks.

[Brian Majestic]

honestly, try and find 'the runners four' album by deerhoof to listen to it all the way through. i didn't like any of my favourite bands the first ten times i heard them. it's like anything else, the more work you put into it the more you will get out of it in the long run.

The question for me, though, is how much effort or work you need to put into listening to a band? Giving one album ten spins, listening to half a band's catalogue?

[KharBevNor]

You have to put all the effort you can in! Pitchfork have given this band rave reviews, everyone thinks they are cool! You must FORCE yourself to like them or you are simply gauche and tasteless.

[ASturge]

He is right about the "Hey! I don't like what you like but here's a list of things you should like!"

You do it in every thread...

Anyways, discuss Deerhoof?

I like them, but not LOTS and LOTS. The person's voice does start to grate me after a bit, much in the same way that I like The Mountain Goats, but the guy's voice just starts to piss me off after too many listens.

[TrueNeutral]

seriously khar, in the nicest possible way, do you really think posting in this thread another list of metal bands is a valid contribution?

When Khar's writing a list of metal bands, people shut up and worship his undeniable knowledge of KRIEG.

[KharBevNor]

Precisely, because I deliberately used the same argument as you.

It's pretty crap isn't it?

And since when have you been civil? You have been a complete patronising arsehole towards Rizzo and several others in this thread and others, and seriously pissed me off with your supercilious verbal masturbation. Just because I can come out and compress my feelings towards others in four letters rather than a great stream of sneering pseudo-invective doesn't mean I have somehow lowered the tone.

[TrueNeutral]

Anyway, back to the topic.

Like I said in another thread, I think Deerhoof is pretty boring. I thought they were interesting for a while, mostly because they were weird new sounds, and listening to weird new sounds can pay off tremendously. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Flaming Lips are examples of listening to weird new sounds that paid off tremendously for me, because I really love them now, but Deerhoof? On repeat listen, I realized they were just weird sounds, and the novelty wears off. It doesn't grow on you, it doesn't reveal fun songs underneath the crazy exterior, it's just random weird songs.

[KharBevNor]

Quiet, plz.

[TrueNeutral]

Do you masturbate to your own rhetoric?

EDIT: I meant tommydski, naturally
EDIT2: Strategic edit, Khar? Just as well, because I don't know what Supercillious means anyway.

[KharBevNor]

EDIT2: Strategic edit, Khar? Just as well, because I don't know what Supercillious means anyway.

Arrogant.

I do that sometimes. I have anger problems.

[Garcin]

Alright, seriously, why don't we all just simmer down.  Let's do a visualization exercise.  Picture some dude you've never met.  He's typing into his computer.  He's typing sort of fast like.  He's arguing.  With someone he's never met.  And probably will never meet.  On the internet.  Ha ha!  What a loser!  Gosh, that was funny!

(For record, I don't argue.  I discuss.)

TrueNeutral, I definitely see where you are coming from with the wierd noises bit.  Flaming Lips is a really interesting album to contrast against Deerhoof, because I think it brings out one of Deerhoof's greatest strengths: their narrative.  Deerhoof songs have narrative, as do the tracks on Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, or the ones on any of the Fiery Furnaces' last three albums.  Khar mentioned, in another thread, Cocteau Twins and Tan-Hauser Gate, both of which I think are excellent bands that have this in common as well.

What I mean by "narrative", is that the songs don't tend to repeat themselves either lyrically or rythmically.  They tend to be segmented, either explicitly through the stories that the vocals literally tell, or melodically.  You would expect to find this on a "concept album", but I hasten to add that not all such albums are artistically consistent.  Listen to Gigadance -- a perfect example -- it has a beginning, a middle and an end.   Then try to imagine what that story might be.  It becomes less of a song, and more of a tone-poem.  That's how I appreciate Deerhoof.  Over-intellectual?  Probably, but then, if you've read my posts before, you'll probably realize that I have a terminal tendency in that direction.

But at the end of the day, you either like Satomi Matsuzaki's voice or you don't.  If you like it (which probably means you can listen to some j-pop without cringing, as I can), then the door is opened to liking the albums.  If you find Matsuzaki's vocals jarring, as I know many people do, then you're pretty much shut out of all the deeper stuff.  Liking or not liking her voice is not a taste that I would choose to characterize as "right" or "wrong".  For Westerners, it's not exactly run of the mill.

[TrueNeutral]

TrueNeutral, I definitely see where you are coming from with the wierd noises bit.  Flaming Lips is a really interesting album to contrast against Deerhoof, because I think it brings out one of Deerhoof's greatest strengths: its narrative.  Deerhoof songs, like the ones on Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, or the ones on any of the Fiery Furnaces' last three albums.  Khar mentioned, in another thread, Cocteau Twins and Tan-Hauser Gate, both of which I think are excellent bands that have this in common as well.

What I mean by "narrative", is that the songs don't tend to repeat themselves either lyrically or rythmically.  They tend to be segmented, either explicitly through the stories that the vocals literally tell, or melodically.  Listen to Gigadance -- a perfect example -- it has a beginning, a middle and an end.   Then try to imagine what that story might be.  It becomes less of a song, and more of a tone-poem.  That's how I appreciate Deerhoof.  Over-intellectual?  Probably, but then, if you've read my posts before, you'll probably realize that I have a terminal tendency in that direction.

But at the end of the day, you either like Satomi Matsuzaki's voice or you don't.  If you like it (which probably means you can listen to some j-pop without cringing, as I can), then the door is opened to liking the albums.  If you find Matsuzaki's vocals jarring, as I know many people do, then you're pretty much shut out of all the deeper stuff.  Liking or not liking her voice is not a taste that I would choose to characterize as "right" or "wrong".  For Westerners, it's not exactly run of the mill.

True enough, but I usually don't pay too much attention to narrative. I'm more of a 'how does it sound' kind of guy. I often don't pay attention to vocals, and if I do, I don't pay attention to the lyrics (the irony being that I am, as of recently, a singer). I like everything to come together in one piece of good sounds that make me feel happy.

As for Matsuzaki, I am not all that against it, actually. I mean, I listen to some j-pop with similar sounding vocals, and I don't have a problem there. I think it's mostly that it doesn't have enough 'together-ness' to me. When I listen to it, I think 'wow, that's pretty cool, too bad it just sounds weird when it's put together with the other things in this song'.

Yeah, I am so eloquent at explaining how I feel about music. I probably made no sense at all.

[Bastardous Bassist]

I'm more of a 'how does it sound' kind of guy. I often don't pay attention to vocals, and if I do, I don't pay attention to the lyrics. I like everything to come together in one piece of good sounds that make me feel happy.

Exactly how I feel.  My parents listen to concert music, and even when the libretto is in English, it's impossible to understand, so I never gave a damn about lyrics.

[Garcin]

Well even when the lyrics are foreign, like in most opera reading them can enhance the listening experience.  Reading the libretto for Rusalka or the Ring Cycle, for instance, made me feel like I was getting a better grasp of the music itself.  On the other hand, reading the libretto for Die Zauberflote, as amusing as it was, was pretty useless from a "what did Mozart mean" perspective.

Yeah, I am so eloquent at explaining how I feel about music. I probably made no sense at all.

Made sense to me.  I go through moods, personally.  Sometimes I want to listen to something fluid and lazy like Jenny Lewis, Neko Case, or Martha Wainwright.  Sometimes I want to listen to something energizing but (to me anyway) pretty meaningless, like Danzig or Kasabian.  And sometimes I want to be stimulated.  The first time I listened to Blueberry Boat, I thought it was shit -- completely incomprehensible.  But I was warned about that, and told I should listen to it at least four or five times before passing judgment.  The second time around, I started to pick up on some of the vocal and instrumental tricks that they pull.  By number three I was seriously into it.  If I'd been going at it with a more relaxed attitude toward music appreciation, I would have never bothered.  

In the end, I'm glad I put in the effort, because I find that sort of challenging music way more enriching than the "hear one riff and you're hooked" stuff.  My most profound musical pleasures come from the stuff that doesn't seem to fit together, at first at least, and makes me go: "Woah I never saw that coming."  Perfect example: the end of Sufjan Steven's John Wayne Gacy, Jr.  Or the repeated time signature change and melodic changes in The Runners Four.  Wicked-ass.

[TrueNeutral]

Yeah, but as I said earlier (might have been in this thread too), it took me a couple of times to start not liking Deerhoof. I've listened to, for example, The Runners Four, about five or six times.

[Garcin]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to say that you don't like 'em for lack of trying.  Actually I wasn't really trying to say anything in particular.  I'm secure enough in my musical tastes to accept that intelligent discriminating folk can not like my music, and be ok with that.

[TrueNeutral]

I agree. If I didn't do that I would never have started listening to bands like Modest Mouse, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Flaming Lips, The Fiery Furnaces, etc. etc.

[butmyrobotloves]

This just seems appropriate--here's a review I wrote in Emmie Magazine last fall for Deerhoof's latest album.  I'll preface this by saying dude, I fucking LOVE deerhoof.


DEERHOOF
The Runners Four
(Kill Rock Stars)
9,129


When Deerhoof took the stage at Intonation Music Festival this summer, there were two distinct groups of people: the ones crowding at the front, grinning and whispering, “Panda panda panda!” to each other, and the ones crumpling back on their blankets and covering their sunburnt faces with their hands, muttering, “If Satomi Matsuzaki says the word ‘bunny’ on more time I’m going to jump on stage and strangle her with her microphone cord.”

If you were one of the people on the ground, you’re in luck.  Deerhoof’s new album, The Runners Four, takes a step in a poppier direction, with fewer crazed breakdowns or repetitive haunting cries of animal names and more straight-up indie rock, bare guitars and bold riffs.  On songs like “O’Malley, Former Underdog,” you can hear The Who’s influence emerge, and “Spy On You” and “Midnight Bicycle Mystery” bring in jazz and funk-esque beats.  Stand-out track “Siriustar” is reminiscent of end-of-the-dance early sixties, two people still left out on the floor swinging their hips and biting their lips, and then the guitars hit full-power and you’re back to modern, fleshed-out sound.  At times, however, Deerhoof seems to take too much from other music: “Wrong Time Capsule,” sounds suspiciously identical to Weezer’s “Island In the Sun.”

Deerhoof doesn’t completely cross over, though–in some songs their playful, thrashing sound comes out completely intact, and even in the poppier tracks you can still feel their energy and sense of youthful wonder.  In the end, that’s what drives this album: their ability to meld their talent into every style they attempt, and the completely fresh sounds that come out of it.  To those of you still covering your ears, consider this an invitation.  This album might bring you off of your blanket and get you to stand up and dance.  Go ahead, put the cd in; I dare you.  You might be surprised.




I don't know, just my two cents.  AND MAY I ADD THAT THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR HAVE JUST STARTED BLASTING...GOD I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING MORE ANNOYING.  Some bubblegum girl-pop.  I should actually turn on some Deerhoof right now.  Plug in my subwoofer and play PANDA PANDA PANDA.  Yeah, how do you like that, Room 5407?

[Rizzo]

I will beat you all to death with my gigantic penis.







I like Coil. They're experimental, like Deerhoof fans think Deerhoof are. Coil > Deerhoof.
I have more interest in Khar's recommended bands because I know he likes similar music to me.
This post was entirely irrelevant. Who wants DEATH?

[Rubby]

I have a few points.
1. Speaking of weird Japanese singers, what do you guys think of Boredoms and OOIOO cause I like them?
2.

and for reference, i dislike pitchfork immensely and i have never read a single review there.

I really don’t want to get into this argument, but how can you know you hate pitchfork so much if you've never read the reviews. I mean, that's really all they are.
3. Damn, I forgot 3. I think it was good too.

edit: OH YEAH! I remember what 3 was. I was gonna ask Khar which one of those band were doing the avant-garde tape manipulation, cause I love shit like that.

[McTaggart]

YOU'RE ALL WRONG

[KharBevNor]

I have a few points.
edit: OH YEAH! I remember what 3 was. I was gonna ask Khar which one of those band were doing the avant-garde tape manipulation, cause I love shit like that.

Coil and Nurse With Wound & Current 93 (Which is basically Nurse With Wound abusing C93 with tape manipulation)

If you have p2p, try the tracks 'Coil - Disco Hospital' and 'Current 93 & Nurse With Wound - Nichts'

[Rubby]

I'm gonna check out Coil, seems like something I might like. C93 isn't really my kind of thing. I like the music well enough but the singer kinda grates on me.

[Zaarin]

Pink Floyd - Ummagumma

"Dude, let's...like, each do a solo song or two and, then, like, put them all together."

Really love that album. The live part's great fun, too, though I've been told that "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" is frightening as all hell when you're high.

And I don't care what anybody else says, "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" kicks arse.

[Rizzo]

I'm gonna check out Coil, seems like something I might like. C93 isn't really my kind of thing. I like the music well enough but the singer kinda grates on me.

Disco Hospital and all of Love's Secret Domain by Coil are fantastic. Hell, most Coil is fantastic.

[TheCourtJester]

I'm usually OK with people changing a radio station or skipping a song when they're in the car with me. But I absolutely can't stand when someone changes to one of their CD's unless I give them explicit permission to do so.

The point of this is every time that happens...I play deerhoof to punish them until their heads explode.