A Quick Skim Through the Week’s Releases
Deerhoof – Deerhoof vs Evil
I think it is now time for me to finally accept that I am just not that into Deerhoof. When I first started to really become a part of the wider blogosphere (as opposed to just a random weirdo writing for his own satisfaction in an abandoned corner of the internet) Friend Opportunity was just being released, and there was a fair bit of buzz around this band.
I loved half of friend opportunity, but I haven’t really liked anything since, for some reason. Maybe it lacked the joyous wildness of Friend Opportunity, and maybe I just only have a limited capacity to enjoy this kind of frantic, unusual music.
Deerhoof – The Merry Barracks
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Destroyer – Kaputt
Talking of when I was just getting involved in the wider blogosphere, Destroyer, and in particular the gorgeous song European Oils, were massive around that time.
Since then Destroyer have released the awesome, quarter of an hour long Bay of Pigs, and I was really expecting something challenging and interesting when this release was announced. What we got instead, unfortunately, is a fairly drab, soft-pop affair which has a certain louche charm, but not anything like enough bite or personality to really engage me, unfortunately.
Destroyer – Blue Eyes
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Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
From one awesome segue into another: while we’re on the subject of soft pop, what the fuck has happened to Iron & Wine? I really don’t get it, this album is also a rather mid-paced, comfortable pop record with a touch of cod-soul about some of the backing vocals.
Progression is one thing, but if the flipside to the current fashion for lo-fi scuzzy guitar noise is the kind of slick, smarmy stuff that this and the Destroyer record are made of then please count me out. I really thought this album might be the one where I really get into Iron & Wine, having never really sat down and given them proper time before, but this is just horrible.
Iron & Wine – Tree By the River
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that Deerhoof track sounds pretty good. This band make more sense live. If sense is the right word to use.
Deerhoof played a Pancake Mountain children’s concert in DC a few years back. Mental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDk1zEu2_oE
As for Iron and Wine, Sam lost me after the painfully gorgeous The Creek Drank The Cradle.
Yeah, I’ve always wanted to like Deerhoof, just never managed it. But I have never seen them either live or on children’s television, so I suppose I haven’t really given them a fair chance!
I find it so sad you don’t love Deerhoof. Yes, you must see them live, amazing live. However I must say, I listened to this record last night and I really like the first half of the record and then the last few don’t really do it for me. And I would agree with you about the Friend Opportunity, and Offend Maggie is hit and miss. Although Offend Maggie has grown on me considerably and I think I like all of it now. However Apple O and The Runners Four are excellent throughout for me. It’s weird but I kind of like the fact that of their last three releases I only like about half of each record and I still love them. The stuff that I do like on each of the newer releases I think are excellent as well though. And there are many records by bands that I love where I do not really like a fair bit.
And as a side note, I saw Iron and Wine with Calexico and it was the most horribly boring experience for me. Even Calexico were kind of bad that night and they are usually very good live. But Iron and Wine, oh my god, it just felt like slow death. The Creek Drank the Cradle was an ok record though. This new stuff is not my cup of tea.
In fact I take it back, I love Offend Maggie all the way through as well.
See, you almost had me until that. I am still extremely lukewarm on Offend Maggie, but the age-old ‘you’ve got to listen to their earlier stuff’ absolutely had me, I have to confess.
P.S. I now know who Lane Meyer is. Your secret’s out!
Shhh!!! Offend Maggie had to grow on me for a long time and I think I like it for different reasons. And regardless of the “age old” hogwash, there earlier stuff is much better than Friend Opportunity and Offend Maggie.
Uh oh, its the “age old” “different reasons” argument.
The title of that Iron & Wine album is horrible enough as it is. I was going to go see them live here too, but I think I’ll pass.
Well I liked the sound of the last one at least, but never spent enough time to really get to know it, so I am kind of gutted this record didn’t give me the kick to really get into the band’s back catalogue that I assumed it might.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t get the new Iron and Wine album, and I’m a fan of his older stuff. There’s a couple of good tracks and maybe if I listened to it more I would find something to love but I can;t switch off the Joy Formidable album so probably isn’t going to happen soon. The Destroyer album seems be missing me as well, there must be something though as loads of people seem to be raving about it???
Hmm, have to disagree on the Iron And Wine album. I’m quite liking it, though it does take a bit of time to strip through the layers of Easy Rock Vibe piled on top of the songs.
Hopefully he’ll release the acoustic versions like he did for The Shepherd’s Dog.