[Green Magnesium]

I'm usually more than willing to admit when I'm wrong... there are few times however, when I'm actually happy to have been wrong about something.

Deerhoof. I've been aware of them for about 3 -4 years, but up until about a month ago I thought they were the biggest joke the music world had to offer. I'll admit, until about a month ago the only time I seriously tried to listen to them was via their most recent album (Friend Opportunity). I just couldn't get past the cutesy vocals and appreciate the band and its music.

Well recently a good friend who is a big fan kept insisting to me that I WOULD enjoy Deerhoof if I gave some of their earlier stuff a true-blue shot. So I sucked it up and did...... and, surprise surprise, I genuinely like (love even) Reveille and Runners Four. The drummer IS amazing, and the little front woman is easier to stomach when you try to imagine her as a small instrument, which I did. It does help that the guys in the band pitched in with the singing on some material.

Anyway, end of speech. I apologise for whining about how shitty I thought this band was (if I did so on this board... I don't remember). Anyone who thinks Deerhoof is shit needs to suck it up like I did and give it another go.*


*( I tried to give Animal Collective the same chance I did Deerhoof, but I still think that they are shit.)

[acousticrock87]

Ah. That kind of thing is bound to happen with bands sometimes. Especially bands like Deerhoof, though, where there's one single element (an obnoxious voice or something) that prevents the experience from being enjoyable. Then, either from hearing it in a different time, different context, or simply from hearing it a lot, it suddenly falls away.

[Cantankerous]

i didn't like my bloody valentine for the longest time and i honestly don't know why

but now, hoho. they're my favourite band in the universe.


edit: the point of this is that it's a similar situation

[pbradley]

Reveille was the first Deerhoof album I listened to, great stuff. But then I lost interest over time. Greg Saunier is indeed the soul of the band with his weird free jazz rock spazz drumming.

[atsonicpark]

Eh?

[super_charger]

I think they are crap but just because of this thread I'll give Deerhoof another chance.

[greedrex]

good band

[atsonicpark]

They're a pretty consistently good band with some good songs. Nothing mindblowing but they know how to constantly churn out good albums with good songs. Good for them!

Also, the vocals are actually pretty beautiful, though I hardly notice them... vocals don't really affect my enjoyment of a band one way or another... though I'm not sure what a "cutesy" vocal is in relation to Deerhoof... this isn't J-Pop... the vocals are just really melodic.

I have to agree with Greg Saunier making that band what it is though..

[batreleaser]

i love deerhoof, best hipster pitchfork nut hug band around. the vocals are great, and thier brand of cure noise pop is wonderful. the runner's four is the best. but all thier albums have thier merits. very consistent. i considered them my favorite band of the decade for a minute but then i realized, no way. but i do like them very much.

[Cantankerous]

i love milk man

DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN
and then her little girl voice

so perfect

[Everyneurotic]

tons of bands i've written off until i hear something else by them or give them another fair chance and i become a fan; why, that's the case with no other than sy themselves.

anyway, deerhoof can be amazing songwriters and have some very consistant albums (reveille, apple o, milk man, runners four) but can be a let down sometimes (green cosmos ep, friend opportunity); hope the new album is a good one.

[atsonicpark]

For some reason, i have the feeling the new one wil be really good.

[Green Magnesium]

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

though I'm not sure what a "cutesy" vocal is in relation to Deerhoof...

Like Cantakerous said... "little-girl voice." Satomi's vocals sound quite suitable for J-Pop actually. And no, that's not just because she's Japanese. I wouldn't say the same thing about Kazu from Blonde Redhead for example.

[atsonicpark]

Hmm.. If you say so.