Release Date: January 25Label: Polyvinyl
I find it very hard to review bands like Deerhoof. For the better part of the past two decades, this San Francisco-based band has recorded album after album of off-the-wall, experimental art-rock, rarely changing the basic formula for their music. Deerhoof live off the tension created by their spiky, rhythmically complex instrumentation and singer/bassist Satomi Matsuzaki's almost childlike voice. It's a jarring effect and one that I've never been wild about, but it's an undeniable element of the band's sound. Deerhoof Vs. Evil features more of the same, although some of the band's rougher edges are smoothed out by some surprisingly lilting melodic touches (listen to "The Merry Barracks"). Matsuzaki's voice is as polarizing as ever, especially when her lyrics boil down to chirpy, repeated chants, such as on tracks like "Hey I Can." However, a few songs, most notably "Behold A Marvel In The Darkness," construct a fun, more traditional indie rock vibe that suits her voice quite well. Deerhoof Vs. Evil isn't going to be the album that sells me completely on the merits of Deerhoof. However, that doesn't prevent it from being a strong, consistent record from a band that seems quite determined not to compromise when it comes to their musical style.
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