Deerhoof | Breakup Song

Polyvinyl (2012)
By SEAN CORBETT  |  August 28, 2012
3.5 3.5 Stars

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Jammy San Francisco art-noise rockers Deerhoof got us going with the clever online "Jingletron" last month and left fans jittering with excitement for Breakup Song. As each track of the new disc rolls on, the whacked out melodies and crunchy bass lines balance Satomi Matsuzaki's adorable, floating vocals with a nice chaotic filth. With your headphones strapped, the album's dirty optimism will brighten even the darkest, stalest airport-layover experience (true story). Drummer Greg Saunier (another true story) told Rolling Stone they were going for "the Keith-Richards-joins-ABBA vibe" on "Fête D'Adieu." It's a lofty, insane goal to rock out like that, and Deerhoof nail it. As usual, they're at their best when the beat drifts away to make room for screeching mechanics and jumpy thuds, as in "Zero Seconds Pause," "Bad Kids to the Front," and the title track. "We Do Parties" confirms their true purpose, with crusty bass throbs and hot, tinny guitar licks. Standouts here include the trippy "Flower" and the melodic, Japanese-laced "Mothball the Fleet." As Matsuzaki snarkily proclaims "I am coming to you from a speaker/Deep inside," you smile; and as "Mario's Flaming Whiskers III" jumps into the deep end of a pool of weirdness, you smile even more.

DEERHOOF + BUKE & GASE + MIREL WAGNER | Middle East, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge | September 18 @ 8 pm | All Ages | $15 | 617.864.3278 

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 See all articles by: SEAN CORBETT