Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil

On their last album, Deerhoof cut straight to the point and occasionally got really loud with their bursting power chords and insane drumbeats, like on The Tears and Music of Love and My Purple Past. But in general, they kept it subdued, something that they do even more on Deerhoof vs. Evil. The kookiness is still there, it's always been, but on songs like No One Asked to Dance, they cut the crap and lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki's soft vocals really shine, which makes it a key track on the album. It's also nice to hear these moments balanced with Deerhoof's classic style.

While bizarrely flustered tracks are what you'd expect from this band, some songs end up sounding a little too weird, even creepy. Luckily though, there are a few kick-ass tunes here that can satisfy the acquired taste that's required when listening to these guys. Stand-out tracks include Qui Dorm Només Somia, Behold a Marvel in the Darkness (my personal favorite), No One Asked to Dance, Let's Dance the Jet, and Secret Mobilization. While it's an admirable effort, they've failed to show anything new on Deerhoof vs. Evil, and the tracks at the end are all pretty dull. If you're a Deerhoof fan, you know exactly what you're getting here, minus the rocking out more often. For non Deerhoof fans, I might hesitate, as their all-over-the-place musical style might take some effort to get used to.




Tracklist:
1. Qui Dorm, Només Somia
2. Behold a Marvel in the Darkness
3. The Merry Barracks
4. No One Asked to Dance
5. Let's Dance the Jet
6. Super Duper Rescue Heads!
7. Must Fight Current
8. Secret Mobilization
9. Hey I Can
10.C'Moon
11.I Did Crimes for You
12.Almost Everyone, Almost Always

-Julian