I love, love, love Deerhoof. They are without a doubt one of the most relentlessly creative bands working today, comprised of incredibly talented musicians whose imaginations seem to have no limits. And the best part: Even the most complex arrangements (and there are some nutty ones) never get bogged down in their own self-importance — like so many other bands who have the ability to write in a different time signature than 4/4. Yes, every Deerhoof song can be analyzed for its chordal and structural properties, but at the end of the day, this band is just fun to listen to, and even more fun to watch. I got to photograph their set at Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2008 (where the above shot of personal drumming hero Greg Saunier came from — there’s more here), and I was blown away by their energy. I also reviewed their previous album, Offend Maggie (which you can read here). Deerhoof vs. Evil doesn’t really continue where that LP left off. It’s a tighter, weirder, and a more slick effort that feels like it could poke a hole in the mainstream. The mainstream is not ready.
Read my review of Deerhoof vs. Evil here, and be sure to leave a comment if you do. You can stream Deerhoof vs. Evil right now at this link. And I also leave you with a totally boss rendition of “Rainbow Silhouette of the Milky Rain” performed for Pitchfork TV. Enjoy.