Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

To say Deerhoof have come back to Earth would be stretching the truth, as they will always occupy a space in their own creative stratosphere. With Friend Opportunity, however, they seem to have dropped some of the art and added more of the rock, delivering their most straightforward, accessible (For Deerhoof, at least) release to date. While Friend Opportunity still might seem pretty out there to a newcomer, some of their chaotic dissonance and unpredictability is gone. With guitarist Chris Cohen leaving to focus on The Curtains, Deerhoof plugs on as a trio with John Dieterich handling all guitar duties. While Dieterich seems to relish the role, drummer Greg Saunier is at his least adventurous, pounding unusually consistent beats that offer little surprise. That’s not to say there isn’t anything that would keep someone with a severe case of ADD focused for the entire 37 minutes. The record’s highlight, without a doubt, is the 12-minute finale, “Look Away.” Twisting and turning while taking the listener on an interstellar trip, “Look Away” finds Deerhoof at its symphonic best. “+81,” opening with a trumpet arrangement before Dieterich’s shuffling guitar kicks in, “The Galaxist,” demonstrating a riff launching out of a Floyd-like acoustic intro that any Sabbath fan would be proud of, and “Cast Off Crown,” with spastic punk that leads into an orbit of groove, are all among the interesting sound bites scattered throughout. Usually for better, sometimes for worse, Friend Opportunity feels like you’re joining Deerhoof on a brainstorming process of musical ideas. The album heads south on “Wither the Invisible Birds?,” which doesn’t really go anywhere and sounds a little too much like Sigur Ros. Bassist/vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki is at her most ridiculous on “Kidz Are So Small,” when in her child-like voice she proclaims “If I were a man and you a dog/I’d throw a stick for you.” To overly critique such an imaginative band’s lack of spontaneity speaks a great deal to their experimental track record. While Friend Opportunity might be a little too “poppy” for some and use one too many studio tricks, there’s little doubt these tracks will soar in a live setting. [www.deerhoof.killrockstars.com]