Product Description Tart apple, crispy. High acidity. Low in tannins. High in Mega. Kill Rock Stars / 5 Rue Christine split Review ...Apple O' is the latest head-trip from these San Fran bliss addicts, debuting as-yet unseen levels of songcraft; in just thirty minutes, I danced, I wept, I sang-- even the pandas they promised showed up. In short, Apple O' performed exactly as expected, although that in itself is a little frightening.While last year's Reveille was a similarly beautiful, bright flight, it was just unhinged enough so that, until its final moments, there was a lingering uncertainty as to its destination: It would either land in a frenetic pop playground, or allow unbridled blasts of noise to plunge it into the sea. Now it seems as though Deerhoof have transmuted Reveille's spurts of genius into a more cohesive, but slightly less astonishing consistency. Apple O' is still a fascinating trip, but from the very beginning, it's a fairly safe bet that you'll be headed somewhere very pretty, without as much worrisome turbulence. That's not a lock, naturally-- the trademark madness that's infected their earlier recordings hasn't vanished, just diminished-- but this is their most straightforward release to date.The good news is that the band's efforts to ''normalize'' (if such a word can truly be used to describe their work) has reaped great dividends. Every song they present is a staggering collage of guitars and drums, bells, tambourines, brass, and every other manner of beep or squeak under the sun, all falling in line in lush, swaying arrangements. Now, with the added ballast of an improved song-focus, Deerhoof venture into deeper waters, adapting their instrumental melange to a wider variety of styles. Dance, jazz, be-bop, 50s doo-wop, and standard jangle-pop all get thrown into the mix at varying points, while remaining inimitably in the thrall of their particular brand of noise. All that's left is for Satomi Matsuzaki's kindergarten-cute vocals to add the final, unifying glaze…Once again, Deerhoof have released an album masquerading as out-of-the-blue insanity, while cleverly harboring nothing but the most basic, virally contagious pop around. Apple O' never seems quite so unpredictable as Reveille, so it's a safe bet that if you liked Reveille but found it a bit too experimental, you'll like this one better. Of course, in the age-old controversy between a steady keel of greatness or sporadic moments of true genius, genius has to take the gold, but this album's intense variety and sparklingly consistent pop songwriting make a great consolation prize. --Pitchfork...Last year's Reveille was an organic masterpiece, a free-flowing jumble of larynx, tongue, and noise, tweetering daintily between piety and damnation, occasionally crashing to earth, always trying to take flight again. The bluesy no-wave was compelling in itself, but the part you remember best is the voice of Satomi Matsuzaki, a strange, exhilarating evocation of a Siren singing artless melodies to herself as she wanders the cliffs alone. Apple O' knots up the magic of Reveille and then trails it out into a series of individual songs, all lined up in a row. There's not as much chaos here, but that s no surprise (inspired anarchy ain't easy to reconjure every time out: just ask Sonic Youth). But everything else remains intact: resonant distilled-English lyrics, scratchy-noisy guitars, thundering drums, and Satomi. Rather than try to recreate the messy conceptual flow of Reveille, Deerhoof instead concentrate on making a really great record. So no, it s not another masterpiece, but it is a stunning and memorable batch of songs. Hell, four of them are new classics by my reckoning...Apple O is a wonderful album by a band that s created an entirely unique noise out of old Shaggs LP's and the San Francisco fog. And the theme of it all is love, so buy it before Spring is over... --Popmatters
S**Y
Deerhoof Me in the Headlights
Thank goodness for Rig Rundown videos on YouTube or I most likely would have gone the rest of my life without hearing the lovely noise pop sensibility of Deerhoof. Part Sonic Youth (or more Sleater-Kinney?) part Rolling Stones part Flaming Lips part Broadcast & the Focus Group, at least to my ears. I prefer more of the hard driving stuff, but this is a solid album, no doubt. Listening to them live on YouTube is a revelation, though. I'm a big Grateful Dead fan and their albums never lived up to the live performance. While I feel Deerhoof are actually excellent in album form, I like that you get more variety in the live shows and they naturally bring more energy in that arena. Hope they come to the Baltimore/DC area soon!
A**E
One Fine Indie Pop Opus!
I really enjoyed this purchase! Its delivery was prompt and the package was well contained. The music reminds me of Can, Blonde Redhead; generally noise pop and Canterbury art rock.
J**S
this is the best album ever
this is the best album ever.
T**.
it's like this...
ritalin-infused ritual magicknursery rhymes for spasticcrosseyed children, feral;attempting to establishbedwetting and staring contests(with a good eye, the otherone may roll and loll freelyin the name of "gamesmanship")into Olympic sports.
Z**N
Deerhoof=MUSIC
Deerhoof DOES NOT equal trying to create an image of themselves. Deerhoof DOES NOT equal trying to make the charts. Deerhoof DOES NOT equal trying to fit into a tradition. They make the tradition as they go, only to break it first thing.If you're not familiar with this band, buy this album along with their other two classics: _Milkman_ and _The Runners Four_. You'll be able to say that you were in on the phenomenon before they got an indie halo like other pioneers (e.g. Fugazi, Sonic Youth, Television, et al). They are able to make this unforgettable sonic stew simply because they are principally about one thing: MUSIC.There's something for everyone here. Like experimental music?: Deerhoof's ethos is never anything less than experimentation. Like jazz?: You get to hear the band woodshed with the best of them on instrumentals "My Diamond Star Car" (Drummer Greg Saunier is a special treat here; sometimes he almost sounds like a free jazz titan on his tiny trap set. Others he just bludgeons away with the band on their less intricate moments. Extremely versatile. Meaning he is willing to let go and be endearingly sloppy even though he is an excellent musician.) Like ballads?: Deerhoof even has these (tho' with a caveat on this album--go to _Runners Four_ if you really want to hear the "softer side" of Deerhoof). "Apple Bomb" starts out with singer Satomi in a vulnerable surrealistic mode: "I said god/ In the tress it's lovely/ But it's lonely/ With a bone." Guitarists Chris Cohen and John Dieterich (the most effective young guitar duo in rock) play with the delicacy of the Pizzarelli family, only to explode in shards of distortion on the "bomb" part of "Apple Bomb," the chorus.Then they are on to more jazz maneuverings in "The Forbidden Fruits," which consists of the lyrics "Leopard fur no store" and some of Satomi's ethereal "doo-d-doo-doo-d-d-doo-doot"'s. They start out sounding like the funky side of Wes Montgomery and then layer some John Cage-like dissonance on top of the diminished chord vamp. Indispensable listening.Every song on here is a highlight. I haven't even gotten to the pop moments (try "L'Amour Stories"), the new music moments ("Adam + Eve Connection"--it's all here, starts out with Stockhausen-esque electronic manipulation of the earlier "Sealed with a Kiss" and then goes on to some Villa-Lobos-esque classical guitar), or the blues moments ("Blue Cash" is perhaps the most interesting version of a blues progression I have ever heard). What makes all of this experimentation stick is the fact that it is not simply experimentation for the sake of experimentation. It is for the sake of music, so they always make a connection, at least if you are patient with them.I should know. I got _The Runners Four_, their latest album, almost a year ago. At first, I liked what I heard, but wasn't necessarily blown away. Well, I saw them live, and that upped the ante for me: they are one of the best live experiences today along with fellow NYers the YYY's. They stuck their "holdy paws" into my brain with their intoxicating and fearful mix of intricacy, subtlety, brutality, flippancy, and seriousness. Then I had to get everything. The more I listen to them, the more they are a part of my life, and the more I realize that they are an integral part of the history of all that is the greatest in the history of not only rock'n'roll, but music itself. Get in on this before everyone else and your sister knows that they are the best-kept secret in music (really--they are as good as the best in jazz and modern classical, too; I think it was Ben Ratliff of the Times who said that they are probably the next band who will be having jazz and classical cover albums done of their songs in the not-too-distant future, like Radiohead or Mars Volta). Get in on the Deerhoof phenomenon by buying this album this minute.
J**H
how good is this album?
Excellent! What is it with these guys. Thoroughly original, and catchy in the most bizarre way. I had heard of Deerhoof, actually read a good review of this album in the NY Times about a year ago, and filed the name away in my head. However, over the course of the past several months, I periodically heard them on college radio, and they infiltrated my psyche. A week ago I had this Deerhoof song stuck in my head for 2 days straight, and I knew it was time to throw down some cash and support an inventive indie rock band. I bought "Apple O".It turns out the song isn't even on this album. However, the sounds on this album were enough to wash it out of my mind, replacing it with a variety of highly addictive tuneage. Took me a few spins to really appreciate this (as most good albums do), but damn, it just dawned on me that this is one of the best new bands Ive picked up on in a long while. Forget about all the NYC hype for a minute and check out something truly unique, and fun to boot.
S**T
Good moments -- but, it's been done before people!
Deerhoof's Apple O is a good album -- but I disagree with some of the reviews that call their noise-pop sound cutting-edge. To me it's not all that edgy, because I've heard it done before and better. As much as I hate saying this, I feel that Deerhoof is a more cheerful knock-off of the band Blonde Redhead in their earlier noise-pop days. (Of course others have said that Blonde Redhead were near knock-offs of Sonic Youth!)Even though there are similarities between the two band's styles, deerhoof isn't a bad band at all and Apple O is a pretty good overall effort. Some highlights include "Dummy Discards a Heart" and "Flower." I still believe that Deerhoof is in the process of discovering their authentic sound as a band. I know that others might disagree -- but that's my opinion.All in all this is not a bad album. Noise pop often reminds me of some abstract impressionist painters. If you don't like anything abstract or experimental, this isn't the album for you. If you do, then I think deerhoof's a nice band to try. But, I'd also recommend you check out the work of Sonic Youth..and Blonde Redhead's Inexpression of the Inexpressible.
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