Review Summary: Do you have a short attention span? This might be the albu
So i find out about Deerhoof's new album Breakup Song the day it comes out. I'm listening and I can't figure out what attracts me to this music. Time to write a review. This album has a lot of crunch. Synths run wild over chunky grooves. The format Deerhoof follows in their songwriting appears like a collage of many instrumental images following a steady beat. Satomi's vocals cling to the rhythm landing syllables on the downbeat. There doesn't seem to be much effort invested into developing the vocals throughout the album. The melodies are pleasant, but they never stray too far from the beat. Satomi has two modes: singing a verse all at once, or saying each word of a verse individually.
Synths rule this album hard. Breakup Song sounds like something from the 80's all cut up and mixed into a modern masterpiece.
Deerhoof carry on their signature style, just with a new twist. The album is consistent and flows along smoothly, as do most of the more recent Deerhoof albums. The songs hold well on their own, and also fit together well. The group uses plenty of major chords, making a melodic gesture. In a rhythmical sense, they implement strategies that are more advanced than what is typical for popular music.
"Changing" is a suitable term for this album. Within individual songs, and including the transition between songs, the listener moves through a musical transformation. Songs like "There's That Grin" will carry on a steady, casual meandering of sound and then trip into an explosion of excitement. The Album's opener titled "Breakup Songs" seems to constantly move onward to something new. There are choruses to return to, but the music still progresses. Blessed be the musicians who realize there is more to music than conventional song structures.
Breakup Song clocks in at 30 minutes flat. It's short, but the intent is a functional album. I'll give Deerhoof props for setting out with a clear course for writing their album.
The only other complaint i have is there are no slow songs. Not every album necessarily needs slow songs; however the pace of the whole album is noticeably steady. There are variations in the time signatures and rhythms, like i said before, but there could be more variety in tempos between songs.
Overall, this album rocks. Deerhoof have done a great job at creating an album that fits perfectly together and evolves dramatically over the course of 30 minutes. There could have been more exploration on the part of their vocalist. I have a feeling this album could be Deerhoof's most accessible effort. Breakup Song is a wild ride, with a grab bag of musical techniques. I think this music is attractive because it’s changing constantly and develops like a televisionesque experience where we're flicking through channels trying to find something to watch. That could just be a trend in making exciting musical experiences that hold onto people with short attention spans. If you couldn't sit through that new album by Swans, this might be the album for you.
