By: Jessica Grose
At first it’s hard to take Deerhoof seriously. Lead vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki’s voice is so sweet and childlike — she’s nearly a Powerpuff Girl — and you have to stifle the urge to reach into your iPod and cuddle her to within an inch of her tiny, snuggle-worthy frame. Then you hear the hard rocking dissonance, especially of the San Francisco band’s efforts to date, and you realize that the Powerpuff Girl analogy is more appropriate than you originally thought: Matsuzaki is like a sugary child who will punch you in the face if you cross her.
Deerhoof’s seventh full-length album, The Runners Four, is the longest and most accessible of the band’s efforts to date. The particular m�lange of styles used on The Runners Four is reminiscent of the Brazilian cult favorites Os Mutantes. With its dreamy and almost nonsensical lyrics, songs like “Vivid Cheek Love Song,” sound like an update of the Mutantes 1968 debut: a unique combination of bossanova, psychadelia, and pure pop ethos overlaid with post punk harshness.
With 22 full tracks, The Runners Four is far longer than the average rock album. But unlike many albums, it never devolves into generic tedium. The latter parts of the album, including tracks like “Siriustar” and the final track, “Rrrrrrright,” rock harder than the earlier bits. It’s like Deerhoof was slowly lulling you into a sense of comfort before bashing you on the head with the butt end of a bass guitar.
You can catch the cuteness dentata of Deerhoof on tour this fall. Maybe Satomi Matsuaki will clutch stuffed animals shaped like fruit as she did during the Intonation Festival this summer. Fans can only hope and dream.
Deerhoof tour dates:
10/15, San Francisco, CA (Great American Music Hall)10/24, Portland, OR (Berbati’s Pan)10/26, Seattle, WA (Chop Suey)10/27, Vancouver, BC (Richard’s on Richards)10/28, Portland, OR (Berbati’s Pan)11/8, Denver, CO (Larimer Lounge)11/9, Lawrence, KS (Jackpot Saloon)11/10, Oklahoma City, OK (Conservatory)11/11, Denton, TX (Hailey’s)11/12, Houston, TX (Mary Jane’s Club)11/14, Gainesville, FL (Common Grounds)11/15, Tallahassee, FL (Club Downunder)11/19, Austin, TX (Emos)11/21, Tucson, AZ (Solar Culture)11/22-23, Los Angeles, CA (Echo)
