Label: Kill Rock Stars
Released: Oct 11, 2005 |
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My Deerhoof experience began with Milk Man which, at the time, was their most accessible record. I loved it, but most critics gave it lukewarm reviews, in favor of their older stuff; namely Reveille and Apple O'. Call me crazy, but when I listened to those records, I wasn't that impressed. Sure, they had their moments, but many of the songs consisted of nonsensical chirping and cooing over directionless racket. I like a good, disorganized brouhaha now and again, but I felt like the songs were full of potential that didn't always deliver. Milk Man, however, was more song-oriented and even had a lyrical storyline! Needless to say, I became very anxious when I heard their next record would be a more straightforward venture into the world of guitar-rock
The Runners Four consists of 20 songs that fall into the 2-3 minute range. The songs aren't exactly verse-chorus-verse, but they all contain some kind of hook or melody that you can latch onto. This album would be strange by most other band's standards, but this is easily Deerhoof's most subdued effort. The bizarre elements of their earlier records are still here, but presented in a more structured format.
Despite the fact that 20 songs is well...a shit-load of songs to put on an album, The Runners Four flows by with seamless grace. From the minimal guitar-tapping of "Chatterboxes," to the sprightly pop rush of "O'Malley, Former Underdog," to the quirky dance-rhythms of "Spirit Ditties Of No Tone," it all makes sense...and that's only a small portion of the first half.
The second half of The Runners Four is equally diverse as the first. "Sirustar" builds up slowly into a chorus reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, with Robert Plant's sex-fueled wailing replaced by Satomi's cute innocence. "Bone-Dry" is a quiet psychedelic number full of eerie tension. The album ends on a spazzy note with the one-two punch of "You're Our Two" and "Rrrrrrright."
Fans of the blender-variety of their earlier records may be disappointed with The Runners Four, but personally, I think it’s their best effort. Deerhoof have managed to confine their spastic tendencies in order to create a unique and astonishing pop album that is brimming with energy.
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