Deerhoof - Milk Man

Deerhoof
Milk Man
Kill Rock Stars/5RC
Grade: A-

This latest and sixth record from SF noise-rock divas kicks off on "Milk Man" with an arrangement that sounds like the latest coming of a rock-opera masterpiece. When the four-piece of Deerhoof - drummer Greg Saunier, guitarists John Dieterich and Chris Cohen and vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki - aren't rocking out the oddities in their host of other projects - including Nervous Cop, the Curtains - they find the time to lend their powers to one of the greatest and best indie bands going. Pushing the limits on just strangeness, Milk Man singes with a pop core that demonstrates that for all the projects the members of Deerhoof have their hands in, they save their best material for Deerhoof - and we are all thankful and grateful. If you thought that Apple O' was something to behold you better hold on tight. After initially being put off by Apple O', I found myself humming the pop sections in my head and then I was soon hooked. Milk Man is like that, but only better.

Again, "Milk Man" kicks off like a rock opera with bass playing up the opening riff, then joined by guitar, then bolstered up before the whole kit-n-caboodle comes in. Slowing up to introduce Satomi's sweet, chirpy broken English lyrics, when the song builds into the chorus you are utterly blown away. This is a song that will surely dominant college radio this Spring. With creepy organs, "Giga Dance" ushers you into the world of Cradle of Filth before dissonant guitars give away to Satomi. "Desaparecere" starts on the electro-edge with ambience leading the charge into Spanish lyrics. The instrumental "Rainbow Silhouette of the Milky Rain" with its dueling noise guitars is closer to the music of several of the Deerhoof side projects. "Dog On the Sidewalk" is a short ditty with Satomi's off-English vocals joined by the first emergence of electro-blips. Vocals, guitars and handclapping start "C" as it careens through a bunch of stop-start sections, while "Milking" rips some cool riffs and rocks hard like a crazed stripped-down Japanese indie band. "Dream Wanderer's Tune" is ambient with Satomi's vocals and keys dominating this pop affair - very sweet indeed. With nothing going on for a bit, "Song of Sorn" busts out with pure craziness that is actually catchy. "That Big Orange Sun Run Over Speed Light" provides an instrumental strangeness to lead to the finale "New Sneakers." "New Sneakers" opens with organs and then Satomi singing "Strawberry fields, banana trees..." as the track runs on lo-fi electronics. I discuss Satomi like she is some vocal savior throughout the record - and when you hear the songs you will see why.

With the release of Milk Man, Deerhoof is hitting the road hard with shows in Japan, Europe and the U.S. Though when we checked them out on their last tour they weren't slamming, guitarists Dieterich and Cohen were tight, Saunier was entertaining and when Satomi was doing the gestures it was awesome.