Friend Opportunity

Although Deerhoof famously covered the seemingly uncoverable Shaggs gem "My Pal Foot Foot" early in their career, their overall vision has more in common with a different group of brilliantly amateurish women: the Raincoats. Now a trio--after the departure of guitarist Chris Cohen--the San Francisco avant-twee stalwarts inherit from the Raincoats not only a childish sweetness and daft charm, but also intricately layered and inspired musicianship. Despite the oddities, Deerhoof are no slouches.
FRIEND OPPORTUNITY continues their string of masterpieces--all the more impressive considering the mercurial line-up. Vocalist and bassist Satomi Matsuzaki, guitarist John Dieterich, and Greg Saunier remain the stalwarts here. "The Perfect Me," "+81," and "Matchbook Seeks Maniac" finds them perfecting the Deerhoof brew of stunted, off-kilter pop with bursts of experimentation that always sound organic and wank-free. "Believe ESP" adds elements of Minutemen-style funk into the mix, while "Kidz Are So Small" wraps a meandering Matsuzaki melody around a falling-down-the-stairs drum track. The album closes with "Look Away," a meditative epic--both rare qualities in the Deerhoof catalog--that the band nails with heartfelt aplomb.