MIRACLE-LEVEL

Deerhoof has been "keepin it boxy and harsh since 1994" and their 18th studio album, "Miracle-Level" is another exciting new offering in their quirky oeuvre. It has everything that makes a typical Deerhoof album: John and Ed's guitars falling in and out of harmony, Satomi's happy singing style and bass work, and of course, Greg Saunier's wild unpredictable drumming driving the band from section to section.

On this album, the band ditched their typical home recording methods and recorded the album in a proper recording studio. One week to record, one week to mix, and they came up with this. It does have a slightly cleaner sound to it, particularly in the drums, and the guitars have that controlled garage band feel, but it still sounds like Deerhoof doing what they do best. The change didn't stop them from leaving their comfort zone and staying their wild, experimental selves. Another notable distinction about this album is that all the songs are sung in Japanese. Satomi is from Japan, and has sang some Deerhoof songs in Japanese, but to do it for a whole album shows their willingness to try anything new.

How does it fare? Opener "Sit Down, Let Me Tell You a Story" sets the tone with its playful, march-like rhythms, and Greg's punchy snare trudging along. This is followed by "My Lovely Cat!", a "typical" Deerhoof song... until it isn't. The little ritardando 3 minutes in really builds the tension. After this, the band slows down a little, with the next two songs in a more laid back tempo. It seems they're trying to go for the more mellow side of things, like on "The Little Maker" which has a lounge vibe to it (plus that slick 60s psychedelic groove!), and the title track and "Wedding, March, Flower", which are classically-inspired piano ballads. But when they really wanna rock, they certainly do. "And the Moon Laughs" fires up fast and gets loud with the twin guitars churning out a sweet melody. "Momentary Art of Soul!" has a shuffle beat and a hypnotic, complex arrangement accented with a horn section in the middle to make it soar. "Phase Out All Remaining Non-Miracles by 2028" (great title) throws in all of the aforementioned to create the standout track on the album. Of course, Satomi's singing hasn't faltered and even in Japanese she brings some extra excitement to the arrangements.

It's got everything that makes a Deerhoof album, and will satisfy longtime fans. For them, everything is an influence, and listening to some of the artists that inspired this one is also recommended after listening to this. They might even be the most open-minded band out there. Go Deerhoof go!