Deerhoof's seventh outing on the Kill Rock Stars label, Friend Opportunity, is arguably their finest to date. While 2005's The Runner's Four captured the band's uniquely unpredictable indie pop in a daunting 20 tracks, this release closes at a modest 10. Within this streamlined format, Deerhoof sounds neither confined nor stifled. Instead, the band manages to improve the effectiveness of the aspects that made them great in the first place.
The spastic, insanely involved drums have never fit so well within the context of Deerhoof's gloriously melodic pop stylings. Satomi Matsuzaki's vocal melodies now accompany such recent instrumental additions as trumpets and a small string section, embellishments which sound neither forced nor overdone. That said, Friend Opportunity is not without Deerhoof's signature "weirdness" which comes to fruition in songs like "Kidz Are So Small" and "Look Away." In these pieces they foray into the experimentalism which was a cornerstone of much of their earlier work. These more experimental numbers might unintentionally drive away some casual new listeners; previous fans, however, should feel right at home.
Friend Opportunity functions much better as an album then simply a collection of songs. Rowdy rockers give way to some of the more elegant songs the group has composed thus far. Even the heavier tracks never lose their amazing pop sensibility. By limiting the album's length (an extremely conservative 36 minutes), the jumpy, jerky jolts of music that comprise Deerhoof's compositional method never lose their effectiveness, a pitfall which previously received much criticism.
Fans of the band's previous releases will find more of the same Deerhoof formula, though it has been perfected and readjusted. For those new to their unique sound, picking up a copy of Friend Opportunity is perhaps the perfect place to start. With its memorable hooks, pulsating rhythms, and quirky charm, most people should find it a worthwhile, though at times eclectic, listen.
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